By Shikin Louis
KUCHING, Jan 29: Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was sworn in as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri (Governor) of Sarawak at the State Legislative Assembly (DUN) complex here today.
The ceremony commenced with the reading of the letter of appointment of Yang di-Pertua Negeri by the Premier of Sarawak Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg.
After that, Wan Junaidi took his oath of office and signed the ‘Surat Angkat Sumpah Pelantikan’ and ‘Surat Pengisytiharan’ witnessed by Abang Johari and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Abdul Rahman Sebli.
Amongst those present at the ceremony were Wan Junaidi’s wife, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi; Abang Johari’s wife Puan Sri Datuk Amar Juma’ani Tuanku Bujang; Deputy Prime Minister Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof; Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian; and State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
Earlier, Wan Junaidi also inspected the Guard-of-Honour parade mounted by the 11th Battalion of General Operations Force (GOF) at Sarawak DUN’s parade square.
Wan Junaidi, 78, first received the instrument of appointment from Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al Mustafa Billal Shah at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (Jan 26).
Born on Feb 1, 1946, in Sadong Jaya Simunjan, Wan Junaidi started his career as a police officer before pursuing his law studies at the University of Buckingham, United Kingdom. He later obtained his Masters in Law from the Council of Legal Education London.
His academic pursuit did not stop there. Being an avid learner, he took up his PhD in Business Administration (DBA) studies at the University of Southern California, USA, and graduated with flying colours.
Wan Junaidi started his political career in 1987 when he was appointed as an executive committee member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) Youth Satok Branch and rose to become one of its vice presidents.
He was identified by the party to contest in Batang Lupar in 1990 and subsequently elected as its Member of Parliament (MP). He held the post until he switched his seat to Santubong in 2004 until he retired from active politics in 2021.
As an MP, Wan Junaidi held various important posts in the Federal Government, starting as Deputy Speaker of Parliament. He was later appointed as Deputy Home Affairs Minister.
After successfully retaining the Santubong seat in the 13th General Elections in 2013, he was appointed Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and later Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives.
His last Federal Cabinet post was Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law).
Wan Junaidi was appointed President of the Senate on June 19, 2023, until he resigned on Jan 19, 2024.
Apart from being a successful lawyer and politician, Wan Junaidi is also a prolific writer, having written seven books.
Wan Junaidi is also active in non-governmental organisations such as the Ex-Police Association of Malaysia Sarawak, where he was its president from 1990 to 2001, and has been active in the Scout’s movement whereby he has held the post of Sarawak’s Chief Scout Commissioner since 1992.
Wan Junaidi married the late Datin Sri Fiona Sim Abdullah, and they are blessed with three daughters. He married his current wife, Fauziah, on Dec 10, 2022. — DayakDaily
