KUCHING, Jan 28: Parti Bumi Kenyalang (PBK) president Voon Lee Shan has questioned whether the appointment of Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar to replace Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud as the Sarawak Governor was constitutional.
He said there was no official announcement of Taib’s resignation by the Federal or State governments, which raises doubt whether the man did resign or has been removed as governor.
“If Taib had not resigned and Wan Junaidi had received the Letter of Appointment or Watiqah from Yang di-Pertuan Agong, then, a constitutional issue arises.
“That is, whether the appointment, in the absence of official resignation by Taib, addressed to Agong, made the appointment of Wan Junaidi by Agong constitutional?” he wrote in a statement today.
Voon further stated that under Article 1(2) of the Sarawak Constitution, the Governor is appointed by Agong for a period of four years, and the Governor can choose to resign before his term is over by tendering a letter to the Agong.
“Taib’s term as governor shall only expire at the end of February 2024. Was Taib removed as governor by Agong?
“Under Article 1(2) of the Sarawak Constitution, the removal of the governor from office before his term expires could be made by Agong in pursuance of an address by the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) supported by the votes of not less than two-thirds of the total number of the members thereof.
“Therefore, Agong could not simply remove Taib as governor without first pursuant to a vote taken by members of the DUN before Agong could remove him before the expiry of his term of office,” he added.
On Jan 26, Wan Junaidi received his appointment letter as the 8th Sarawak Governor from Agong at Istana Negara, Kuala Lumpur. — DayakDaily
