Tuan Yang Terutama Tun Dato Sri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar SMN PSM PJN DGSM PNBS JSM
وان جنيدي توانكو جعفر
Wan Junaidi in 2023
8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak
Incumbent
Assumed office 26 January 2024
Premier	Abang Abdul Rahman Johari Abang Openg
Preceded by	Abdul Taib Mahmud
19th President of the Dewan Negara
In office 19 June 2023 – 18 January 2024
Monarch	Abdullah
Prime Minister	Anwar Ibrahim
Deputy	Nur Jazlan Mohamed
Preceded by	Rais Yatim
Succeeded by	TBD
Senator Appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
In office 19 June 2023 – 19 January 2024
Monarch	Abdullah
Prime Minister	Anwar Ibrahim
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Parliament and Law)
In office 30 August 2021 – 24 November 2022
Monarch	Abdullah
Prime Minister	Ismail Sabri Yaakob
Deputy	Mas Ermieyati Samsudin
Preceded by	Takiyuddin Hassan
Succeeded by	Azalina Othman Said (Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reforms))
Constituency	Santubong
Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives
In office 10 March 2020 – 16 August 2021
Monarch	Abdullah
Prime Minister	Muhyiddin Yassin
Deputy	Mas Ermieyati Samsudin
Preceded by	Mohd Redzuan Md Yusof (Minister of Entrepreneur Development)
Succeeded by	Noh Omar
Constituency	Santubong
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment
In office 29 July 2015 – 10 May 2018
Monarchs	Abdul Halim (2015–2016) Muhammad V (2016–2018)
Prime Minister	Najib Razak
Deputy	Hamim Samuri
Preceded by	G. Palanivel
Succeeded by	Xavier Jayakumar Arulanandam (Natural Resources) Yeo Bee Yin (Environment)
Constituency	Santubong
Deputy Minister of Home Affairs
In office 16 May 2013 – 29 July 2015
Monarch	Abdul Halim
Prime Minister	Najib Razak
Minister	Ahmad Zahid Hamidi
Preceded by	Abu Seman Yusop Lee Chee Leong
Succeeded by	Nur Jazlan Mohamed Masir Kujat
Constituency	Santubong
Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat
In office 28 April 2008 – 3 April 2013 Serving with Ronald Kiandee
Monarchs	Mizan Zainal Abidin (2008–2011) Abdul Halim (2011–2013)
Prime Minister	Abdullah Ahmad Badawi (2008–2009) Najib Razak (2009–2013)
Speaker	Pandikar Amin Mulia
Preceded by	Lim Si Cheng
Succeeded by	Ronald Kiandee
Constituency	Santubong
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Santubong
In office 21 March 2004 – 19 November 2022
Preceded by	Rohani Abdul Karim (BN–PBB)
Succeeded by	Nancy Shukri (GPS–PBB)
Majority	10,560 (2004) 11,945 (2008) 20,936 (2013) 19,485 (2018)
Member of the Malaysian Parliament for Batang Lupar
In office 20 October 1990 – 21 March 2004
Preceded by	Daniel Tajem Miri (BN–PBDS)
Succeeded by	Rohani Abdul Karim (BN–PBB)
Majority	2,665 (1990) Walkover (1995) 5,214 (1999)
Faction represented in Dewan Negara
2023–2024	Gabungan Parti Sarawak
Faction represented in Dewan Rakyat
1990–2018	Barisan Nasional
2018–2022	Gabungan Parti Sarawak
Personal details
Born	(1946-02-01) 1 February 1946 (age 77) Kuching, Sarawak, Japanese-occupied British Borneo[a] (now Malaysia)
Political party	Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB)
Other political affiliations	Barisan Nasional (BN) (–2018) Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) (since 2018)
Spouses	Feona Sim @ Norjanah Abdullah ​ ​ (m. 1972; died 2022)​ Fauziah Mohd Sanusi ​ (m. 2022)​
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Southern California, University of Buckingham
Occupation	Politician and police officer
Profession	Lawyer
Website	wjunaidi.blogspot.com

Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar (Jawi: وان جنيدي بن توانكو جعفر; born 1 February 1946) is a Malaysian politician, lawyer and former police officer who has served as the 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak since January 2024. He previously served as the 19th President of the Dewan Negara and Senator from June 2023 to his resignation in January 2024.

Prior to his appointment as Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak, he had served in several portfolio; as a Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Parliament and Law in the Barisan Nasional (BN) administration under former Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob from August 2021 to the collapse of the BN administration in November 2022, Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative in the Perikatan Nasional (PN) administration under former Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin from March 2020 to the collapse of the PN administration in August 2021, Minister of Natural Resources and Environment and Deputy Minister of Home Affairs in the BN administration under former Prime Minister Najib Razak and former Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi from May 2013 to July 2015 as well as Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from April 2008 to April 2013. He also served as the Member of Parliament (MP) for Santubong from March 2004 to November 2022 and for Batang Lupar from October 1990 to March 2004. He is a member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) and formerly BN coalitions. He is also the second shortest-serving President of the Dewan Negara after Syed Sheh Barakbah, serving in the position for only seven months before resigning to assume office as the Yang-di Pertua Negeri of Sarawak.^[1]

Early career

Born in Kampung Pendam (now Sadong Jaya), Sarawak, on 1 February 1946, Wan Junaidi joined the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in 1964 and was attached to the Police Field Force (GOF) from 1968 to 1973 during which time he also served in the Rajang Area Security Command (Rascom). He was actively involved in combating communist insurgents between 1969 and 1974. In 1978, he went to England to study law at the University of Buckingham and practised law from 1982 to 2008.

Political career

In the 1990 general election, Wan Junaidi initially ran for the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat and emerged as the victor. He successfully defended his position in the 1995 and 1999 general elections. In the 2004 general election, he changed constituencies, contesting the Santubong parliamentary seat, and secured the win. He managed to retain the seat in the 2008, 2013 and 2018 general elections.

On 28 April 2008, Wan Junaidi was elected as one of the Parliament's Deputy Speakers and served for one term. On 16 May 2013, he was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs. During his tenure as Deputy Minister at the Ministry of Home Affairs, he made controversial remarks attributing a higher rate of statutory rape cases among Malays to Malay community's "culturally sensitivity" about their youth, which led to more cases being reported compared to "non-Malays" who may be more accepting of statutory rape.^[2]

On 29 July 2015, Wan Junaidi was appointed as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment as part of a Cabinet reshuffling by Prime Minister Najib Razak.

President of the Dewan Negara and Senator

On 16 June 2023, Wan Junaidi confirmed that the government had nominated him as the new 19th President of the Dewan Negara, three days prior, on 13 June, to replace Rais Yatim, who had stepped down as President and Senator following the expiration of his term on 15 June. He expressed his readiness and willingness to assume the position and its associated responsibilities. He also regarded this as an opportunity to continue his work of reforming the Parliament, similar to his previous efforts during his term as the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department in charge of Parliament and Law. In this regard, he sought support from the government, fellow Senators, and Members of Parliament (MPs).^[3]

On 18 June, it was reported that Wan Junaidi would officially be appointed and sworn into office the following day, on 19 June, following the approval of his nomination by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah. He emphasised that his swearing-in ceremony would adhere to the law and constitution and noted that he was the sole candidate from the government.^[4]

On 19 June, Wan Junaidi was officially appointed and sworn into both the offices of Senator and President. His candidacy as President was nominated by Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim and seconded by Minister of Investment, Trade and Industry Tengku Zafrul Aziz. His election to the office was uncontested, as there were no other candidates from the Opposition.^[5]

In his speech outlining his agendas after the swearing-in ceremony, Wan Junaidi expressed his commitment to prioritise the implementation of the code of ethics for Senators, reintroduce the Parliamentary Services Act, amend the Houses of Parliament (Privilege and Powers) Act 1952, and revise the Dewan Negara Regulations to strengthen the role of committees in Parliament. These efforts aimed to improve and transform the institution. Additionally, he cautioned fellow Senators against excessive politicking and internal conflicts within the house.^[6]

On 19 January 2024, he was reported to have resigned as President of the Dewan Negara and Senator to assume the office as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. He and other Sarawak leaders neither confirmed nor denied.

Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak

A week later on 26 January 2024, it was confirmed that Wan Junaidi would be the Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. He was appointed to the position to replace Abdul Taib Mahmud who had been in the position for almost a decade. The appointment took effect immediately and received widespread praises from the Sarawak leaders. He would be sworn in on 29 January 2024 in a ceremony attended by Pending MLA Violet Yong.

Publications

1. Evolusi parlimen dan evolusi speker parlimen Malaysia; DBP, 2010.
2. Falsafah moral ilmu berpengakap; DBP, 2007.

Election results

Honours

Honours of Malaysia

•  Malaysia :
  • Grand Commander of the Order of the Defender of the Realm (SMN) – Tun (2024)^[8]
  • Commander of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (PSM) – Tan Sri (2023)^[9]
  • Commander of the Order of Meritorious Service (PJN) – Datuk (2003)
  • Companion of the Order of Loyalty to the Crown of Malaysia (JSM) (2000)
•  Sarawak :
  • Knight Commander of the Order of the Star of Sarawak (PNBS) – Dato Sri (2014)^[10]
•  Malacca :
  • Grand Commander of the Exalted Order of Malacca (DGSM) – Datuk Seri (2017)^[11]