WEDNESDAY, 28 FEBRUARY 2024
KUCHING: His Excellency (TYT) The Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was bestowed the Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Satria Bintang Sarawak (S.B.S.) which carries the title ‘Pehin Sri’.
The award was presented to Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi by Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg representing the Sarawak government in a ceremony held at the Astana Negeri Sarawak here, on Wednesday.
Also present were Deputy Premiers of Sarawak Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas, Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan and Datuk Amar Professor Dr Sim Kui Hian, Ministers and Deputy Ministers, Sarawak State Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki as well as other dignitaries.
Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi is the fifth recipient of the award, after the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the late Tun Pehin Sri Datuk Patinggi Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng and the late Pehin Sri Adenan Satem.
Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi was appointed the 8th Governor of Sarawak with effect from January 26, 2024, replacing the late Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib whose term ended on January 25, 2024.
Immediately after receiving his certificate of appointment from the 16th Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah Ibni Al Marhum Sultan Ahmad Shah at the Istana Negara, he was awarded the country’s highest award, the Seri Maharaja Mangku Negara which carries the title ‘Tun’.
Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi’s illustrious career has seen him hold several pivotal roles, including President of the Senate-Malaysia Upper House, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Laws), Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives, Minister of Environment and Natural Resources, Deputy Minister of Internal Affairs, and Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat.
His notable achievements include playing a pivotal role in integrating the Malaysian Agreement 1963 (MA63) into ongoing negotiations between the Federal government and the Sarawak and Sabah government.
Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi’s relentless pursuit of progress and reform also saw him spearheading three transformative amendments to the Federal Constitution and pioneering the groundbreaking Anti-Hopping Law besides streamlining the voter registration process for 18-year-olds (excluding Royal Institutions). -UKASnews
