Decision to be made known soon

PM Anwar confirms submitting Wan Junaidi’s name as next TYT Sarawak replacing Taib, announcement out in few days

Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been proposed as the eighth Sarawak governor and an announcement is expected to be made in a few more days, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said yesterday.

According to Malay Mail, Anwar confirmed that he had submitted the former Dewan Negara President’s name to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong (YDPA) Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah last week, as the successor to incumbent governor Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud.

“The appointment process was presented by the Sarawak Premier Abang Jo (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg), and I submitted the candidate’s name to the YDPA last week and asked for approval to be announced maybe in one or two days,” he told reporters after officiating at the Universiti Malaya Thinker Discourse Programme at the Dewan Tunku Canselor in Universiti Malaya here yesterday.

Anwar also said a meeting would be held to discuss Wan Junaidi’s replacement as the Dewan Negara president.

“We will discuss the Yang diPertua Dewan Negara and we will hold a Unity Government secretariat meeting tonight (Monday night) so that this appointment could be expedited,” he said.

Last Friday, Wan Junaidi, 78, was reported by news portal The Malaysian Insight to have tendered his resignation as the Senate President in order to be appointed the eighth Sarawak Governor. Taib, 87, has been Sarawak’s Head of State since March 2014, but his tenure has been reported to end next month.

The appointment process was presented by the Sarawak Premier Abang Jo (Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg), and I submitted the candidate’s name to the YDPA last week and asked for approval to be announced maybe in one or two days.

Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim

On Sunday, the Sarawak Premier’s Office issued a statement saying that there was no special meeting being held at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) to discuss the appointment of a new Yang di-Pertua Negeri.

“It has come to the attention of this Office that there are reports in the media stating that there has been a special meeting at the DUN to discuss the appointment of a Head of State.

“In this regard, this Office wishes to clarify that there was no such meeting for such a purpose,” said the statement, which came following news report by a national daily that a source close to the Astana Negri Sarawak had said that a special meeting would be held at DUN on Jan 20, believed to be a discussion on the appointment of a new Yang di-Pertua Negeri.