With almost 40 years of political experience, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has left an indelible mark on Malaysia and Sarawak through his extensive public service career.
During his tenure as the 19th President of the Dewan Negara in 2023, Wan Junaidi championed legislative reforms to strengthen governance.
He introduced a code of ethics for Members of Parliament to ensure that parliamentary proceedings were conducted with integrity and focused on national progress, rather than unnecessary politicking.
He also advocated for the reintroduction of the Parliamentary Services Act of 1963 to enhance Parliament’s autonomy and pushed for amendments to the Houses of Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, the standing orders, and the rules governing both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara.
However, these laws, drafted in the 1950s, are outdated, particularly when it comes to modern communication technologies like teleconferencing, which the laws did not recognised.
Wan Junaidi’s earlier attempts to update these laws date back to 2010, when he served as Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat. During that time, he also chaired a technical committee under former Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak’s parliamentary reform initiative.
His proposal to introduce a code of ethics for MPs, along with other reforms, was initially rejected by Parliament.
Undeterred, Wan Junaidi continued his efforts when he became Minister of Law and later as Senate President. His persistence paid off, resulting in the introduction of the code of ethics in 2023, following discussions with the former Yang di-Pertuan Agong, Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri’ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.
The new code sets out detailed guidelines for the behaviour of MPs both inside and outside Parliament, establishing a new ethical standard for Malaysia’s legislative body.
Furthermore, during his tenure as Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) from 2021 to 2022, he spearheaded significant constitutional amendments.
He was instrumental in the passage of the anti-party hopping law in 2022, a bipartisan effort to address the political instability caused by the “Sheraton Move” of 2020.
This constitutional amendment, which was overwhelmingly supported in both the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara, ensured that MPs who defected from their parties would lose their seats, thereby maintaining the cohesion of the coalition government formed under Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
A ‘dream come true’ for Sarawak
Hailing from the land of Borneo, Wan Junaidi has been a strong advocate for Sarawak’s rights. As law minister, one of his notable achievements was redefining the term “natives” of Sarawak under the Federal Constitution, specifically focusing on Article 161A.
Previously, Article 161A(7) listed a narrow list of 23 indigenous groups based on a 1960s study by Tom Harrisson. This outdated definition excluded children from mixed marriages and newer indigenous groups identified in recent research.
Wan Junaidi led efforts to amend this by repealing Article 161A(7), granting the Sarawak state government the autonomy to define its native population.
The move was hailed as a “dream come true” as it allowed for the inclusion of children from mixed marriages, where one parent is a native, along with other indigenous groups not previously recognised.
His leadership also facilitated the implementation of policies that significantly benefited Sarawak, including reforms in education and enhanced representation of Sabah and Sarawak on the Inland Revenue Board’s board of directors.
The voice for Malaysia
Internationally, Wan Junaidi was an active member of the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), where he represented Malaysia at various global platforms, including Moscow, Havana, Addis Ababa, and Geneva.
His speeches and presentations, particularly at the IPU plenary session in the Kremlin in 2000 and the Human Rights Committee in Havana, were pivotal in shaping international perceptions of Malaysia, especially in defending the country’s position on sensitive legal matters.
As the Natural Resources and Environment Minister from 2015 to 2018, he represented a bloc of 25 like-minded countries, including China, India, and Mexico, at the 21st Conference of the Parties (COP21) in 2015, during which the Paris Agreement on climate change was negotiated.
There, Wan Junaidi played a crucial role in Malaysia’s ratification of the agreement, with a key focus on forest management and renewable energy.
However, he faced controversy at COP21 for confronting American negotiators who sought to ignore two fundamental principles: “common but differentiated responsibility” and “predetermined contributions” based on countries’ capacities.
He was determined to advocate for these principles to be included in the body of the agreement, which eventually led to the ratification of the Paris Agreement after lengthy negotiations with former United States Secretary of State John Kerry and other key figures.
His advocacy for biodiversity also led to the enactment of the National Biodiversity Policy 2016-2025, which guides the country’s environmental conservation efforts.
Duty, honour, service
Before his illustrious political career, Wan Junaidi served with distinction in the police force, having joined in 1964. He completed his training that year and served in various capacities, including as Aide-de-Camp to the Sarawak Police Commissioner.
He served in the Para-Military Police Field Force (PFF) from 1968 to 1973, where he fought against communist insurgents in the jungles of Sarawak.
His dedication to duty and significant role in safeguarding Sarawak during turbulent times laid the foundation for his later contributions to national and state leadership.
Beyond his political endeavours, Wan Junaidi is also an accomplished author. His literary contributions include several books such as “A Policeman”, “Evolusi Parlimen dan Speaker Parlimen Malaysia”, “Falsafah Undang-Undang Ilmu Berpengakap”, and “Journal of BIMP-EAGA Jamboree 2000”.
These works reflect his deep understanding of law and governance, as well as his lifelong commitment to public service.
A leader among scouts
Furthermore, in 1997, Wan Junaidi became the first Member of Parliament and the first Sarawak Scout Council member to earn the prestigious Wood Badge — a recognition given by the Malaysia Scout Association for successfully completing the Scoutmaster training programme.
He completed the course alongside scouts, undergoing the same rigorous training as the boys. He ventured into the jungle, swam in rivers, camped, and experienced the full scouting programme, which is uncommon for someone in his position.
In March 2024, he was installed as the patron of the Malaysia Scouts Association of Sarawak Branch and was presented with the “Bintang Semangat Padi Emas” (BSP-I) medal, the highest award from PPM, which is only awarded to distinguished figures among national and state leaders.
He was also the first Chief Commissioner to successfully place Sarawak scouting on the scout world map by hosting the first BIMP-EAGA Jamboree in Sarawak in 2000.
Starting as a dedicated member of the “Sang Saka Biru” (police force) during a period of communist insurgency, Wan Junaidi’s journey through Malaysia’s public administration and political landscape has been marked by significant achievements.
Now, as the Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, his legacy continues to influence the state and nation.
