THE SOCIETY for Rights of Indigenous People of Sarawak (Scrips) is confident that new governor Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar will influence the Sarawak government to chart new policies towards poverty eradication and remove urban-rural inequalities in this state.
Despite the governor’s post being largely non-administrative in nature, as head of state, he can still influence the government as he is the state’s foremost adviser and mentor, said Scrips northern Sarawak ground coordinator Michael Ding.
Speaking to The Vibes, he said Wan Junaidi looks like he will be very people-centric and down-to-earth as was seen on his first public appearance on Monday after being appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.
“It is heartening to see Wan Junaidi still down-to-earth and humble despite being appointed to head the state,” he said.
“His street rounds (in the Satok coffeeshop area in Kuching) shows he is still approachable and people-centric.
“If this is a sign of how he will reign as governor, then we the people are sure we will see more of him at ground level.
“He will surely ‘turun padang’ (go to the ground to meet the ordinary folk) and not only be palace-based.”
Ding added that ordinary folk, especially those in rural settlements, hope that Wan Junaidi will visit all corners of the state soon and meet with them to hear their plight.
“We hope he will look at the harsh realities of life in poverty-stricken areas and the vast urban-rural divide still plaguing Sarawak, and so influence the state government to devise more effective and practical policies to overcome these woes,” said Ding, who is from the inner Baram district in northern Sarawak.
Ding is also community elder of the Lakiput minority ethnic group.
On Monday, Wan Junaidi went for a morning meal with his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi at an ordinary kopi tiam in the Satok commercial centre of Kuching and then went about mingling and taking selfies with crowds without his bodyguards.
Wan Junaidi received his appointment as Sarawak governor from the Yang di-Pertuan Agong last week to replace Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud.
Taib, 88, a former Sarawak chief minister, is ailing and reported to be receiving treatment in Turkey.
Wan Junaidi resigned as Senate speaker just days before his new appointment.
He was sworn in as governor at the Sarawak assembly on Monday afternoon.
The Sarawak government has hailed Wan Junaidi, who is also a former federal minister, for his wide experience in government administration and politics.
That makes him an appropriate choice to assume the state governor’s seat, said state Tourism, Culture and Innovation Minister Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Hamzah.
“He is a man of wide experience with many years in politics,” Karim stressed.
“He had also been MP as well as held deputy ministerial and full ministerial posts for several decades.”
Wan Junaidi, 79, who was born in Kg Pendam (now Sadong Jaya), about 55km east of Kuching, has been an active member of Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu, and has served as MP for Batang Lupas and Santubong for several terms each.
“With such vast experience, he is the appropriate choice for the TYT position,” Karim said. – The Vibes, January 31, 2024
