Mariam Abdul Aziz

In this Malay name, there is no surname or family name. The name Abdul Aziz is a patronymic, and the person should be referred to by their given name, Mariam. The word "bin" or "binti"/"binte" means 'son of' or 'daughter of', respectively.

Mariam binti Abdul Aziz (born 1955/1956), also referred to as Mariam Aziz,^[1] is the former wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, married to him from 1981 to 2003.

Mariam مريم
Mariam in 2024
Born	Mariam binti Abdul Aziz 1955 or 1956 Brunei
Spouse	Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah ​ ​ (m. 1981; div. 2003)​
Issue	Prince Abdul Azim Princess Azemah Princess Fadzilah Prince Abdul Mateen
Names Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz Regnal name Yang Mulia Datin Paduka Seri Dayang Hajah Mariam binti Haji Abdul Aziz
Father	Haji Abdul Aziz bin Abdullah
Mother	Pengiran Hajah Rashida
Religion	Sunni Islam

Early life and education

Mariam binti Abdul Aziz, born around 1955 or 1956 in Brunei Town, worked as a flight attendant for Royal Brunei Airlines. Although she was a commoner, she came from a mixed heritage, being not of pure Malay descent. Her mother, Rashidah Saleh, was Bruneian, while her father, Jimmy Bell, born to a Scottish father and Japanese mother, was a government servant in Brunei. After marrying Rashidah, Jimmy Bell converted to Islam and took the name Abdul Aziz. As the fourth child in the family, Mariam was half Bruneian, a quarter English, and a quarter Japanese. She attended Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College in Brunei Town and was reportedly sympathetic to the outlawed Parti Rakyat Brunei (PRB) during her school years.^[2] She is also the sister of Pehin Dato Mohd Jaafar and Dato Mohd Samid.^[3]

Marriage

Mariam became the second wife of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah in a secret ceremony on 28 October 1981. Her marriage to the Sultan was initially met with strong disapproval from the Sultan's father, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, primarily because Mariam was a commoner of mixed heritage and not of pure Malay descent. However, by March-April 1987, Sultan Omar Ali reconciled and began accepting her as his daughter-in-law.^[2] Mariam has four children with the Sultan: two sons, Abdul Azim^[4] and Abdul Mateen,^[5] and two daughters, Fadzilah Lubabul Bolkiah^[6] and Azemah Ni'matul Bolkiah.^[7] It was also known that she has an adopted daughter, Afifa Abdullah.^[8]

Her family resides in Istana Nurul Izzah, a palace built for her by the Sultan at a cost of US$120 million. Although officially ranking second to Queen Saleha, Mariam is often perceived as more influential. The Sultan spends most of his time with her, both at home and during official and unofficial trips abroad. It is also rumored that she is leveraging her status to promote her son, Abdul Azim, as the heir apparent to the throne.^[2] She was the colonel-in-chief of the Royal Brunei Malay Regiment (RBMR) Women's Company (Kompeni Askar Wanita),^[9][10] which was founded in 1981.^[11]

After meeting in 1980, the couple got divorced in February 2003. Prince Sufri Bolkiah, the brother of the Sultan, announced the information on official television on 2 February 2003,^[12] that she was getting a divorce in accordance with the country's Sharia Islamic law. In government and commercial establishments, several images of the sultan's ex-wife that were displayed alongside to pictures of him and his first wife were swiftly taken down after the royal announcement. The monarch has 100 days to change his mind without requiring new marriage vows, but no explanation for the divorce was given.^[13]

Jewellery lawsuit

Mariam accused Fatimah Kumin Lim of stealing jewelry in two lawsuits in London.^[14] The judge concluded that the thief had illegally sold two diamonds and a diamond jewellery worth about £12.5 million. She lives in Singapore and is currently pursuing compensation for the theft. Mariam had previously testified in court that she had given a diamond bracelet to one of her bodyguards on a night out in 2008 for safekeeping and had not seen it since.^[15]

Social contributions

Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam is a non-profit, charitable organization dedicated to offering high-quality training, rehabilitation, and educational opportunities for people with special needs. Mariam serves as Pusat Ehsan's patron.^[16] The center was founded by the patron with the intention of improving the lives of people with impairments.^[17]

Together with Princess Masna on 8 May 2002, participated in tai chi during a mass charity exercise hosted by the Brunei Business Women's Association at the Hassanal Bolkiah National Stadium.^[18]

Titles, styles and honours

See also: List of honours of the Bruneian Royal Family by country

Honours

Mariam had her national awards revoked upon her divorce in 2003, despite this she still holds the title of Datin Paduka Seri as of 2022.^[19] She has been awarded the following awards:

National

• Royal Family Order of the Crown of Brunei (DKMB; 11 April 1987)
• Most Exalted Order of Famous Valour First Class (DPKT; 29 November 1996) – Datin Paduka Seri
• Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS; 1 August 1968)
• Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992).
• Proclamation of Independence Medal (1 January 1984)

Foreign

• Jordan:
  • Supreme Order of the Renaissance Grand Cordon (19 December 1984)
• Malaysia:
  • Malaysian Service Medal (PJM; 11 April 1987)
  • Royal Family Order of Kelantan (DK; 7 March 1999)
  • Royal Family Order of Johor First Class (DK I; 6 March 1997)
  • Order of the Crown of Johor Knight Grand Commander (SPMJ; 11 April 1987) – Datin Paduka
  • Order of the Star of the Hornbill of Sarawak Knight Commander (DA) – Datuk Amar
• South Korea:
  • Grand Order of Mugunghwa (6 April 1984)
• Egypt:
  • Order of the Virtues Supreme Class (17 December 1984)
• Thailand:
  • Dame Grand Cross of the Order of Chula Chom Klao (DGC; 26 August 2002)^[20][21]

Things named after her

Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque in 2022

• Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Hospital (PIHM Hospital), home to the fourth-largest district hospital in the nation. It is located at Temburong District's Bangar town.^[22]
• Pengiran Isteri Hajjah Mariam Secondary School (SMPIHM), a school in Kampong Serasa.^[23]
• Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam Mosque, a place of worship in Kampong Jerudong.^[24]