PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (pic), who is credited with pushing through crucial law reforms as the Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department, may not defend his Santubong parliamentary seat.
The indication of Wan Junaidi’s move came from Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg at an event related to GE15 in Kuching yesterday.
When contacted via WhatsApp, Wan Junaidi said he had indeed expressed his wish not to defend the seat, though he had yet to give a final decision on the matter.
He added that only “time will tell” if his legacy to reform laws for the nation would be continued in the future.
“I am still okay mentally and physically. But the rigours of servicing a constituency like Santubong needs a younger man,” he said.
Earlier, Abang Johari told reporters after launching Gabungan Parti Sarawak’s (GPS) women’s election machinery: “It’s his (Wan Junaidi’s) wish (not to contest), after all, he is 77 ... he wants to do other things but will continue to advise us (as GPS adviser).
“He said ‘I have not decided yet’,” said the Premier.
News of Wan Junaidi’s possible retirement has got analysts commending the good work the minister in charge of Parliament and law has done since he assumed the post in August last year.
Council of Professors member Prof Dr Nik Ahmad Kamal Nik Mahmod acknowledged that Wan Junaidi had been instrumental in reforming election laws and others.
“Although he took the initiative to reform the laws, at the end of the day the decision still lies with the Prime Minister and his Cabinet.
“However, without an individual mover like him, the law reforms would have taken a much slower pace,” he said.
Prof Nik Ahmad Kamal also noted Wan Junaidi’s intention to make way for younger leaders.
“That is a noble thing to do,” he added.
Wan Junaidi, a legally trained former police officer, won the Batang Lupar parliamentary seat in 1990 and successfully defended the seat in the 1995 and 1999 general elections.
In 2004, he swapped seats with Datuk Seri Rohani Abdul Karim and stood in Santubong, which he retained in the 2008, 2013 and 2018 general elections.
He has held several ministerial posts during his career including as Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat.
In 2021, Wan Junaidi was tasked by the Barisan Nasional-Perikatan Nasional-GPS administration with carrying out reforms under the memorandum of understanding (MOU) signed with Pakatan Harapan.
Among them were securing a two-thirds majority needed to amend the Federal Constitution to give Sarawak and Sabah equal status under the Malaysia Agreement (MA63) and the inception of an anti-hopping law.
Prior to the dissolution of Parliament on Oct 10, Wan Junaidi had tabled amendments in Dewan Rakyat to abolish the mandatory death penalty, for first reading.
He also had plans to table a political funding law and amendments to insolvency laws.
Universiti Sains Malaysia political science expert Prof Dr Sivamurugan Pandian applauded Wan Junaidi for his “tireless work” in achieving reforms under the MOU despite the challenges of negotiating with the Opposition.
“Due to his contributions, some of the objectives under the MOU were reached. He had to work closely with the Opposition to get these done,” he added.
Although he could be taking a bow from federal politics, Prof Sivamurugan said Wan Junaidi could still contribute towards his state with his vast expertise and experience.
Prof Sivamurugan said that whoever took over as minister of law after the polls must step up efforts to complete the reforms initiated by Wan Junaidi.
Azmi Hassan, a senior fellow at Nusantara Academy for Strategic Research, hailed Wan Junaidi as the driving force behind the legal reforms, particularly on political funding.
