The former Commander of the Royal Brunei Armed Forces (RBAF) Major General (Udara) [MG (U)] Dato Seri Pahlawan Haji Hamzah bin Haji Sahat was conferred Singapore's highest military award, the Darjah Utama Bakti Cemerlang (Tentera) [(Distinguished Service Order (Military)], by President Halimah Yacob at the Istana this afternoon.

MG (U) Dato Hamzah was conferred the award for his significant contributions in enhancing the close and long-standing defence relations between the Singapore Armed Forces (SAF) and the RBAF. Under MG (U) Dato Hamzah's leadership, cooperation between the SAF and the RBAF grew from strength to strength through important bilateral exercises such as Exercise Maju Bersama, Exercise Pelican, and Exercise Airguard. Both militaries also continued to forge friendships and build trust through professional exchanges, training visits, and the cross-attendance of courses. Notably, both armed forces marked the 45th anniversary of defence ties in 2021.

MG (U) Dato Hamzah also supported fostering practical cooperation through multilateral platforms. The SAF and the RBAF work collaboratively and alongside each other at regional platforms such as the ASEAN Defence Ministers' Meeting (ADMM) and ADMM-Plus, the ADMM-Plus Experts' Working Group on Military Medicine which Brunei is co-chairing with Australia from 2021 to 2024, and the Counter Terrorism Information Facility. Under his leadership, the RBAF also successfully hosted the virtual 18th ASEAN Chiefs of Defence Forces Meeting in March 2021.

The investiture was attended by guests including Minister for Defence Dr Ng Eng Hen and Chief of Defence Force Lieutenant-General (LG) Melvyn Ong, as well as other senior government officials and military officers from Singapore.

MG (U) Dato Hamzah's visit from 10 to 14 July 2022 underscores the close and long-standing defence relations between Singapore and Brunei. MG (U) Dato Hamzah also called on Dr Ng and LG Ong earlier this afternoon at the Ministry of Defence.