Mohammad Abdul Rahman Piut

He was born in 1906, to parents of nobility Pengiran Abdul Rahman Piut and Pengiran Rahima. For his education, he went to Malay College Kuala Kangsar, Perak.[3] He was one of the two teachers sent to Melaka Teachers' College (Maktab Perguruan Melaka) in Malacca, Malaysia.[5]

In April 1929, L. R. Watts, the Wireless Engineer, was summoned back to Singapore, and for the rest of the year, Pengiran Mohammad, the Chief Operator, served as the Officer in Charge of the department.[6] When the Japanese invaded and occupied Brunei during World War II, they drove out all foreigners, leaving just the native labor, including Pengiran Mohammad, who had been working in telecommunications for the British. Before Australian soldiers arrived in Borneo in the middle of 1945, the area was heavily bombed by Allied Forces and held by the Japanese military. He had been punished by the Japanese military occupation, and his family had endured hardship.[7]

He later sent a letter from prison, with it discussing both political and personal aspects of the Japanese occupation period. He says that there were two distinct groups of Japanese people: the military and the government. The brutality came from the soldiers. The government employees were identical to everyone else. Children were treated well by them. He also succinctly refutes the Japanese notion that their conquest of Asia during World War I, which included Brunei, freed the people there from European colonialism:[7]

Well as hindsight, the Japanese came here; this is what they're saying later. That they're going to liberate us in Brunei, or all this part of the world in Southeast Asia. To liberate these countries from being a colony of the British. But once they get rid of the British, why stay here for four years? That is one big question mark. If they really said that they want to liberate us, why stay for four years and why keep soldiers here for that period and frightening the inhabitants of the country. That's one big question mark to me.

After the liberation of Brunei, he was among three representatives of Brunei attending of London Victory Celebrations of 1946. Awarded the title of "National Hero" for his perseverance and expertise in radio technology in order to communicate with the British Forces.[3] He later continued his work as a wireless engineer, and appointed as a member of the State Council in 1949.[1] As of 1957, he became the Controller of Telecommunications,[8] and would go on to retire at that post in 1966.[4] Additionally, he has been a member of the Privy Council throughout the 1960s and 1970s.[9] According to the Brunei Annual Report 1971, he succeeded Prince Mohamed Bolkiah in the position of Pengiran Temenggong.[10]

On 25 May 1976, Pengiran Mohammad died at the age of 71, and was given a full honorary state funeral. It was attended by several officials which included the British High Commissioner, Wazirs, Cheterias, Manteri-Manteri, and Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah himself. He was buried at Kubah Makam Di Raja.[11][4]

Upon taking up as one of the wazirs of Brunei, he was bestowed the title of Yang Teramat Mulia Seri Paduka Pengiran Temenggong Sahibul Bahar at Lapau, on 20 October 1971.[10][18] He had previously held the cheteria title of Pengiran Kerma Indera.[19][4]

Pengiran Mohammad has earned the following honours;[20]

• Family Order of Laila Utama (DK) – Dato Laila Utama
• Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB) – Dato Seri Paduka
• Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB) – Dato Setia
• Order of Pahlawan Negara Brunei Third Class (PNB)
• Order of Perwira Agong Negara Brunei First Class (PANB; 2 October 1963)[21]
• Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
• Omar Ali Saifuddin Medal First Class (POAS; 23 September 1958)[22]
• Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)

•  United Kingdom:
  • King George VI Coronation Medal (1951)[23]
  • Order of the British Empire Member (OBE)