Idris Talog Davies

Idris Talog Davies CBE (1 July 1917 – 21 July 1977) was a British judge who served in several high-ranking positions which included being appointed as a member of the Brunei Privy Council and the Brunei Attorney General.^[1][2] Notably, he was among the Advisory Editorial Board for the Malayan Law Journal,^[3] and a lifetime member of the Malaysian Historical Society.^[4]

Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Kanun Diraja Dato Laila Utama Idris Talog Davies CBE DK SPMB DSNB DPMB PHBS PJK PKL AK PJK (Trengganu)
Pehin Davies in 1973
3rd Attorney General of Brunei
In office 15 January 1963 – 22 July 1977
Monarchs	Omar Ali Saifuddien III Hassanal Bolkiah
Preceded by	Abdul Aziz Zain
Succeeded by	Pengiran Bahrin
Personal details
Born	(1917-07-01)1 July 1917
Died	21 July 1977(1977-07-21) (aged 60) Attorney General's Chambers, Bandar Seri Begawan, Brunei
Resting place	Llanrhydd Cemetery
Alma mater	University of Cambridge
Occupation	Judge

Career

After graduating from Cambridge University,^[5] Davies joined the Colonial Legal Service's Malayan Judicial and Legal Service on 20 September 1951.^[6] He worked in Kuala Lumpur as a federal counsel and deputy public prosecutor, among other positions.^[7] He later became the legal adviser to the State of Perlis until 1 October 1952.^[8] As of 1 January 1962, he became the senior federal counsel at the Attorney-General's Chambers of the Federation of Malaya.^[9]

On 15 January 1963, Davies was appointed as Brunei's Attorney General.^[1] Later on 3 February, he was among the Pengiran Ali-led delegation flown to Kuala Lumpur to attend the Federation of Melayu Raya meeting.^[10] The Legislative Council and Davies declared in January 1977 that anybody discovered in possession of lottery tickets or gambling establishments might be fined up to B$5,000 or imprisoned for a year. Anyone found guilty of the crime might face penalties under Chapter 26 of the Public Gambling House Bill (Amendment) 1976.^[11]

On 21 July 1977, Davies passed away while in office at the Attorney General's Chambers.^[12] Brunei recorded his passing a day later on the 22nd,^[13] and be succeeded by Pengiran Bahrin.^[14][15] He is buried at Llanrhydd Cemetery, Ruthin.^[16]

Legacy

Things named after him

• Jalan Idris Talog, a road in Tutong Camp^[17]

Titles

Davies being awarded the DSNB by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III in 1966

Davies was bestowed the Manteri title of Yang Dimuliakan Pehin Orang Kaya Laila Kanun Diraja by Sultan Omar Ali Saifuddien III on 22 January 1970.^[18]

Honours

National

As part of the 1968 Queen Elizabeth's New Year's honours, he was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE).^[19][20] He has earned the following honours;^[21][13]

• Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE; 1968);^[22] Officer (OBE; 1962)

Foreign

• Brunei:
  • Order of Laila Utama First Class (DK) – Dato Laila Utama
  • Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei First Class (SPMB) – Dato Seri Paduka
  • Order of Setia Negara Brunei Second Class (DSNB; 1966) – Dato Setia;^[23] Third Class (SNB)^[24]
  • Order of Seri Paduka Mahkota Brunei Second Class (DPMB) – Dato Paduka
  • Sultan Hassanal Bolkiah Medal (PHBS)
  • Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)
  • Pingat Bakti Laila Ikhlas (PBLI; 1976)^[25]
• Malaysia:
  • Ahli Kelantan (AK)
  • Terengganu Meritorious Service Medal (PJK)

References

1. "Attorney General's Chambers - History". www.agc.gov.bn. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
2. "Back Matter". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 50 (1 (231)). 1977. ISSN 0126-7353. JSTOR 41492166.
3. The Malayan Law Journal (PDF). malaysianbar. March 1974. pp. xiii.
4. "Keahlian". www.psm.org.my. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
5. University of Cambridge (1976). Cambridge University List of Members. Cambridge University Press. p. 233. ISBN 978-0-521-20928-1.
6. A. J. Stockwell (2004). "Britain and Brunei, 1945-1963: Imperial Retreat and Royal Ascendancy". Modern Asian Studies. 38 (4): 785–819. doi:10.1017/S0026749X04001271. ISSN 0026-749X. JSTOR 3876670. S2CID 144735496.
7. The Malayan Law Journal. Malaya Publishing House Limited. 1977. pp. XXXIX.
8. "Appointment of Legal Adviser to the State of Perlis" (PDF). Federation of Malaya Government Gazette. 23 October 1952. p. 2775. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
9. SUPPLEMENT TO THE LONDON GAZETTE (PDF). fbcoverup. 1 January 1962. p. 22.
10. "Wakil2 Brunei Menghadhiri Persidangan Malaysia". Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 6 February 1963. p. 8.
11. "Tiket2 Loteri Dan Rumah Perjudian" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). 26 January 1977. p. 2. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
12. "The London Gazette" (PDF). www.thegazette.co.uk. 14 November 1977. Retrieved 11 January 2023.
13. Brunei (1977). Annual Report - State of Brunei. p. 503.
14. The Malayan Law Journal. Malaya Publishing House Limited. 1978. p. 228.
15. Jatswan S. Sidhu (22 December 2009). Historical Dictionary of Brunei Darussalam. Scarecrow Press. p. 28. ISBN 978-0-8108-7078-9.
16. "Idris Talog Davies grave monument details at Llanrhydd Cemetery, Ruthin, Denbighshire, Wales". www.gravestonephotos.com. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
17. "Web Map". Survey Department. Retrieved 5 September 2024.
18. "Pendekatan Mengenai Istiadat Mengurniakan Gelaran Di Negara Brunei Darussalam" (PDF). Pelita Brunei (in Malay). 14 July 2004. p. 11. Retrieved 24 May 2024.
19. "BRUNEI'S A.-G. MADE C.B.E." eresources.nlb.gov.sg. 1 January 1968. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
20. "Back Matter". Journal of the Malaysian Branch of the Royal Asiatic Society. 37 (1 (205)). 1964. ISSN 0126-7353. JSTOR 41491822.
21. Brunei (1972). Annual Report on Brunei. Printed at the Brunei Press.
22. Malaysia. 1971. p. 12.
23. "Istiadat Mengurniakan Bintang2 Kehormatan Dan ingat2 Di-Istana" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). 21 September 1966. p. 1. Retrieved 11 January 2024.
24. Great Britain Office of Commonwealth Relations (1965). The Commonwealth Relations Office Year Book. H.M. Stationery Office. p. 461.
25. "121 Orang Di-Korniakan Pingat Kehormatan Negeri Brunei" (PDF). www.pelitabrunei.gov.bn (in Malay). 2 June 1976. p. 6. Retrieved 11 January 2023.

Legal offices
Preceded by Abdul Aziz Zain	3rd Attorney General of Brunei 15 January 1963 – 22 July 1977	Succeeded by Pengiran Bahrin