Wan Junaidi, Sarawak’s 8th TYT
Former Senate president receives instrument of appointment from King, succeeds Pehin Sri Taib
KUALA LUMPUR: Former Dewan Negara president Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was yesterday appointed the 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak.
He received the instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin AlMustafa Billah Shah in a ceremony at Balairung Kecil, Istana Negara here.
Also in a endance at the ceremony was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Wan Junaidi’s appointment as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri under Article 1 of the Sarawak Constitution is for a period of four years, effective yesterday until Jan 26, 2028.
The 77-year-old replaces Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud who held the post for three terms from March 1, 2014.
At the ceremony, Wan Junaidi was also conferred the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara award which carries the title of Tun.
The ceremony was also a ended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof.
Also present were Chief Secretary to the Government Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Johari Abdul, Minister of Women, Family and Community Development Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, and Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
Born on Feb 1, 1946 in Kampung Pendam, Simunjan, Wan Junaidi joined the police force in March 1964.
He first served in various branches of the force, from general duty personnel to becoming Aide-de-Camp to the Sarawak Commissioner of Police.
In 1968, he was transferred to the Para-Military Police Field Force (PFF) and served in Miri and in the Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom) area until 1973.
He spent four and a half years in the PFF fighting communists in the jungles of Miri, Sibu, Sarikei, Bintangor, Muara Tebas, and Kapit.
In 1973, he was transferred back to general duties and appointed officer-in-charge of traffic in Kuching.
In December 1978, he went to England to read law at University College of Buckingham (now known as University of Buckingham) where he passed his LLB with Second Class Honours in 1981.
Prior to heading back to England to continue his postgraduate studies at the Council of Legal Education, he resumed his duty as the Chief Training Officer at Bukit Siol, Police Training School, Kuching.
He was subsequently called to the English Bar in May 1982 and became a Member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln’s Inn the following month.
Upon his return to Sarawak, he was called to the Sarawak Bar in August 1982 and was appointed as Chief Prosecution Officer of the police in Sarawak.
In December 1982, he resigned as an ASP from the police force to commence his journey as a lawyer by opening up his legal practice to fulfil his lifelong dream, before venturing into politics by joining Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) in January 1983.
Seven years later, Wan Junaidi was elected as Member of Parliament for the new constituency of Batang Lupar and continued to serve the constituency until he was shi ed to the Santubong constituency in the 2004 general election.
He served as MP for a 32 years in total, having participated in seven general elections.
KUCHING: Minister of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development Dato Sri Fatimah Abdullah yesterday congratulated Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar on his appointment as the eighth Sarawak Head of State.
Fatimah said she and her constituents in Dalat were elated after learning that Wan Junaidi had been proposed to succeed Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as Yang diPertua Negeri.
“We were very happy to hear the news, as he (Wan Junaidi) has contributed tremendously to the people in Dalat,” she told reporters after a press conference at her office.
Among the projects initiated by Wan Junaidi in Dalat, she said, was a groyne project involving the construction of barriers built out into the sea from a beach to control erosion.
“During the change in government, the project was initially put on hold. Tun Wan Junaidi went all out to make sure that the project would continue until its completion,” said the Dalat assemblywoman.
Fatimah also said that prior to Wan Junaidi’s appointment as TYT yesterday, Dalat folk had already planned to invite him to officiate at the project which was recently completed.
Also extending his congratulations was Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) Youth chief and Serembu assemblyman Miro Simuh, who described Wan Junaidi as someone possessing exemplary qualities and abilities to lead the people of Sarawak.
“Warmest congratulations on the appointment of Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar as Governor of Sarawak.
“With his extensive experience and extremely humble demeanour, I believe that he will lead the people of Sarawak with the highest spirit of tolerance, adaptability, and of course, the ‘Sarawak First’ spirit,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted.
“All the best to him and let us all pray that he will fulfil his duty to the utmost best.”
Sarawak Democratic Action Party (DAP) chairman and Stampin MP Chong Chieng Jen also congratulated Wan Junaidi on his appointment, saying the latter possessed the credentials to become TYT.
“I wish to congratulate Tun Wan Junaidi on his appointment as the Governor of Sarawak. He is a fair and learned person with high integrity and most suited for the position,” he told The Borneo Post when contacted.
Meanwhile, Parti Keadilan Rakyat (PKR) Sarawak in a statement said it was looking forward to Wan Junaidi being sworn in as the eighth Head of State next Monday.
“We pray the swearingin ceremony on Jan 29 will proceed smoothly, and may Sarawak remain prosperous under the new TYT,” it said, while also congratulating Wan Junaidi on being conferred the title of ‘Tun’ by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.