KUCHING: Sarawak Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been conferred the state’s highest award, the Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Satria Bintang Sarawak (SBS), which carries the title Pehin Sri.
Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg represented the state government to present the award to Wan Junaidi at an investiture ceremony at Astana Negeri Sarawak here yesterday.
Wan Junaidi is the fifth recipient of the award, which was previously bestowed on the late former governors Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud and Tun Abang Muhammad Salahuddin Abang Barieng, former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and the late chief minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem.
At the ceremony, Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan said the conferment of the award was timely as Wan Junaidi was an experienced and dedicated leader.
“His illustrious career stands as a testament to a lifetime dedicated to the pursuit of public service, scholarship and community engagement.
“As he continues to serve as the Governor of Sarawak, Wan Junaidi’s legacy will endure as an inspiring beacon of integrity, excellence and compassion in leadership,” he said.
Wan Junaidi, 78, was appointed the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri for a four-year term effective Jan 26 this year. He took over from Taib, who passed away on Feb 21.
Prior to his appointment, Wan Junaidi was the Dewan Negara president. He served as MP of Batang Lupar and Santubong from 1990 to 2022.
At the federal level, he held various ministerial positions including natural resources and environment minister (2015 to 2018), entrepreneurship and cooperative development minister (2020 to 2021), and minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) from 2021 to 2022.
