KUCHING, 10 Januari – Kehadiran isteri Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd. Sanusi, memeriahkan Majlis Perasmian Penutupan Pesta Bubur Pedas Sarawak 2026 di Metrocity Matang, Kuching hari ini. Program anjuran Koperasi Perkumpulan Wanita Sarawak Berhad (KOPERWANIS) dan Persekutuan Perkumpulan Wanita Sarawak (PPWS) dengan kerjasama Institut Pendidikan Berterusan dan Pengajian Profesional (iCEPS) Universiti Teknologi MARA Cawangan Sarawak, bertujuan memartabatkan bubur pedas sebagai warisan kulinari ikonik negeri Sarawak. Toh Puan Fauziah turut meluangkan masa menyediakan bubur pedas dan beramah mesra bersama ahli KOPERWANIS serta peserta, mencerminkan keprihatinan beliau terhadap usaha memperkasa wanita dan ekonomi komuniti setempat. Penganjuran pesta itu bukan sahaja memelihara warisan makanan tradisional, malah menjadi platform memperkukuh jaringan usahawan wanita serta memperkasa peranan mereka dalam pembangunan sosioekonomi negeri. Para pelajar juga berpeluang memperoleh pengalaman dalam pengurusan komuniti, kerja lapangan, dan tanggungjawab sosial menerusi penglibatan dalam program berkenaan. Turut diadakan penyampaian hadiah kepada pemenang pertandingan bumbu bubur pedas, pertandingan masakan tradisional, serta pertandingan mewarna untuk warga emas dan kanak-kanak.   Hadir sama pada majlis tersebut ialah Menteri Pembangunan Wanita, Kanak-Kanak dan Kesejahteraan Komuniti Sarawak, Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.

LUMUT: Kapal Tempur Pesisir (LCS) ketiga milik Tentera Laut Diraja Malaysia (TLDM), KD Sharif Mashor, dilancarkan dalam satu upacara penuh istiadat di limbungan Lumut Naval Shipyard (LUNAS) di sini, hari ini. Upacara penamaan dan pelancaran kapal itu disempurnakan oleh Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi dan dihadiri Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar. Nama Sharif Mashor dipilih bagi menghormati tokoh sejarah yang pernah memerintah Sarikei pada pertengahan abad ke-19 dan dikenali atas keberanian serta kepimpinan dalam mempertahankan wilayah. Beliau memainkan peranan penting dalam konflik serantau dan usaha penentangan pada zamannya, sekali gus meninggalkan legasi keazaman, ketahanan dan kebijaksanaan strategik. Timbalan Menteri Pertahanan, Adly Zahari, yang membacakan teks ucapan Menteri Pertahanan, Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled Nordin, berkata kapal tempur pesisir ketiga ini merupakan kebanggaan negara kerana ia adalah kapal kelas frigat pertama yang dibina sepenuhnya oleh syarikat tempatan, Lumut Naval Shipyard Sdn. Bhd. “Proses pembinaan kapal ini bermula dengan majlis perletakan lunas atau keel laying pada 29 November 2017 dan kini sedia dilancarkan. “Kejayaan ini secara tidak langsung mencerminkan keupayaan anak-anak tempatan merealisasikan aspirasi negara untuk bersaing dalam industri berat dan industri pertahanan di peringkat global,” katanya. Tambahnya, pelancaran Dasar Industri Pertahanan Negara baru-baru ini mempamerkan komitmen kerajaan untuk membangunkan industri pertahanan yang mampan melalui penguasaan teknologi, pemerkasaan bakat tempatan serta peningkatan kandungan tempatan dan kerjasama strategik, sekali gus mengurangkan kebergantungan negara kepada pihak luar. Turut hadir Panglima Tentera Laut, Laksamana Tan Sri Zulhelmy Ithnain. Kapal-kapal kelas Maharaja Lela yang berasaskan reka bentuk korvet GOWIND oleh Naval Group, Perancis, merupakan kapal perang tercanggih TLDM dan direka untuk operasi maritim pelbagai dimensi. LCS3 telah diluncurkan ke permukaan air secara teknikal di LUNAS pada 31 Januari 2026 bagi menjalani pengujian dan penyempurnaan sistem sebelum memasuki fasa operasi. Sementara itu, LCS1 telah memulakan Pelayaran Laut Pertama pada 28 Januari 2026, sekali gus membuktikan kemajuan berstruktur Program LCS.

SARAWAK conferred the Pingat Perwira Negeri (PPN) on three former police officers this year, which was driven by a long-standing commitment to recognise those who fought directly against communist insurgents in the 1970s. Head of State, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, said the state award was created to honour security personnel who had risked their lives in jungle operations and armed engagements, but were not formally recognised at the federal level due to administrative limitations within the police system at the time. He said three recipients were awarded the PPN – Silver during the investiture ceremony on January 20, marking what he described as a meaningful step in acknowledging the sacrifices of Sarawak’s defenders. “The award is given based on direct involvement, and these individuals were involved in fighting the communists in the 1970s,” he told Sarawak Tribune in an exclusive interview.   Wan Junaidi explained that although the recipients had served in active combat, they did not receive recognition from the federal government, prompting Sarawak to establish its own form of appreciation, particularly for veterans from the armed forces and police. He said the issue had been close to his heart since the 1980s, when he served as chairman of the former police association and repeatedly raised the need to honour those who had served in dangerous operations. “This has been my struggle for a long time. Since 1987, I have raised it, but it was never properly addressed. Each time it came up, it was then forgotten,” he said. In 2014, when he became the Deputy Minister of Home Affairs, Wan Junaidi initiated the creation of a national medal, later approved by the federal government, to recognise police personnel who served during the Malayan Emergency (1948-1960 and 1969-1989) and the Sarawak Emergency (1952-1990). The award, known as Pingat Jasa Pahlawan Negara (PJPN), was introduced as a special form of recognition, similar to Pingat Jasa Malaysia (PJM) awarded to members of the armed forces who served during the same period. However, it did not specifically acknowledge individual acts of valour by police personnel in jungle operations during the Emergencies – a recognition Wan Junaidi had long aspired to see fulfilled. Wan Junaidi said that when he became the Head of State in 2023, he felt a responsibility to turn that hope into reality. “Those who fought, who risked their limbs and lives against the communists, should be given recognition. Even if it does not come with a specific allowance, it is still a symbol of appreciation from the state,” he said. Remembering Awang Sepian’s leadership in Durin The first recipient highlighted by Wan Junaidi was Inspector Awang Sepian Awang Juini, who served as a platoon commander during the Emergency years and later rose to the rank of Assistant Superintendent of Police. He said Awang Sepian was involved in multiple engagements across Sarawak, including operations in Sibu, Kapit, Bintangor and Sarikei, under the 15th Battalion Police Field Force based in Sibu. Wan Junaidi recalled one particular incident in 1970 during a company-level operation involving four platoons under the command of the late Datuk Amar Johnny Mustapha, when his own platoon triggered an initial engagement after walking into a communist trap. “My platoon made the first engagement. We entered a communist trap, but we survived. We had also unknowingly entered a minefield, but most of the mines did not detonate and those that did caused no serious injuries,” he said. It was then that Awang Sepian, positioned more than a kilometre away, reacted immediately upon hearing gunfire and set up an ambush route for insurgents fleeing the area. “When Awang Sepian heard the shooting, he quickly organised an ambush. The communists who fled from our area later ran straight into it and five were shot dead,” he said, adding that the incident occurred in Durin, Sibu. Despite the engagement’s significance, Wan Junaidi said it was never formally recognised due to delays in reporting during jungle operations. “Sometimes reports only reached battalion headquarters two or three weeks later and only brief reports were submitted. That is why the incident was never properly recorded,” he said. Anyang Inang’s discipline under fire Wan Junaidi also spoke about Corporal Nelson Anyang Inang, who served as his section commander during an ambush in Tulai and Bintangor, where a policeman was killed and another was seriously injured. He said Anyang demonstrated courage and composure during the firefight and later carried out follow-up operations that led to the arrest of several insurgents and the killing of one. “Anyang showed courage, but he also showed discipline and composure under fire,” he said. Wan Junaidi recalled giving Anyang strict instructions not to pursue beyond a set distance, citing the risk of accidental crossfire as another security unit was operating nearby. “I told him, ‘You may follow up, but not more than one kilometre. You must return before six o’clock’. We did not want to shoot our own men, especially at night,” he recalled. He said the operation in Tulai lasted two days, resulting in one death, one injury and the arrest of a suspected communist figure believed to have played a key role in operations in the Lower Rejang. Agam and the elite jungle unit The third recipient, Agam Galau, was described by Wan Junaidi as among the most skilled jungle operatives in the battalion, serving in a special 15-man reconnaissance unit. He said the unit operated with minimal equipment, carrying only food and sleeping without tents, using ponchos as shelter. “They went into the jungle without hammocks or tents. Only food. They were like commandos,” he said. Wan Junaidi said Agam was regarded as a “jungle man”, trained to the level of elite trackers, and often served as the right-hand man of Johnny Mustapha. He recalled Agam’s role in Muara Tebas during ‘Operation Hantam’, where a small section of 14 men faced more than 80 insurgents in a firefight that resulted in six communist casualties before reinforcements arrived. “We were 14 men, and they were more than 80. We killed six before reinforcements came in about ten minutes,” he said. Wan Junaidi also credited Agam’s alertness for preventing a potentially deadly friendly-fire incident involving an approaching army company at dusk. “If we had fired, I would not be here today. It was Agam’s competence and alertness that stopped it. He realised the group was not communists, but the army,” he said. A symbol of remembrance and gratitude Wan Junaidi said Sarawak’s PPN award represents a state-level effort to honour bravery that may have been overlooked at the time and serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by those who defended the state during a turbulent period. He expressed hope that the recognition would carry lasting meaning, not only for the recipients but also for the wider community. “This is a symbol of appreciation from Sarawak, especially for those who fought during that time,” he said.

TODAY marks two years since Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar officially assumed office as the eighth Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak. Since January 26, 2024, the Astana Negeri has been guided by a Head of State whose leadership reflects a rare blend of intellect, experience and approachability. As Sarawak commemorates this second anniversary, his tenure stands out for three defining strengths: intellectual leadership, a deep commitment to Sarawak’s rights within the Federation, and a “human touch” that continues to resonate with the rakyat. From the Jungle to the Astana Wan Junaidi’s path to the state’s highest office is rooted in service and discipline. His early years in the police force, serving during the communist insurgency, shaped his reputation as a steadfast protector of peace and security. Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg, during the launch of TYT’s biography, ‘Pejuang Sejati: Dari Rimba Ke Astana’, described him as a leader of great integrity and credibility, reflecting a life journey that evolved from the uniform to public service and national leadership. His academic pursuits, including a Doctorate in Business Administration and long-standing legal expertise, have strengthened his role as a constitutional figure who understands governance at both federal and state levels. In his first two years as Head of State, he has also consistently emphasised the importance of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) as Sarawak continues to pursue its rightful place and interests within the national framework. A Unifying Father Figure One of the most distinctive qualities of Wan Junaidi’s leadership has been his steady presence as a symbol of unity. In a time when many societies face rising polarisation, Sarawak’s strength remains its harmony, a value he has repeatedly reinforced through his engagement across communities. From welcoming interfaith leaders at the Astana to supporting initiatives that reflect Sarawak’s multicultural character, Wan Junaidi has demonstrated that the Head of State belongs to all Sarawakians, regardless of race or religion. In a Sarawak Tribune column, the chairperson of YAST, Esther Law, and co-writer Argenis Agulo highlighted what they described as his ‘HEART’ philosophy: Humanity, Empathy, Authenticity, Responsibility and Togetherness, a theme increasingly associated with his public approach. Whether he is seen greeting the people of Sarawak at community events or interacting with ordinary Sarawakians in informal settings, his presence has helped bridge the distance between the institution and the people. Education and Social Welfare As Chancellor of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (UNIMAS) and the University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), Wan Junaidi has also placed emphasis on the development of human capital, encouraging young Sarawakians to view education not only as personal achievement but as a foundation for service and responsibility. On the social front, the Head of State and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, have maintained a visible presence in community welfare and charitable causes. Their outreach reflects a leadership style anchored in compassion and attentiveness to the needs of ordinary people. Looking Ahead As Sarawak advances towards a future shaped by digital transformation and the green economy, having a Head of State with decades of administrative and legal experience provides a sense of stability and continuity. While the role is constitutional, Wan Junaidi’s leadership often shapes the tone it sets: one of unity, dignity and strength. May His Excellency continue to be blessed with good health and wisdom, as he serves Sarawak with steady leadership, a heart for the people and a vision for the future. Dirgahayu, Tun!