Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is widely recognised for his deep dedication to his work and the community.
Throughout his career, he has made significant contributions to Malaysian politics, particularly during his tenure as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law).
Beyond his official duties, he has a passion for reading and writing, having authored several books, including “Evolusi Parlimen dan Evolusi Speaker Parlimen Malaysia”, “Falsafah Undang-Undang Ilmu Berpengakap”, and “Journal of BIMP-EAGA Jamboree 2000”.
The second edition of “Evolusi Parlimen dan Evolusi Speaker Parlimen Malaysia” was published in 2014, followed by the release of the third edition this year.
In conjunction with the official celebration of the 78th birthday of the Head of State of Sarawak, Wan Junaidi sat down with Sarawak Tribune to offer a more personal glimpse into the man behind the leadership — someone who enjoys Chinese action movies, gardening, and embraces simplicity in life.
Sarawak Tribune: Tun, you are a voracious reader. Can you tell us more about your collection of books?
Tun: There are many books that have inspired me, and I now have a collection of nearly 7,000 books.
I developed a reading habit even when I didn’t have much money, and my collection spans various periods of my life.
Back then, I subscribed to Reader’s Digest and became one of its longest-serving subscribers, continuing to read it even when I was in the jungle.
During my school years, I enjoyed books like Battler Britton. After school, my interests shifted more toward literature and poetry, leading me to read classic works by authors such as Charles Dickens, Shakespeare, and Homer. I now have quite a collection of these timeless works.
Leo Tolstoy’s works also captivated me, but my curiosity extended further — I became fascinated by the history and culture of China, particularly its classic literature.
I read the entire Condor Heroes series, which was released one book per year. While waiting for the next volume, I explored other genres as well.
Condor Heroes and Water Margin are classic Chinese stories that have influenced many of the martial arts films we see today.
Whenever I watch a movie, I like to dive deeper into its history. For example, after watching Heroes of Shaolin, I researched the Shaolin monks and discovered that Muslims helped defend Shaolin from Mongolian conquerors.
Beyond Chinese classics, I’ve also read extensively on the history of England, Europe, and the rise of great figures like Saladin.
When people ask about my favourite books, the one that has inspired me the most is the Senior Anthology of Poetry. I read it back in Form 3, but unfortunately, I lost the book and have been searching for it ever since.
I still find great motivation in the works of 17th-century, 18th-century, and 19th-century writers.
Tun, you are also a writer. What motivates you to write?
Writing? Well, my motivation often comes from the situations I find myself in.
For instance, during my time in the scouts, I wrote two books — one focused on the philosophy of scout law, and the other served as a guide on how to organise a jamboree.
Later, when I became the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat, I noticed that no book had been written about the Malaysian Parliament, despite its existence since 1957. So, I thought, it’s time to write one.
As Deputy Speaker, I had time, so I instructed a researcher to gather the necessary information.
The first series of my book on Parliament generated quite a bit of demand. Datuk Saifuddin Abdullah, the former Minister of Foreign Affairs, once told me, “I majored in history at the University of Malaya, and I knew all the dates, but no one ever explained the significance of those dates to me until I read your book.”
In the book, I explained why the Malayan Union was formed, its failure, and how it led to the 1948 Federal Agreement.
So, my writing is often inspired by the circumstances I encounter. When people tell me my books are useful, universities and even schools have asked me to produce more. This is what led me to write the third edition of the book on Parliament.
Presently, I’m writing my memoir. I’ve written 628 pages so far, but it’s unlikely to be published anytime soon.
Writing has become second nature to me. Over the years, I’ve written extensively, including articles for various international journals.
I’ve contributed more than 20 pieces to the Commonwealth Parliamentary Journal on topics such as the judiciary, the Malaysian Parliament, and the separation of powers.
Could you share what your hobbies are during your free time?
These days, my main hobbies are reading and writing.
In the past, I played a lot of sports, including tennis and javelin during my school years.
However, when I went into the jungle at 23, I injured my shoulder, which has since prevented me from pursuing any strenuous activities.
Besides that, are there any movies or TV series that you enjoy the most — something you could watch repeatedly?
I really love action movies; they offer me a bit of an escape. I have a collection of over 600 Chinese films, including kung fu and short fighting films.
Back then, I admired martial artists like Wang Yu and Ti Lung. I thought Ti Lung was great, as was Alexander Fu Sheng. Then came Bruce Lee, but I wasn’t really a fan. David Chiang was good as well — his acting style was similar to Ti Lung’s.
However, I really like Ti Lung. He is well-built and handsome, and I just enjoy his acting.
Later on, I became a fan of Chow Yun-fat, especially after his roles in “A Better Tomorrow” and “Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon”.
These days, I am a big fan of Donnie Yen. I never miss one of his movies. When he came to Kuching, I even took a picture with him, which I still keep.
Tun, do you prefer dining at home or in restaurants, and what is your favourite dish?
I really enjoy eating. Whether it’s at home or in a restaurant, I’m happy as long as there’s mutton. I love mutton.
People sometimes say I shouldn’t eat mutton, but I still do because it is my favourite.
Tun, if you were chosen to go to one destination anywhere in the world, where would you want to go and why?
I would like to go to Morocco. People often ask why I would choose to go there. For me, it’s about tracing the roots of Ibn Khaldun. I’m more drawn to exploring history, as is my family.
We have visited nearly all the great wonders of the world to trace all the historical connections.
If you weren’t a leader, what other career path would you have envisioned for yourself?
I have a passion for gardening. I enjoy planting fruits and watching them grow.
I was brought up in that kind of environment. My grandfather had a 14-acre coconut plantation in my hometown of Kampung Pendam, which, in the 1950s, was considered quite large.
There, we also grew coffee, so we never had to buy any; we harvested it from our own garden.
Alongside coconuts, we grew coffee, bananas, and a variety of other crops.
Could you also share a childhood memory that Tun remembers most?
One memory that stands out is when I was young; I used to have Roti Keben Cap Ayam or Osborne biscuits.
I remember my father giving me a lecture when I had one: “Don’t say you don’t want to eat. Try it first. If it’s not good, then say so. If you don’t like it, then you don’t have to eat it.”
That was the first lesson my father ever taught me, and it has always stayed with me. I even tell it to my own children now.
Another thing is that my mother always reminded me that it was important to mengaji (recite or study the Quran).
I remember one time when she didn’t hear me reciting, and then she realised I was still outside, playing gasing (spinning top) instead of studying early in the morning.
Tun, can you share some advice or daily habits that help you stay healthy, energetic, and looking good?
I don’t really have any particular habits, but there is one thing that is true — ask my staff.
If there is something I cannot resolve at night, do not come and tell me about it in the evening. There is no need to inform me unless it is an emergency.
For regular issues, like administrative matters, my team understands that they should avoid discussing these things with me at night because I need my sleep.
I will get worried about your problems and cannot go to sleep. So, first thing in the morning, I will address them immediately.
My philosophy is simple: don’t bring me problems before I sleep because I can’t solve them at night. Share them with me in the morning, and I will help.
That is why my office is so efficient. I resolve many issues quickly because everyone supports me.
Another thing is that I love to joke, and my habit is that I like to eat breakfast, lunch, and dinner together with my team. It keeps me happy.
I don’t allow unhappiness in my life. When my wife passed away, I cried. I felt very, very sad.
But I couldn’t let myself stay sad for too long. My philosophy is that when someone passes, they are not here with us, and we have to continue living.
Besides, I rarely get angry. For instance, I once had a brand-new Jaguar. Just a week after getting it, boom, it was in an accident. People would think I’d be furious, but I wasn’t. Do you know why? What’s the point of getting angry? The car was already damaged, and being angry won’t fix it.
Being angry won’t turn it into a transformer or fix it. So why make things worse? Later, when things cool down, you can just tell the person to be more careful because it’s dangerous.
So, my philosophy is to stay happy and never be sad. I keep things simple. In my office, I have a motto that has been hanging on the wall for over 40 years. It’s still there to remind me to keep things in perspective.
The motto by Dean Al France reads: “I do not choose to be a common man. It is my right to be uncommon, if I can. I seek opportunity — not security. I want to take calculated risks. To dream and to build, to fail and to succeed.
“I refuse to barter incentive for a dole. I prefer the challenge of life to a guaranteed existence. The thrill of fulfilment to the stale calm of utopia. I will not trade freedom of beneficence nor my dignity for a handout.
“It is my heritage to think and to act for myself. Enjoy the benefit of my creation, and to face the world boldly, say, ‘this I have done …’”
What brings you happiness?
My greatest joy comes from having all my children with me. You know, I’ll tell you the truth: for me, my family always comes first; they are my top priority.
There was one day when I told my officer to cancel a programme because I had a family commitment that day, and I didn’t want to miss it.
At the end of the day, no one is going to cry for you or support you like your family. Your family is the one who truly stands by you.
All the friends and colleagues — no matter how good they are — will never compare to your family when it comes to truly taking care of you.
So, when I’m home and everyone is together, that is when I feel truly happy.
