KUCHING: Tan Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tunku Jaafar is the Dewan Negara President. He was sworn in today.
He replaces Tan Sri Rais Yatim whose term ended on June 16.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim nominated him for the position and Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz seconded the nomination.
He was the sole nominee for the post.
Despite his retirement from politics and government service, Wan Junaidi said he has accepted the call to serve the nation and the people.
“I would like to express my heartfelt gratitude to the Prime Minister for proposing my name as the Dewan Negara President and also the Premier of Sarawak who personally conveyed the message from the Prime Minister to me on June 13.
“Even though I have retired, I am responding to the call to serve the country,” he said.
Following his appointment, he said that there are three main things that need to be implemented, namely the implementation of the Parliamentary Service Act, enacting or amending the Parliament (Privileges and Powers) Act 1952, and amending the rules of the Dewan Rakyat and Dewan Negara to meet the aspirations of both chambers in establishing departmental committees for Parliament and to enforce the parliamentary code of ethics.
“It is one of my long-standing tasks to introduce this because in my view, the duty and responsibilities of the members of parliament (MPs) are not to create disturbances and politicking but to fulfil their duties and responsibilities.
Wan Junaidi, 78, previously held many positions. He had served as the Minister of Natural Resources and Environment from 2015 to 2018 and the Minister of Entrepreneur Development and Cooperative from 2020 to 2021.
The Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) member was also the Deputy Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat from 2008 to 2013 and the Deputy Home Minister from 2013 to 2015.
He had previously served as the MP for Santubong from 2004 to 2022, after holding the position of MP for Batang Lupar from 1990 to 2004.
