Hayati binti Mohd Salleh

Hayati binti Haji Mohd Salleh (or simply Hayati Salleh)[1][2] is a Bruneian lawyer and the first female Attorney General of Brunei,[3] who served the office from 2009 to 2018.[4] She is also the first female judge in Brunei, as well as the first female High Court Judge in the Supreme Court of Brunei. She is also the first Bruneian Malay woman to be called to the English Bar.[3][5][6][7][8][9][10]

Hayati binti Mohd Salleh
حياتي بنت محمد صالح
Datin Hayati in 2017
6th Attorney General of Brunei
In office
4 August 2009 – 18 August 2018
MonarchHassanal Bolkiah
Preceded byKifrawi Kifli
Succeeded byHairol Arni
Personal details
BornBrunei
ParentSalleh Masri (father)
Alma mater
ProfessionLawyer
Known forOverseeing sharia law implementation in Brunei

In addition to her judicial responsibilities, she serves on a number of committees, such as the Law Revision Committee, the National Education Council, and the "Badan Perencana Kemajuan Jangka Panjang," which is charged with developing Brunei's long-term development strategy and overseeing its implementation. She also serves as the working committee's chairman for the Legal Profession Act.[11]

Education

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The Raja Isteri Fatimah Malay School (SMRIF), Raja Isteri Girls' High School (STPRI), and Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien College in Brunei provided the foundational education for Hayati. After receiving a Brunei Government Scholarship in 1974, she continued on to complete her 'A' Levels at Exeter College of Further Education in the United Kingdom, eventually earning a Bachelor of Arts (Law) Degree from the University of Exeter in 1979. She became a certified Barrister-At-Law of Lincoln's Inn in 1980.[12][11]

Career

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Hayati started working as a legal counsel and deputy public prosecutor in the Attorney General's Chambers. She thereafter moved to the State Judiciary Department where she served as a magistrate before becoming chief magistrate and deputy chief registrar of the Supreme Court, chief registrar and judge of the intermediate court, and judicial commissioner of the Supreme Court. She was the first woman to get such an honour when Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah appointed her as a High Court Judge on 1 January 2001.[12][11] On 4 August 2009, she was once again the first woman to be selected as Attorney General.[13] On 29 May 2010, that position was upgraded to a Ministerial status.[5] She was a member of the cabinet in the reshuffles of 2005,[14] 2010,[15] 2015,[16] and 2018.[17]

She was responsible for overseeing the implementation of sharia law in Brunei.[18][19] For Brunei's legal system, the 2013 implementation of the Sharia Penal Code Order represents a significant development. To provide justice in line with the due process of the law is the primary goal of criminal justice law. Criminal offenses have traditionally been subject to the civil courts' and religious courts' jurisdiction. The Sharia Penal Code gives sharia courts the authority to hear cases involving offenses against Islam, such as intoxicated drinking, failing to give zakat (alms), or disrespecting Ramadan.[20]

On the request of Datin Hayati, Professor Cao Jianming visited Brunei for business from 24 to 26 November 2017. The Supreme People's Procuratorate and the Attorney General's Chambers of Brunei signed a joint statement after agreeing to further increase communication and collaboration between the two prosecutor offices.[21] On 24 January 2018, the president of the Law Society of Brunei Darussalam, On Hung Zheng, paid Datin Hayati a courtesy call in the law building. They spoke about topics of mutual interest, including methods to improve the standard of legal services in Brunei Darussalam and potential avenues for collaboration.[22]

On 9 August 2018, His Majesty has approved the appointment of Dato Hairol Arni as Attorney General to take the place of Datin Hayati in accordance with the Sultan of Brunei's directive.[23]

Personal life

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Datin Hayati is the eldest daughter of aristocrat and politician, Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar Dato Seri Paduka Salleh.[12][5]

Awards and honours

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On 15 July 1999, she was bestowed the title of Datin Paduka, also styled as Yang Berhormat (The Honourable).[12] Her title was later promoted to Datin Seri Paduka on 15 July 2011.[24] Throughout her career, Hayati has earned the following honours:[11]

Awards

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  • Salute to Brunei Women Achievers Award (given by Asia Inc Forum; 2008)[5]

Honours

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References

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  1. ^ "Brunei introduces Islamic sharia penalties, including death by stoning for adultery". The Sydney Morning Herald. 2 May 2014. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  2. ^ Grandossi, Eve (27 August 2017). "Brunei, ¿una fábrica de felicidad? | Reportajes | MG Magazine". www.magazinedigital.com (in Spanish). Archived from the original on 13 April 2021. Retrieved 24 July 2022.
  3. ^ a b Hoon, Shaun, ed. (n.d.). "The 50 Most Influential Women in Brunei" (PDF). Inspire. No. Apr – Jun 2014. p. 28. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  4. ^ "Pelantikan peguam negara dan pegawai kanan". Media Permata Online (in Malay). 10 August 2018. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d "Datin Seri Paduka Hjh. Hayati". YES Inspire | Magazines. 2 February 2016. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  6. ^ "Biography:HER EXCELLENCY MRS HAYATI SALLEH ATTORNEY GENERAL BRUNEI DARUSSALAM".
  7. ^ "Princess Hjh Masna presents eight women with special achievement awards". sultanate.com. 20 August 2008. Retrieved 15 December 2017.
  8. ^ Sidhu, Jatswan S. (20 December 2016). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442264595.
  9. ^ House, Freedom (10 October 2013). Freedom in the World 2013: The Annual Survey of Political Rights and Civil Liberties. Rowman & Littlefield. ISBN 9781442225671.
  10. ^ Berhormat, Yang (2018). "DATIN SERI PADUKA HAJAH HAYATI BINTI POKSDSP HAJI MOHD SALLEH ATTORNEY GENERAL" (PDF). KEY NOTE SPEECH AT INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY EVENT (2018): ‘PRESS FOR PROGRESS’.
  11. ^ a b c d "Datin Hayati". Program Book BIMP-EAGA. 2005. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d Sidhu, Jatswan S. (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 98. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
  13. ^ "Sultanate - News | Negara Brunei Darussalam | Sultan appoints first Bruneian Chief Justice". www.sultanate.com. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  14. ^ "Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan dan Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 21 (published 25 May 2005). 24 May 2005. p. 1. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  15. ^ Masri, Ubaidillah (30 May 2010). "HM reshuffles Cabinet, appoints first woman deputy minister | The BT Archive". btarchive.org. Archived from the original on 19 July 2022. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  16. ^ "Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan, Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 127 (published 24 October 2015). 22 October 2015. p. 3. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  17. ^ "Jawatan Mufti Kerajaan, Peguam Negara bertaraf Menteri" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). No. 14 (published 31 January 2018). 30 January 2018. p. 4. Retrieved 23 July 2022.
  18. ^ Yusuf, Irfan (6 May 2014). "More to sharia law than stonings and beheadings". The Sydney Morning Herald. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  19. ^ "Practising a dual criminal justice system". The Borneo Post. 23 October 2013. Archived from the original on 23 July 2022. Retrieved 31 January 2017.
  20. ^ "Datin Seri Paduka Hayati Salleh, Attorney General, on the introduction of sharia legal principles: Viewpoint - Asia 2014 - Oxford Business Group". 30 November 2014. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  21. ^ "Delegation of the Supreme People's Procuratorate of China Visited Brunei". bn.china-embassy.gov.cn. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  22. ^ "Attorney General, Law Society President hold fruitful talks – Law Society of Brunei Darussalam". Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  23. ^ "Pelantikan peguam negara dan pegawai kanan » Media Permata Online". Pelantikan peguam negara dan pegawai kanan. 10 August 2018. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
  24. ^ a b "HM 65th Birthday Awards". HM 65th Birthday Awards. Retrieved 26 August 2023.
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Legal offices
Preceded by 6th Attorney General of Brunei
4 August 2009 – 18 August 2018
Succeeded by