Wan Junaidi: From policeman to Governor

Former Dewan Negara president Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been appointed the 8th Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak. 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 today. – Photo by Bernama

KUCHING – Tun Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, who has extensive experience in the country’s administration, was once on the frontline defending the country’s sovereignty from the communist threat.

He had risked his life in a series of operations against the North Kalimantan Communist Party in Miri, Sibu and Kapit while serving with the then Police Field Force, proof of his loyalty to the country.

Wan Junaidi, 77, today received the instrument of appointment as the 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah at the Istana Negara.

Wan Junaidi’s appointment as the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Sarawak was made 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.

Born in Kampung Pendam (now Sadong Jaya), Sarawak, on Feb 1, 1946, Wan Junaidi joined the Royal Malaysia Police in 1964 and was attached to the Police Field Force from 1968 to 1973 during which time he also served in the Rajang Area Security Command ( Rascom).

In 1978, he went to England to study law at the University of Buckingham and practised law from 1982 to 2008.

His journey as an elected representative began in 1990 after winning the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat in the eighth General Election which he defended for the next two terms, before moving to Santubong in the 11th General Election in 2004.

He was Santubong Member of Parliament for four consecutive terms until the general election in 2022.

At the federal level, Wan Junaidi was Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from 2008 to 2013.

He also held various important portfolios such as Deputy Home Minister (2013 to 2015), Natural Resources and Environment Minister (2015 to 2018) and Entrepreneurship and Cooperative Development Minister (2020 to 2021).

During his service at the federal level, the position that had the most impact and left his legacy was when he was appointed Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) which he held from 2021 to 2022.

Although he held the post for a short period, Wan Junaidi recorded various achievements, with significant ones including amendments to the Federal Constitution to ban parliamentary members from party hopping and also regarding the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63).

His success in bringing amendments to the Federal Constitution to restore some of Sarawak’s rights under MA63 was recognised by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg as one of Wan Junaidi’s most significant contributions.

Abang Johari said Wan Junaidi managed to obtain Parliament’s approval to amend Article 160 of the Constitution to include MA63, the Cobbold Commission, and the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) Report.

With the constitutional amendment passed with more than a two-thirds majority to become law, Sarawak’s rights are protected by the constitution, said Abang Johari.

On June 19, 2023, Wan Junaidi was appointed as the 19th Dewan Negara president, replacing Tan Sri Dr Rais Yatim.

His priority then was on the transformation of Parliament to improve the legislative branch in the country’s administration.

This saw him initiating various efforts to transform Parliament, including reviving the Parliamentary Services Act 1963 to bring more independence to Parliament.

The Parliamentary Services Act was enacted in 1963 after the formation of Malaysia but was later repealed in 1992.

Wan Junaidi also stole the limelight when he reminded the Cabinet ministers to respect the parliamentary institution by attending its sessions to answer questions posed to the ministries they represented.

He said the Senate should be respected and the presence of the ministers is very important in explaining questions raised by the Senate members.

“… if the Prime Minister (Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim) can come, the two Deputy Prime Ministers (Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi and Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof) can (also) come (to the Senate meeting) why can’t the ministers come?

“Is this place too low for the ministers to come? This is the upper house of Parliament,” he said during an oral answer session at the Dewan Negara on Dec 11 last year.

In addition to being involved in administration and politics, Wan Junaidi is also a talented writer who has written several books, including ‘A Policeman’ and ‘‘Evolusi Parlimen dan Speaker Parlimen Malaysia”.

His service, starting as a member of the “Sang Saka Biru” (police force) during a period when the nation was under communist threat, and subsequently in the country’s administration and politics, now sees him progressing as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. – BERNAMA