Nawawi Taha

Nawawi bin Taha is a former nobleman, civil servant and courtier from Brunei whom previously served as the personal and confidential secretary to Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah. He had a career in the government service of Brunei, in which he held a number of important positions such as being a member of the Privy Council of Brunei.
==Career==
===Koran lawsuit===
A group of Australian businessmen allege that the Sultan wanted to give his new wife (Azrinaz Mazhar Hakim) a 400-year-old tiny, gold-lined Koran as a wedding present. According to reports, the Australians obtained the handwritten Koran and jewel-encrusted case from a former Russian KGB colonel. They started negotiating with officials of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, with the intention of selling it for the highest bidder, and eventually came to an agreement on a price of US$8 million. The Sultan, however, is reported to have refused to pay, and on 15 August 2007, the case made it to the New South Wales (NSW) Supreme Court, where Judge Robert McDougall quickly rejected it after deciding that it could not be tried in Australia. The judge instructed the men to file a lawsuit in Brunei. However, Michael McGurk, director of their company, Garsec, later claimed that they were not able to take that course of action.
McGurk and his two fellow Garsec directors, David Rahme and Hugh Millikin, claim to have visited the Sultan's palace on numerous occasions while negotiating with the Sultan's envoys, including Pehin Nawawi, the private secretary, Sunny Chai, the godson of Mr. Nawawi, and Pengiran Yakub Othman, the director of transportation and communications. In a dispute that has already cost more than $500,000, Garsec requested that the NSW Supreme Court either award damages for breach of contract or uphold an oral agreement that it claims was struck between its agent Sunny Chai and Pehin Nawawi. Nawawi has denied having any kind of express or implied power to send and receive messages on behalf of the sultan. Pehin Nawawi and Sunny Chai, who participated in the agreement, each enjoy immunity.
===Revocation===
By order of Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah, it is announced that His Majesty has agreed to the Majlis Mesyuarat Adat Istiadat's recommendation to revoke Nawawi's membership in the Privy Council, his title, and all state decorations and medals bestowed upon him with immediate effect on 24 August 2023. 
==Personal life==
Nawawi has a daughter named Datin Hajah Norayati and godson named Sunny Chai.
==Honours==
Nawawi was given the manteri title of Yang Berhormat (The Honourable) Pehin Orang Kaya Shahbandar (revoked on 24 August 2023). He has formerly earned the following honours;SENARAI NAMA-NAMA GELARAN DAN ORANG-ORANG YANG DIKURNIAI GELARAN
* Order of Setia Negara Brunei First Class (PSNB) – Dato Seri Setia (15 July 2006; revoked on 24 August 2023)
* Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB) – Dato Seri Paduka (15 July 2006; revoked on 24 August 2023)
*Order of Paduka Seri Laila Jasa Second Class (DSLJ) – Dato Seri Laila Jasa (revoked on 24 August 2023)
*Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS) (revoked on 24 August 2023)
*Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI) (revoked on 24 August 2023)
* Government Office Medal (PTKL) (revoked on 24 August 2023)
* Medal for Service to State (PIKB) (revoked on 24 August 2023)
* Long Service Medal (PKL) (revoked on 24 August 2023)
Category:Bruneian people
Category:Noblemen
Category:Civil servants
Category:Courtiers