Abdul Azim
Prince Azim at the 2nd ASEAN Autism Network Congress in April 2013
Born(1982-07-29)29 July 1982
Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Died24 October 2020(2020-10-24) (aged 38)
Jerudong Park Medical Centre, Bandar Seri Begawan
Burial24 October 2020
Kubah Makam Di Raja, Bandar Seri Begawan
Names
Al Marhum Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Haji 'Abdul 'Azim Ibni Kebawah Duli Yang Maha Mulia Paduka Seri Baginda Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Muizzaddin Waddaulah
HouseBolkiah
FatherSultan Hassanal Bolkiah
MotherHajah Mariam
ReligionSunni Islam
OccupationFilm producer
Education

Abdul Azim ibni Hassanal Bolkiah (Malay: Duli Yang Teramat Mulia Paduka Seri Pengiran Muda Haji 'Abdul 'Azim; 29 July 1982 – 24 October 2020) was the second-born prince of Hassanal Bolkiah, Sultan of Brunei. He was fourth in line to succeed the throne of Brunei until his death on 24 October 2020.

Early life and education

Prince Azim was born in Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei on 29 July 1982.[1][2] He was the second-born child of the Sultan of Brunei, Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, and Pengiran Isteri Hajah Mariam. He was educated at International School Brunei, Raffles Institution, and Oxford Brookes University.[1]

Post-university

In 2008, Prince Azim was sent to attend the nine-month officer training course at the Royal Military Academy Sandhurst, but he dropped out after one week.[3]

In 2009, he designed unisex weekend bags for MCM.[4] The proceeds went to the Make A Wish Foundation UK, a charity in which he is one of the patrons.[5]

In May 2011, at a charity show in Brunei Darussalam, held at the Empire Hotel and Country Club's Indera Samudra Hall at which 31 persons with autism performed, Prince Azim said that those with autism should be treated with respect, "as would to any of your family members".[6] On 27 April 2013 at the opening of the 2nd ASEAN Autism Network (AAN) Congress, he urged that appropriate support be given to families with autistic family members.[7]

Prince Azim was a producer with the London-based film company Daryl Prince Productions which produced You're Not You. The implementation of sharia law by his father was poorly received in Hollywood and led to a boycott of properties owned by Brunei. Azim is thought to have cancelled his attendance at a party for buyers of You're Not You because of the controversy.[8] He was a prominent figure of the international jetset.[9][10] Prince Azim was reported to have had a net worth of US$5 billion at the time of his death.[11]

Personal life

In April 2019, Prince Azim was outed as gay by blogger Perez Hilton, in response to the Sultan of Brunei's introduction of Sharia law, which included the death penalty for gay people.[12] Prince Azim responded by saying that he did not mind being outed, but he was concerned that it "probably hurt a few people in the community".[13]

Philanthropy

Prince Azim was an advocate for the arts and creative industries and championed and donated to several causes around youth and people with disabilities.[14]

Death

Prince Azim died on 24 October 2020 at the Jerudong Park Medical Centre in Jerudong following a long battle against an undisclosed illness. He was 38 years old at the time of his death.[15][16] The official announcement of his death was made later on the day he died. The government of Brunei also announced a seven-day period of mourning and ordered all national flags be lowered to half-mast.[14]

He was laid to rest beside his grandfather, Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III, at the Royal Mausoleum in Bandar Seri Begawan after the Asar prayers.[17]

His funeral and burial ceremony was attended by the Brunei Royal Family, state dignitaries and cabinet ministers. Among the foreign guests who were present to give their last respects was Tunku Idris Iskandar as representative of the Sultan of Johor.[18]

A day after his death, the Sultan of Johor ordered all state flags in the state of Johor be lowered to half-mast in respect of the late prince.[19]

Some celebrities on social media like Daniel Lismore[20] and Janet Jackson offered their condolences.[21]

On 27 October 2020, his brother Prince Mateen released a post on Instagram that stated that the cause of death was multiple organ failure which was caused by severe systemic vasculitis which Prince Azim was diagnosed with early into 2020.[22]

Honours

  • Sultan of Brunei Silver Jubilee Medal (5 October 1992)

Legacy

Namesakes

    Ancestry

    References

    1. 1 2 "HRH Prince Azim passes away at 38". The Scoop. 24 October 2020. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
    2. ↑ "Prince Azim of Brunei obituary". The Times. 26 October 2020. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
    3. ↑ Pendleton, Devon; Serafin, Tatiana. "In Pictures: World's Richest Royals". Forbes. Archived from the original on 13 December 2017. Retrieved 8 September 2017.
    4. ↑ "How to Keep in Style This Summer..." Archived 18 September 2010 at the Wayback Machine. The Daily Express. 23 June 2008
    5. ↑ "Winter Ball – London 24/11/2012" Archived 24 January 2013 at the Wayback Machine. Make-A-Wish United Kingdom. Retrieved 3 January 2013.
    6. ↑ Thien, Rachel (21 July 2011). "Treat autistic with respect, says HRH". The Brunei Times. Archived from the original on 3 March 2016. Retrieved 21 July 2011.
    7. ↑ Othman, Azlan (28 April 2013). "Royal Call For Autism Friendly Community". Sultanate News. Archived from the original on 21 September 2013. Retrieved 11 September 2013.
    8. ↑ "Cannes: Sultan of Brunei's Son Debuts Film Amid Beverly Hills Hotel Boycott". www.hollywoodreporter.com. 14 May 2014. Archived from the original on 26 October 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
    9. ↑ Rebecca Wright (9 April 2019). "Is the sultan of Brunei imposing Sharia law to clean up his family's image?". CNN. Archived from the original on 11 August 2020. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
    10. ↑ "Prince Azim of Brunei with his birthday belles, including Jerry Hall". Evening Standard. 26 June 2012. Archived from the original on 7 April 2017. Retrieved 7 September 2020.
    11. ↑ "Prince Azim dies: What was the net worth of Sultan of Brunei's son? The 38-yr-old enriched inheritance by producing movies". MEAWW. 24 October 2020. Archived from the original on 27 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
    12. ↑ "Perez Hilton outs Sultan of Brunei's son". Dallas Voice. 8 April 2019. Archived from the original on 9 April 2019. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
    13. ↑ @ThePerezHilton (14 April 2019). "Consider me shocked. And this is about to make global headlines! The Sultan of Brunei's son, Prince Azim, just sent me the following email!!!" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    14. 1 2 "HRH Prince Azim passes away at 38". The Scoop. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
    15. ↑ "Nation Mourns Loss of a Prince". Borneo Bulletin. Archived from the original on 24 October 2020. Retrieved 24 October 2020.
    16. ↑ "Prince Azim of Brunei, Hollywood producer, dies at 38". NBC News. 27 October 2020. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
    17. ↑ "HRH Prince Azim passes away at 38". The Scoop. Archived from the original on 28 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
    18. ↑ "A nation mourns as Prince Azim is laid to rest". The Scoop. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
    19. ↑ "Kemangkatan Pengiran Muda Abdul Azim: Bendera Johor dikibarkan separuh tiang". Berita Harian Online. Archived from the original on 25 October 2020. Retrieved 25 October 2020.
    20. ↑ @daniellismore (24 October 2020). "Rest in peace Prince Azim. He was so kind and generous and always went out of his way to see me. He was hilarious and made me laugh so much. A beautiful soul has been lost and gone way too soon. I respected him. He had to deal with a lot" (Tweet) – via Twitter.
    21. ↑ "Hollywood producer Prince Azim of Brunei dies aged 38". Sky News. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
    22. ↑ "Mateen on Instagram: "🤍"". Instagram. Archived from the original on 24 December 2021. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
    23. 1 2 3 "Brunei marks 171 days without Covid-19 local transmissions". The Star (Malaysia). 25 October 2020. Retrieved 26 October 2020.
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