Wan Junaidi vows to serve Sarawak

PETALING JAYA: Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar vows to serve his "beloved" Sarawak following his appointment as the eighth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak.

"Finally, after so much speculation, by the Grace and Will of Allah Subhanahu Wata’ala it has happened.

"Now I have to continue to serve my beloved State of Sarawak with the trust bestowed upon me by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong and the consent of my YAB Premier and YAB Prime Minister.

"I shall do my best to serve the functions of my office, InsyaaAllah," he said in a brief response to The Star on Saturday (Jan 27).

He also thanked those who had expressed their well-wishes following his appointment.

There was prior speculation over the appointment of the former Dewan Negara president to the post which took effect on Friday (Jan 26).

On Friday (Jan 26), Wan Junaidi was appointed the eighth Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak.

He received the instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah in a ceremony at Balairung Kecil, Istana Negara here on Friday.

Wan Junaidi, 77, was appointed the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak by Article 1 of the Sarawak Constitution for four years, effective Jan 26, 2024, until Jan 26, 2028.

Wan Junaidi replaces Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who held the post for three terms from March 1, 2014.

Born in Kampung Pendam (now Sadong Jaya), Sarawak on Feb 1, 1946, Wan Junaidi led an illustrious career beginning with the Royal Malaysia Police in 1964 and the Police Field Force from 1968 to 1973 including serving in the Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom).

A trained lawyer, his political career started in 1990 after winning the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat in the 8th General Election (GE8).

He defended his seat over the next two terms before moving to Santubong in the 11th GE in 2004 where he successfully defended the seat for four consecutive terms till the general election in 2022.

He served several ministerial posts between 2013 and 2022 including as Deputy Home Minister, Natural Resources and Environment Minister Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development Minister and Minister at the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law).

In 2021, Wan Junaidi played a key role in tabling and seeing constitutional amendments passed in Dewan Rakyat to place Sarawak and Sabah on equal footing under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).