KUALA LUMPUR: Former Dewan Negara president Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been appointed the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, effective yesterday.
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 according to Bernama.
Also present was Raja Permaisuri Agong Tunku Azizah Aminah Maimunah Iskandariah.
Wan Junaidi, 77, was appointed the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak by Article 1 of the Sarawak Constitution for four years, effective Jan 26, 2024, until Jan 26, 2028.
He replaces Tun 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 attended by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim, Sarawak Premier 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, Women, Family and Community Development Minister Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, and Deputy Health Minister Datuk Lukanisman Awang Sauni.
Wan Junaidi was born in Kampung Pendam (now Sadong Jaya), Sarawak, on Feb 1, 1946.
He joined the Royal Malaysia Police in 1964 and was with the Police Field Force from 1968 to 1973 during which he also served in the Rajang Area Security Command.
His political career began in 1990 after winning the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat in the Eighth General Election (GE8) which he defended for the next two terms, before moving to Santubong in GE11 in 2004.
He was Santubong MP for four consecutive terms until GE15 in 2022.
At the federal level, Wan Junaidi has held several ministerial positions including deputy home minister from 2013 to 2015, natural resources and environment minister (2015 to 2018), entrepreneurship and cooperative development minister (2020 to 2021), and minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) from 2021 to 2022.
He was deputy speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from 2008 to 2013 and Dewan Negara president in 2023.
