Ya'akub Zainal

Ya'akub bin Haji Zainal (born 5 July 1941) is a Bruneian aristocrat, politician and former police officer who served as the police commissioner of the Royal Brunei Police Force (RBPF) from 1997 to 2001, and member of Legislative Council (LegCo) from 2011 to 2015. Notably, he is the advisor of Retired Personnel of the Royal Brunei Police Force Association (POLSARA).^[1]^[2]

Quick facts Member of the Legislative Council, Commissioner of Police ...

Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna Dato Paduka Seri Ya'akub Zainal DPKT DSLJ PBLI PJK PIKB JMN
يعقوب زاءينل
Ya'akub in 2016

Member of the Legislative Council
In office 1 June 2011 – 11 February 2015
Commissioner of Police
In office 11 March 1997 – 9 April 2001
Monarch	Hassanal Bolkiah
Deputy	Abdul Rahman Johan
Preceded by	Abdul Rahman Besar
Succeeded by	Abdul Rahman Johan

Personal details
Born	(1941-07-05) 5 July 1941 (age 84) Kampong Lurong Dalam, Brunei Town, Brunei
Alma mater	Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College
Police career
Country	Brunei
Department	Royal Brunei Police Force
Service years	1962–2001
Rank	Commissioner

Early life and education

On 5 July 1941, Ya'akub is born in the Bruneian village of Kampong Lurong Dalam of Kampong Ayer. He had his early education at Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College after attending Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Malay School (SMJA) to grade 5. He first began work as a Clerk Grade 'B' in the Department of Studies in the government of Brunei on 9 March 1961.^[3]

Police career

Ya'akub received approval to join the RBPF as a probationary inspector on 6 June 1962. Following his completion of basic training, he was posted to the Kuala Belait police station, specifically serving as the chief of police station's assistant. After serving in the police force for 39 years, he retired on 5 July 1996, with the title of deputy commissioner. On 11 March 1997, he returned to the service and served as police commissioner. He would officially be replaced on 9 April 2001,^[3] despite Abdul Rahman Johan was the acting police commissioner since 4 May 2000.^[4]

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Political career

Borneo Bulletin formally declared on 31 May 2011, that he will join the Legislative Council, effective 1 June.^[5] He traveled from Brunei as part of the delegation to the 20th Asia Pacific Parliamentary Forum (APPF) in Japan from 8 to 12 January 2012, and the ASEAN Inter-Parliamentary Assembly (AIPA) in September 2011.^[3]

Ya'akub proposed establishing halal product factories in Brunei during the 11th LegCo Meeting in March 2015, expecting government allocation of funds to ensure both national benefit and citizen welfare.^[6] He presented ideas and opinions on 18 March, regarding the creation of a national fund and the replacement of the current Brunei Museum with a new structure in Bandar Seri Begawan.^[7] On 23 March, he cited the migration of Kampong Ayer people to the mainland as a major element in the water village's decline. He noted a noticeable migration of locals in search of land for National Housing Scheme homes.^[8]

Honours

Ya'akub is bestowed the Manteri title of Yang Berhormat Pehin Orang Kaya Maharaja Kerna on 17 April 2004.^[9] He has earned the following honours:^[3]^[10]

National

Order of Paduka Keberanian Laila Terbilang First Class (DPKT) – Dato Paduka Seri
Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa
Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI)
Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
Excellent Service Medal (PIKB)
Police Long Service Medal (PKLP)
Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)
General Service Medal (Police)