Ahmad bin Jumat is a Bruneian nobleman, diplomat and politician who is the current representative of Brunei Darussalam to the ASEAN Intergovernmental Commission on Human Rights (AICHR). He formerly held the position of Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports (MCYS) from 2010 to 2008, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources (MIPR) from 2005 to 2008, and Minister of Development (MOD) from 2002 to 2008.
Biography
Education
Ahmad's education background includes a Bachelor of Arts (BA) from the University of Malaya in Malaysia, Master of Education (MEd) from the University of Alberta in Canada, and Doctor of Education (D.Ed.) from the University of Southern California in the United States.
Career
An overview of his career is as follows; a Brunei administrative officer in Menteri Besar Office from 1965 to 1969, an educational administrator and senior administrator with the Department of Education from 1969 to 1971, the head of planning unit with the Department of Education from 1973 to 1975, the deputy director of education from 1975 to 1977, the director of education from 1977 to 1982, the director of establishment in the head of State Civil Service from 1982 to 1983, the director of diplomatic services from 1983 to 1984, the permanent secretary at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs from 1984 to 1986, the Deputy Minister of Education from 1986 to 2001, Acting Minister of Development in 2001, Minister of Development from 2002 to 2005, Minister of Industry and Primary Resources from 2005 to 2008, Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports from 2008 to 2010, and currently the Representative of Brunei Darussalam to the AICHR since November 2011.
Minister of Development
By bolstering the research and development (R&D) infrastructure and human resource base in science, technology, and engineering in the ASEAN member states, the ASEAN Ministers (including Ahmad) responsible for science and technology, seek to contribute to the realization of these goals. This is done in support of the overall regional goals of enhancing economic integration and building competitiveness. Announcing the creation and operation of the Asean Virtual Institute of Science and Technology (AVIST), the ministerial declaration on 27 November 2004.
Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD) organized the international conference Contemporary Issues in Economic Development of Small States, which took place from 5 to 6 January 2005, at UBD's Chancellor's Hall. The event was officiated by Pehin Mohammad Daud, while Pehin Ahmad gave the Keynote Address.
Minister of Industry and Primary Resources
Government and business organizations should collaborate to change young people's perspectives away from heavily favoring careers in the public sector and toward ones that are entrepreneurial and business-savvy. During the Legislative Council meeting on 5 March 2008, Pehin Ahmad, made the appeal. Out of a total population of 391,000, the minister pointed out that 71,000 people, including those who are paid on a daily basis, are employed by the government in Brunei. He also believed that a number of government organizations and even some private businesses ought to contribute to encouraging locals to start their own businesses.
Minister of Culture, Youth and Sports
The three countries of Borneo, Brunei, Indonesia, and Malaysia, signed a historic proclamation in February 2007 to show their dedication to ensuring a healthy future for Borneo's highland rainforest. The Heart of Borneo Initiative aims to promote conservation and sustainable development that enhances the welfare of island residents while minimizing deforestation, forest degradation, and the resulting loss of biodiversity and ecosystem services. Ministers Pehin Ahmad, M. S. Kaban, and Dato' Azmi bin Khalid sign the Heart of Borneo Declaration on behalf of the three Bornean governments.
The Islamic Religious Council and the MCYS' Community Development Department provided financial assistance to 21,608 people, or 5.54 percent of Brunei's total population, in 2007. The fund, which has a total annual budget allocation of $22.6 million, is designated for the population considered to be below the relative poverty threshold. At the opening ceremony of the two-day regional seminar with the theme "History in the country's development," co-organized by the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation and Brunei History Association (Pesebar), at UBD, Pehin Ahmad made this point.