THURSDAY, 25 JUNE 2026 – The Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Institute of Defence and Strategic Studies (SHHBIDSS) hosted a visit by Mr Joseph Leong, Permanent Secretary (Defence), Ministry of Defence of the Republic of Singapore, to the Institute.
Mr Joseph Leong was accompanied by Colonel Daxson Yap, Director of the Defence Policy Office; Colonel Joseph Lin, Director of Intelligence; Colonel Steven Ng, Defence Adviser of Singapore to Brunei Darussalam; and other accompanying officers. The delegation was received by Dayangku Dr Noor Hasharina binti Pengiran Haji Hassan, Director of SHHBIDSS.
During the visit, Mr Joseph Leong and the delegation were briefed on the Institute’s history, evolution, mandate, core functions and contributions in supporting the Ministry of Defence through research, strategic dialogue, defence diplomacy, stakeholder engagement and capacity-building. The engagement also provided an opportunity for both sides to exchange views on the role of defence think tanks and opportunities to strengthen professional engagement and institutional cooperation.
The delegation also received briefings from representatives from the Royal Brunei Armed Forces’ (RBAF) Special Operations Command (SOCOM) and the Combined Arms Training Centre (CATC), who shared insights into their respective roles, capabilities and ongoing initiatives. The briefings provided a broader appreciation of the Ministry of Defence’s efforts in strengthening operational readiness, professional military education and defence capabilities.
The visit formed part of Mr Joseph Leong’s introductory visit to Brunei Darussalam from 23 to 25 June 2026, held in conjunction with the commemoration of the 50th anniversary of bilateral defence relations between Brunei Darussalam and the Republic of Singapore.
SHHBIDSS has maintained longstanding and productive institutional engagements with Singapore counterparts, particularly through the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). These engagements have included participation in regional conferences, strategic dialogues, collaborative research and professional exchanges, reflecting the close defence and strategic ties between both countries. In the professional development of human resource capability, senior Singapore military officers have continuously participated in the Brunei Darussalam Ministry of Defence’s Executive Development Programme for Senior Government Officials (EDP) on an annual basis. The EDP is facilitated by SHHBIDSS with its delivery partner, the Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
The visit reaffirmed the longstanding institutional relationship between SHHBIDSS and its Singaporean counterparts while providing an opportunity to explore new avenues for cooperation in defence research, strategic dialogue and professional development. It also underscored the enduring defence partnership between Brunei Darussalam and Singapore, founded on mutual trust, regular engagement and close collaboration.
SETIAUSAHA TETAP (PERTAHANAN) KEMENTERIAN PERTAHANAN REPUBLIK SINGAPURA MENGADAKAN LAWATAN KE IPPSSHHB
KHAMIS, 25 JUN 2026 – Institut Pengajian Pertahanan dan Strategik Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah (IPPSSHHB) telah menerima kunjungan kerja daripada Tuan Joseph Leong, Setiausaha Tetap (Pertahanan), Kementerian Pertahanan Republik Singapura, ke Institut pada pagi ini.
Tuan Joseph Leong diiringi oleh Kolonel Daxson Yap, Pengarah Pejabat Dasar Pertahanan; Kolonel Joseph Lin, Pengarah Perisikan; Kolonel Steven Ng, Penasihat Pertahanan Singapura ke Negara Brunei Darussalam; serta beberapa pegawai yang lain. Delegasi tersebut telah dialu-alukan oleh Dayangku Dr Noor Hasharina binti Pengiran Haji Hassan, Pengarah IPPSSHHB.
Semasa lawatan tersebut, Tuan Joseph Leong dan delegasi telah diberikan taklimat mengenai sejarah penubuhan, perkembangan, fungsi utama serta sumbangan IPPSSHHB dalam menyokong Kementerian Pertahanan Negara Brunei Darussalam melalui penyelidikan, dialog strategik, diplomasi pertahanan, penglibatan bersama pihak berkepentingan dan pembangunan kapasiti. Taklimat tersebut turut mengetengahkan peranan IPPSSHHB dalam menyokong pembangunan dasar, penglibatan strategik serta pengukuhan kapasiti institusi di bawah Kementerian Pertahanan.
Taklimat tersebut diikuti dengan sesi soal jawab yang memberi peluang kepada kedua-dua pihak untuk bertukar pandangan mengenai peranan badan pemikir pertahanan serta peluang untuk memperkukuhkan penglibatan profesional dan kerjasama antara institusi.
Delegasi kemudiannya diberikan taklimat oleh wakil daripada Special Operations Command (SOCOM) dan Combined Arms Training Centre (CATC) dari Angkatan Bersenjata Diraja Brunei (ABDB), yang berkongsi mengenai peranan, keupayaan serta inisiatif semasa organisasi masing-masing. Taklimat tersebut memberikan gambaran yang lebih menyeluruh mengenai usaha berterusan Kementerian Pertahanan dalam memperkukuhkan kesiapsiagaan operasi, pendidikan ketenteraan profesional serta pembangunan keupayaan pertahanan.
Lawatan ini merupakan sebahagian daripada lawatan pengenalan Tuan Joseph Leong ke Negara Brunei Darussalam dari 23 hingga 25 Jun 2026, bersempena dengan sambutan ulang tahun ke-50 hubungan pertahanan dua hala antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Republik Singapura.
IPPSSHHB telah lama mengekalkan hubungan institusi yang erat dan produktif dengan rakan-rakan institusinya di Singapura, khususnya dengan S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies (RSIS). Kerjasama tersebut merangkumi penyertaan dalam persidangan serantau, dialog strategik, penyelidikan bersama serta pertukaran profesional, sekali gus mencerminkan hubungan pertahanan dan strategik yang kukuh antara kedua-dua negara. Dalam pembangunan profesional keupayaan sumber manusia, pegawai-pegawai kanan tentera Singapura telah secara berterusan menyertai Program Perkembangan Eksekutif bagi Pegawai-Pegawai Kanan Kerajaan anjuran Kementerian Pertahanan Brunei Darussalam secara tahunan. Program tersebut dikendalikan oleh IPPSSHHB bersama rakan pelaksananya, Lee Kuan Yew School of Public Policy, National University of Singapore.
Lawatan ini memberikan peluang yang bermakna untuk menegaskan semula hubungan yang telah lama terjalin antara IPPSSHHB dan rakan institusinya di Singapura, di samping meneroka peluang kerjasama yang lebih luas dalam bidang penyelidikan pertahanan, dialog strategik dan pembangunan profesional. Lawatan ini juga mencerminkan hubungan pertahanan yang erat antara Negara Brunei Darussalam dan Republik Singapura yang terus diperkukuhkan melalui penglibatan berterusan, kepercayaan bersama dan kerjasama yang kukuh.