Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar

Wan Junaidi bin Tuanku Jaafar (Jawi: وان جنيدي بن توانكو جعفر; born 1 February 1946) is a Malaysian politician, lawyer and former senior 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.

Wan Junaidi was born on 1 February 1946 in Kampung Pendam, Sadong Jaya, Asajaya, Sarawak.

He received his early education at Sekolah Rakyat Kampung Pendam from 1956 to 1958.

Subsequently, he attended Abang Man Secondary School in Simunjan from 1959 to 1960, followed by Madrasah Melayu in Kuching from 1961 to 1963.

He joined the Public Works Department at the age of 17, gaining skills in road construction under Australian engineer guidance.

Wan Junaidi then decided to join the Royal Malaysia Police (RMP) in March 1964, following an open recruitment advertisement.

He completed his police training in Kuala Lumpur in December of the same year.

Wan Junaidi served in various branches of the Royal Malaysia Police from 1965 to 1968.

He was transferred to the Para-Military Police Field Force (PFF) in 1968 and served in Miri and the Rajang Area Security Command (RASCOM) area until 1973.

During his service, he battled communists in various jungle areas.

He pursued his Form 5 and Form 6 education from 1974 to 1977 through correspondence.

Wan Junaidi was promoted to the rank of assistant superintendent (ASP) in 1978.

He ventured to England in December 1978 to undertake his law studies at the University of Buckingham, obtaining his Bachelor of Laws (LLB) with Second Class Honours in 1981.

Wan Junaidi continued his legal education at the Council of Legal Education, London, graduating with a Degree of Utter-Barrister with Second Class Honours in 1982.

He was admitted to the English Bar in May 1982 and became a Member of the Honourable Society of Lincoln's Inn in June 1982.

Upon returning to Sarawak, he was called to the Sarawak Bar in August 1982 and appointed as the chief prosecution officer of the Sarawak police.

He briefly assumed the role of chief training officer at the Bukit Siol Police Training School in Kuching.

Wan Junaidi began his political involvement in 1983 as a member of the Youth Committee of PBB for Satok Division.

He continued his political activities and was appointed Head of Information for the branch in 1986.

In the 1990 general election, Wan Junaidi won the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat and retained it in subsequent elections.

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.

Wan Junaidi switched constituencies in the 2004 general election, contesting and winning the Santubong parliamentary seat.

He retained the Santubong seat in subsequent general elections.

He earned his doctorate in business administration from the University of Southern California in 2005.

On 28 April 2008, he was elected as one of the Deputy Speakers of the Dewan Rakyat for one term, serving alongside with Ronald Kiandee.

Malaysia ratified the Paris Agreement, becoming the 111th country to do so.

On 16 May 2013, Wan Junaidi was appointed as the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs under Prime Minister Najib Razak's cabinet.

During his tenure there, he made 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.

However, his statement was misinterpreted and distorted by Chong Chieng Jen, MP for Bandar Kuching.

What Wan Junaidi actually said was that "Malays tend to be more sensitive in making reports, whereas non-Malays are less sensitive to report cases of statutory rape to the police."

This observation was based on statistics from the National Registration Department.

In July 2015, Najib announced a Cabinet reshuffle that appointed Wan Junaidi as Minister of Natural Resources and Environment, making him the second minister from Sarawak to hold this office after Adenan Satem.

He saw his appointment as potentially beneficial for Sarawak's interests, particularly in advocating for increased royalties from oil and gas resources.

He believed that having a representative from Sarawak in such ministry could facilitate smoother communication with the federal government, especially concerning the claim process involving Petronas.

His commitment to sustainable resource management earned him praise from ministry staff, who dubbed him the "Great Minister".

In November 2016, Wan Junaidi led Malaysia's delegation to the 22nd session of the Conference of the Parties (COP22) to the Paris Agreement on climate change in Marrakesh, Morocco, reaffirming Malaysia's commitment to addressing climate change.