Brunei Hall located at Norfolk Square in London, UK is celebrating its 35th anniversary this Friday. Picture: Courtesy of Brunei Hall.
FORMER residents of Brunei Hall in London are organising a reunion to celebrate the 35-year anniversary of the hostel's establishment this Friday, May 21.
The event, which will be held at the Jerudong Park Country Club, is expected to draw over 100 people, comprising former students from the 1975-78 batch.
"The gathering is an 'excuse to meet' and to reminisce nostalgic moments of the good old days," said Hj Azahari Hj Mohamad Ali, former president of the Brunei Students Union.
The present Brunei Hall, located at 35/43 Norfolk Square, Paddington, is the only place that the students considered as a "home away from home".
That was also when Brunei started to send scholarship students abroad, in particular to the UK, for them to come back and help develop the country.
"It was the late Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien's vision of memandaikan (educating) Bruneians," said Hj Azahari. The former president added, "The ministers are the product of the '70s."
According to him, they considered Brunei Hall a personal gift from His Majesty to the Bruneian students in the UK.
Prior to the new building, the students in London were housed at an 11-bedroom house in Bayswater which was no longer able to accommodate the growing number of students.
"It was getting crowded especially when we had to organise events like Hari Raya celebrations. On a particular day, we paid a visit to Al-marhum Begawan and His Majesty when they were in London. Al-marhum asked us whether we had any problems," Hj Azahari said looking back.
The group then presented their requests on the need for a new hostel; increase in allowances; a Bruneian warden, a welfare officer and a religious teacher.
"He told me to ask the Sultan who gave a positive signal." This was a portrayal of their concerns on the welfare of Bruneian students studying abroad."
The titah was presented to Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Hj Umar, the national historian who was the Chairman of Scholarship Council back then; Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Abdul Aziz Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Hj Umar who was the State Secretary; and Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pg Hj Abdul Momin, who was the Chief Minister.
"If they didn't begin what they did, we (Bruneians) wouldn't be where we are now. We wouldn't have achieved our independence," Hj Azahari said. He elaborated, "We wanted to be independent but back then we didn't have the (qualified) people to run the country."
"They realised that there were certain positions which had to be filled. They knew what they wanted," he continued.
Education was already identified as the key driving factor.
"Now, Al-marhum, His Majesty and our old visionaries have more or less achieved what they wanted - not all objectives but it's (an ongoing) journey."
With His Majesty's consent, Hj Azahari along with two other people - a welfare officer and a Brunei representative, went scouting for potential buildings to turn into a hostel. Their choices revolved around the need for this new hostel to have a hall so it would be easier to hold gatherings.
They decided on a building called Sheridan Hotel, which at that time was still in operation.
The intention to purchase the building which was at a strategic location, was met with objections but the Brunei representative who was a former British resident in Brunei managed to secure the approval by assuring the Privy Council that it was "not going to be an ordinary hostel".
The assumption was that having a hostel at the location would be disruptive but the Bruneian students proved to be a well-attired, orderly and organised group said Hj Azahari.
"The needs of the students were fulfilled. The Brunei Hall is more than just a place to stay. It's where we trained ourselves to become leaders," said Hj Azahari.
To the first residents of Brunei Hall, the building is the centre where the Bruneian students gathered and strengthened bonds which was very close. "It was like a little Brunei.
The event, which will be held at the Jerudong Park Country Club, is expected to draw over 100 people, comprising former students from the 1975-78 batch.
"The gathering is an 'excuse to meet' and to reminisce nostalgic moments of the good old days," said Hj Azahari Hj Mohamad Ali, former president of the Brunei Students Union.
The present Brunei Hall, located at 35/43 Norfolk Square, Paddington, is the only place that the students considered as a "home away from home".
That was also when Brunei started to send scholarship students abroad, in particular to the UK, for them to come back and help develop the country.
"It was the late Sultan Omar 'Ali Saifuddien's vision of memandaikan (educating) Bruneians," said Hj Azahari. The former president added, "The ministers are the product of the '70s."
According to him, they considered Brunei Hall a personal gift from His Majesty to the Bruneian students in the UK.
Prior to the new building, the students in London were housed at an 11-bedroom house in Bayswater which was no longer able to accommodate the growing number of students.
"It was getting crowded especially when we had to organise events like Hari Raya celebrations. On a particular day, we paid a visit to Al-marhum Begawan and His Majesty when they were in London. Al-marhum asked us whether we had any problems," Hj Azahari said looking back.
The group then presented their requests on the need for a new hostel; increase in allowances; a Bruneian warden, a welfare officer and a religious teacher.
"He told me to ask the Sultan who gave a positive signal." This was a portrayal of their concerns on the welfare of Bruneian students studying abroad."
The titah was presented to Pehin Jawatan Dalam Seri Maharaja Dato Seri Utama (Dr) Hj Mohd Jamil Al-Sufri Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Hj Umar, the national historian who was the Chairman of Scholarship Council back then; Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Wijaya Dato Seri Setia (Dr) Hj Abdul Aziz Begawan Pehin Udana Khatib Dato Seri Paduka Hj Umar who was the State Secretary; and Pengiran Dipa Negara Laila Diraja Pg Hj Abdul Momin, who was the Chief Minister.
"If they didn't begin what they did, we (Bruneians) wouldn't be where we are now. We wouldn't have achieved our independence," Hj Azahari said. He elaborated, "We wanted to be independent but back then we didn't have the (qualified) people to run the country."
"They realised that there were certain positions which had to be filled. They knew what they wanted," he continued.
Education was already identified as the key driving factor.
"Now, Al-marhum, His Majesty and our old visionaries have more or less achieved what they wanted - not all objectives but it's (an ongoing) journey."
With His Majesty's consent, Hj Azahari along with two other people - a welfare officer and a Brunei representative, went scouting for potential buildings to turn into a hostel. Their choices revolved around the need for this new hostel to have a hall so it would be easier to hold gatherings.
They decided on a building called Sheridan Hotel, which at that time was still in operation.
The intention to purchase the building which was at a strategic location, was met with objections but the Brunei representative who was a former British resident in Brunei managed to secure the approval by assuring the Privy Council that it was "not going to be an ordinary hostel".
The assumption was that having a hostel at the location would be disruptive but the Bruneian students proved to be a well-attired, orderly and organised group said Hj Azahari.
"The needs of the students were fulfilled. The Brunei Hall is more than just a place to stay. It's where we trained ourselves to become leaders," said Hj Azahari.
To the first residents of Brunei Hall, the building is the centre where the Bruneian students gathered and strengthened bonds which was very close. "It was like a little Brunei.
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