KUCHING: Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been sworn in as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak.

       He took the oath of office at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly's Dewan Lapau here on Monday (Jan 29) in front of Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Tan Sri Abdul Rahman Sebli.

       Earlier, he received a guard of honour mounted by the 11th Battalion of the General Operations Force.

       He was accompanied by his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.

       Among those present were Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof as well as Sarawak Deputy Premiers Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah, Datuk Amar Dr Sim Kui Hian and Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan.

       Wan Junaidi, 77, was appointed as the new Head of State for a four-year term effective Jan 26, 2024 by Yang di-Pertuan Agong Al-Sultan Abdullah Ri'ayatuddin Al-Mustafa Billah Shah.

       He received the instrument of appointment from the King at Istana Negara in Kuala Lumpur last Friday (Jan 26), taking over from Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.

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       Prior to his appointment, Wan Junaidi was the Dewan Negara president.

       He served as Batang Lupar and Santubong MPs since he was first elected in 1990 until he decided not to seek reelection in the 15th general election in 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.