Taib steps down as governor, Wan Junaidi to be next TYT

Abdul Taib Mahmud (left) and Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar.

KUCHING, Jan 26: Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud has stepped down as the 7th Sarawak Governor ahead of the expiration of his term, with Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar assuming the position as the Head of State.

Wan Junaidi received his appointment letter from the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah ibni Almarhum Sultan Haji Ahmad Shah Al-Musta’in Billah at Istana Negara here this morning.

Present at the ceremony were Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah, Wan Junaidi’s wife Puan Sri Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, and Deputy Prime Ministers Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Fadillah Yusof.

Speaker of Parliament Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Speaker of Sarawak Legislative Assembly Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar, Attorney-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh, Keeper of Rulers’ Seal Tan Sri Syed Danial Syed Ahmad, Chief Secretary to the Government of Malaysia Tan Sri Mohamad Zuki Ali, Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohammad Abu Bakar Marzuki, and Sarawak Attorney General Datu Safri Ali were also present.

Also in attendance were Minister of Works Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi; Minister of Women, Family, and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri; Deputy Minister of Health Dato Lukanisman; Deputy Minister of Digital Datuk Wilson Ugak Kumbong; Deputy Minister of Rural and Regional Development Datuk Rubiah Wang; and Deputy Minister of Transport Datuk Hasbi Habibollah.

Wan Junaidi was born on Feb 1, 1946, in Sadong Jaya Simunjan. He started his career as a police officer before he pursued his studies in law at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom. He later obtained his Masters in Law from the Council of Legal Education London.

His academic pursuit did not stop there. Being an avid learner, he took up his PhD in Business Administration (DBA) studies at the University of Southern California, USA, and graduated with flying colours.

Wan Junaidi started his political career in 1987 when he was appointed as an executive committee member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth Satok Branch and rose to become one of its vice presidents.

He was identified by the party to contest in Batang Lupar in 1990 and subsequently elected as its Member of Parliament (MP). He held the post until he switched his seat to Santubong in 2004 until he retired from active politics in 2021.

As an MP, Wan Junaidi held various important posts in the Federal Government, starting as Deputy Speaker of Parliament. He was later appointed as Deputy Home Affairs Minister.

After successfully retaining the Santubong seat in the 13th General Elections in 2013, he was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and later Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.

His last Federal Cabinet post was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law).

Wan Junaidi was appointed President of the Senate on June 19, 2023, until he resigned on Jan 19, 2024.

Apart from being a successful lawyer and politician, Wan Juniaidi is also a prolific writer, having written seven books.

Wan Junaidi is also active in non-governmental organisations such as the Ex-Police Association of Malaysia Sarawak, where he was its president from 1990 to 2001, and has been active in the Scout’s movement whereby he has held the post of Sarawak’s Chief Scout Commissioner since 1992.

Wan Junaidi married the late Datin Sri Fiona Sim Abdullah, and they are blessed with three daughters. He married his current wife, Fauziah, on Dec 10, 2022. — DayakDaily