Abu Bakar bin Haji Apong (born 19 September 1948) is a Bruneian aristocrat, civil servant, and politician who previously held several key ministerial positions. He served as minister of health from 1998 to 2005, minister of communications from 2005 to 2010, minister of education from 2010 to 2015, and minister of home affairs from 2015 to 2022. He had one of the longest tenures in government, serving for the second-longest period in Brunei.
Abu Bakar played an important role in the development of higher education in Brunei, particularly as one of the founding members of Universiti Brunei Darussalam (UBD). He pushed for the production of the university's first doctoral graduates and made key changes. As Minister of Education (MoE), he supported initiatives like leadership programs and Brunei's participation in the Programme for International Student Assessment (PISA) to improve student performance. Abu Bakar also highlighted the importance of parental involvement in education and the ongoing improvements to the education system.
Early life and education Abu Bakar was born on 19 September 1948 in Kampong Setia Pahlawan of Kampong Ayer His early education began at Lela Menchanai Malay School from 1955 to 1957, followed by Sultan Muhammad Jamalul Alam Malay School in the same year. He then attended Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College from 1958 to 1968, graduating in 1964 alongside then-Prince Hassanal Bolkiah, Eusoff Agaki Ismail, and Goh King Chin.
Abu Bakar graduated with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) from the University of Malaya in Malaysia in 1972. That same year, he began his career as an education officer. In 1974, he furthered his studies by earning a Diploma of Education from the National Institute of Education in Singapore. He then joined Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Malay College, initially as a teaching staff member, before being appointed principal in 1974. From 1975 to 1979, he served as the secretary of the Brunei Education Council. In 1980, he completed his Master of Arts at Lancaster University. Political career Early career Upon returning from the United Kingdom, Abu Bakar served as the head of the Planning, Research, and Guidance Unit in the Department of Education from 1975 to 1980. He then moved to the Personnel Office, where he became the head of the Training Unit from 1980 to 1981. Between 1981 and 1984, he worked as a senior administrative officer in the General Counsel Department under the sultan. In 1984, he was appointed director of studies. Additionally, Abu Bakar held the position of deputy vice-chancellor at UBD from 1985 to 1986.
Abu Bakar was appointed permanent secretary of the Prime Minister's Office, where he served from 1986 to 1991. During this period, he also chaired the Council of Asian Pacific Development Center in Kuala Lumpur from 1987 to 1988. He then took on the role of vice-chancellor at UBD, holding this position from 1991 to 1999. His contributions extended to Brunei's energy sector, where, as a director on the board of Brunei Shell Companies, he reported that the country's crude oil output for 1991 was expected to exceed the conservation target, reaching an estimated 163,000 barrels per day—well above the planned 150,000 barrels per day. Additionally, he highlighted that Brunei's crude oil exports to ASEAN would account for 34% of total sales, marking a 2% increase from the previous year. In an October 1991 meeting of the ASEAN Council on Petroleum, Abu Bakar forecasted that upcoming exploration activities could lead to significant discoveries of new oil and gas reserves.
In October 1992, Abu Bakar became the managing director of YSHHB. That same year, he was appointed secretary of Brunei Research Councils, serving until 1999. He also held a position as a board member of the Borneo Research Council (BRC) from 1994 to 1999. In June 1996, at the BRC's fourth biennial conference, Abu Bakar stressed the importance of preserving oral traditions and traditional knowledge. He highlighted the close connection between biodiversity conservation and the protection of indigenous people's cultural practices, particularly those dependent on the environment. Between December 1996 and November 1998, he served as president of the Association of Southeast Asian Institutions of Higher Learning.
His career continued to progress as he was promoted to permanent secretary (professional) at MoE, where he served from 1999 until May 2002. At the same time, he was the chief executive officer of the Mahkota Al-Muhtadee Billah Young Investment Fund in May 1999, and chairman and managing director of Islamic Bank of Brunei and its subsidiaries in July 2001.
Minister of Health Abu Bakar's ministerial career began when he was named minister of health on 17 May 2002, one of two new cabinet members, along with Ahmad Jumat, who was named development minister. This change was made in the midst of criticism of the cabinet's long-standing stability, with some doubting its capacity to handle the difficulties associated with economic diversification and guide the nation into the new millennium. Abu Bakar spoke against stigma and prejudice during the World AIDS Campaign, which focused on the theme "Stigma and Discrimination: Live and Let Live" from 2002 to 2003.
On 7 July 2003, during the 2002–2004 SARS outbreak, Abu Bakar announced that the Quarantine and Disease Prevention Act of 1984 would be replaced by the Infectious Diseases Order 2003, developed to better control and prevent infectious diseases such as HIV/AIDS, Ebola, Plague, yellow fever, and SARS. As the acting minister of culture, youth and sports, he also presided over the handover of the national flag for Brunei's athletes competing in the 2nd ASEAN Para Games in Hanoi on 17 December 2003. In June 2004, Abu Bakar launched the "Danger of Smoking and 30 Days Without Smoking" awareness campaign, aimed at raising awareness of the risks of smoking and promoting coordinated efforts to tackle tobacco use in Brunei.
Minister of Communications Abu Bakar was appointed minister of communications in the 2005 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle on 24 May, succeeding Zakaria Sulaiman. On 1 April 2006, he announced the creation of the Authority for Info-communications Technology Industry, an independent regulator overseeing ICT policies, spectrum management, and licensing, at the corporatisation of Brunei Telecom Department into Telekom Brunei. In September, he chaired the TELMIN+1 Sessions with ASEAN Dialogue Partners. On 25 November, Abu Bakar inaugurated the new B$2 million Kuala Belait Port office building, designed to centralise port services and improve maritime monitoring in the Belait River area.
On 16 January 2007, Abu Bakar officially opened the 32nd ASEAN Ports Association (APA) meeting in Gadong, emphasising the importance of innovation, cooperation, and efficient port operations to tackle industry challenges and boost global competitiveness. He commended APA's initiatives in management, human resource development, and security, particularly in adhering to the ISPS Code. On 22 February 2007, Abu Bakar launched Customer Day at the YSHHB Complex, urging the Brunei Postal Services Department to modernise and focus on customer-centric services. He also introduced 12 new permanent stamps to emphasise innovation and quality service.
In January 2010, Abu Bakar spoke at the International Telecommunication Union's Regional Human Capacity Development Forum, highlighting Brunei's goal to become a knowledge-based economy by 2035. He emphasised capacity-building, ICT certifications, integrating ICT into education, and the need for mindset shifts to meet evolving demands. On 7 January, he presided over the opening of the Bangar Boat and Passenger Terminal in Temburong District, later touring the facility, which aims to enhance Brunei's economic growth and improve connectivity for both locals and visitors. On 18 January, during a farewell meeting with the Swedish ambassador, Abu Bakar discussed the need for new initiatives in Brunei–Sweden relations, particularly in ICT, highlighting growing collaboration, especially with major firms like Ericsson and Saab AB.
Minister of Education Abu Bakar was appointed minister of education during the 2010 Bruneian cabinet reshuffle on 29 May, and took office on 9 June for a five-year term. On 26 September, he highlighted the role of teachers in improving education, referencing global best practices and Brunei's School Leadership Program (SLP). He also praised educators for their innovative strategies and discussed literacy, numeracy, and the upcoming PISA assessment. On 2 November, he encouraged school leaders to embrace creativity and praised initiatives aimed at developing self-sufficient principals and improving both academic and non-academic outcomes.
On 6 April 2011, Abu Bakar marked the 40th anniversary of Jefri Bolkiah College of Engineering with a groundbreaking ceremony for its B$8 million expansion, aimed at enhancing engineering and marine facilities. On 25 July, he emphasised the importance of digital skills, civic responsibility, and teamwork in education to help students thrive in a globalised world. On 19 October, he updated the Legislative Council (LegCo) on the National Education System for the 21st Century (SPN21) and education initiatives, including the Building Improvement of Schools project. On 12 November, he revealed plans for a new secondary school in Temburong and discussed infrastructure upgrades at Sultan Hassan Secondary School.
On 15 February 2012, Abu Bakar highlighted educational programs designed to improve student proficiency, including the home connection program, literacy and numeracy interventions, and phonics-based English and Malay. He emphasised the importance of continuous monitoring, assessment, and adaptation of these initiatives, with active involvement from parents, educators, and the community, as part of MoE's broader efforts to implement SPN21. On 14 March, Abu Bakar discussed the challenges of securing suitable land for a school in Kampong Mumong due to the presence of peat soil, explaining the cost implications of replacing it, and outlined the ministry's efforts to address teacher shortages by hiring over 170 graduates, while stressing the importance of the education system and the need for better recruitment practices.
Earlier in the year, Abu Bakar became the 33rd Lee Kuan Yew Exchange Fellow, visiting Singapore from 1 to 9 April 2012 as the third Bruneian recipient, accompanied by his wife and members of MoE. On 17 April, he delivered a talk on " (MIB) in Education," highlighting the importance of the nation's philosophy as the people's identity and its integration into education. The talk aimed to help around 400 students from various faculties understand, apply, and assess the MIB concept in their daily lives. Later, Abu Bakar participated in the fifth APEC Education Ministers Meeting and conducted a working visit to South Korea from 21 to 23 May 2012.
On 20 August 2013, Abu Bakar welcomed Singapore's minister of education, Heng Swee Keat, and they discussed enhancing educational cooperation between Brunei and Singapore, focusing on higher education, early childhood education, and teaching methods, while reviewing the outcomes of joint initiatives since 2006.