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 on Wednesday (Feb 28).

       During 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.

       Awang Tengah added that Wan Junaidi's career spanned decades of service to the nation and international community.

       "His leadership is characterised by a profound commitment to excellence, integrity and the advancement of society," he said.

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       Wan Junaidi, 78, was appointed as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri for a four-year term effective Jan 26 this year.

       He took over from Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud, who passed away on Feb 21.

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

       He served as Batang Lupar and Santubong MPs from 1990 to 2022.

       At 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.