KUCHING: Sambutan Hari Deepavali yang sinonim dengan pesta cahaya disambut penuh makna sebagai lambang keceriaan, keikhlasan dan harapan baharu bagi masyarakat beragama Hindu di seluruh negara. Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak, Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, bersama isteri, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, menzahirkan ucapan Selamat Menyambut Hari Deepavali kepada seluruh masyarakat India di Sarawak dan di Malaysia. “Saya berharap agar seluruh rakyat terus memperkukuh nilai murni seperti toleransi, saling menghormati dan muafakat yang menjadi asas kepada keharmonian masyarakat majmuk di negeri ini. “Walaupun masyarakat India antara kaum minoriti di Sarawak, mereka tetap memainkan peranan penting dalam pembangunan negeri dan negara,” katanya menerusi satu hantaran di Facebook rasmi. Tambah beliau, sumbangan masyarakat India dalam bidang pendidikan, perkhidmatan awam, keusahawanan dan kebudayaan mencerminkan semangat kerja keras serta komitmen terhadap kemajuan bersama rakyat Sarawak. Tegas Tun Wan Junaidi, sambutan ini harus menjadi wadah untuk memperkukuh perpaduan serta semangat hidup harmoni dalam kepelbagaian. “Semoga masyarakat yang meraikan Hari Deepavali terus disinari cahaya kebahagiaan, kedamaian dan kesejahteraan. “Sentiasalah hidup dalam semangat perpaduan dan saling menghormati antara satu sama lain,” ujarnya.

WHEN the Federal Constitution was amended in February 2022 to finally acknowledge the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63), Tun Pehin Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar knew he had achieved something that generations before him had fought for. As the Law Minister at the time, he became the architect who secured Sarawak and Sabah’s rightful place within Malaysia’s legal framework. “It took 58 years, but finally, on February 11, 2022, MA63 was recognised in the Constitution. “For the first time, Sarawak and Sabah’s rights had a constitutional footing,” he recalled. In an exclusive interview with Sarawak Tribune, Wan Junaidi said that this was not just a legal triumph, but it was the culmination of a lifetime of struggle. To him, the story of Malaysia’s formation, neglect, and eventual revival can only be understood by confronting how MA63 had long been “left in the shadows”. Forgotten in the Constitution Wan Junaidi has often reminded audiences that history is built on treaties. “History was written through treaties and agreements. The Pangkor Agreement of 1874, the Straits Settlements Agreement, the 1948 Federation Agreement, and the 1957 Merdeka Agreement were all acknowledged in our Constitution. “But MA63, despite being the cornerstone of our federation, was not recognised. It was left in the shadows,” he explained. That omission would haunt Sarawak and Sabah for decades. Their rights, promised at the time of Malaysia’s formation, were steadily eroded by federal laws that ignored the spirit of 1963. For Wan Junaidi, understanding how this neglect happened meant tracing the origins of MA63 itself. Britain’s urgent exit and the push for Malaysia The roots of MA63 lay not in Malaya’s vision but in Britain’s haste to decolonise after World War II. Malaya at the time was a patchwork of arrangements: the Federated Malay States, the Unfederated States, and the Straits Settlements. Britain’s first attempt to centralise them, the Malayan Union of 1946, collapsed under Malay resistance. It was replaced by the Federation of Malaya in 1948, which restored the rulers’ powers and paved the way for independence in 1957. At that point, Tunku Abdul Rahman was content with a compact federation of eleven states. “Tunku Abdul Rahman never dreamt of Malaysia until the British persuaded him, because Britain wanted a safe exit from its colonies,” Wan Junaidi said. The Cold War sharpened British anxieties. Singapore was volatile under Lee Kuan Yew, with communist influence on the rise. “The British told Tunku: if you don’t take Singapore, you will have a Cuba at your doorstep. “At first, Tunku was reluctant, but later he realised that Singapore alone would destabilise the Malay majority. “That is why Sarawak, Sabah, and Brunei had to be included, to balance the numbers,” he added. Testing public opinion: The Cobbold Commission The Malaysia proposal triggered a series of steps. Tunku’s 1961 luncheon speech signalled his interest, followed by the Malaysia Solidarity Consultative Committee in 1962, and then the Cobbold Commission to gauge public sentiment in Sarawak and North Borneo. The findings were far from unanimous. The Malay community largely supported Malaysia, seeing it as the path to independence. Many Dayaks were hesitant, preferring continued British rule until they were better prepared. The Chinese were divided: the elite groups leaned towards Malaysia, while the leftist and communist elements opposed it. “It was the Kapit Resolution of 1962, led by Temenggong Jugah, that swayed the Dayaks to support Malaysia. “Without that resolution, Malaysia might never have materialised,” he said. The Inter-Governmental Committee and safeguards To formalise the terms, the Inter-Governmental Committee (IGC) was set up under Lord Lansdowne (UK) and Tun Abdul Razak (Malaya), with Sarawak, North Borneo, and Singapore at the table. Brunei observed but later withdrew. Five sub-committees: constitutional, fiscal, legal and judicial, public service, and departmental organisation, produced the framework for Malaysia. Out of this came the draft Malaysia Agreement, the UK and Malaya Malaysia Acts, state constitutions for Sarawak, Sabah, and Singapore, and, critically, immigration safeguards granting Sarawak and Sabah control over entry. Wan Junaidi explained why this process was flawed. “The IGC did not create a new constitution for Malaysia. Instead, it amended the Federal Constitution of Malaya in 1957, but in doing so, it flawed the process by effectively placing Malaysia within the framework of a constitution drafted for Malaya in 1957, when the federation of Malaysia did not yet exist,” he said. That decision, he added, was critical because earlier agreements were entrenched in the 1957 Constitution, while the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) was not. “This omission left Sarawak and Sabah exposed to decades of neglect and dereliction, as the safeguards promised under MA63 were never constitutionally entrenched. “This historical misstep has had lasting consequences for both states, which have spent decades seeking to reclaim rights that were supposed to have been protected from the start,” Wan Junaidi stressed. Signing Malaysia into existence On July 9, 1963, the MA63 was signed in London by Britain, Malaya, Sarawak, North Borneo, and Singapore. Brunei opted out after its 1962 rebellion. Malaysia was scheduled for August 31, 1963, but objections from Indonesia and the Philippines delayed it. The UN, under U Thant, was tasked to confirm public support. “It was only after the Manila Summit and the UN’s endorsement that Malaysia Day was shifted to 16 September 1963,” Wan Junaidi recalled. Finally, at midnight on September 15, 1963, the Queen of Great Britain relinquished sovereignty and jurisdiction. Then, at dawn the next day, Malaysia was born. Misconceptions of Independence One of the enduring myths is that Sarawak achieved independence on July 22, 1963. Wan Junaidi has consistently corrected this. “We must be clear. Sarawak never achieved independence on July 22. That was only self-government. “Independence came when the Queen finally relinquished sovereignty and jurisdiction on 16 September 1963,” he explained. For him, clarity on this point is vital because misinterpretations of history have too often been used to dilute Sarawak’s actual legal standing within Malaysia. The erosion of rights Though MA63 promised safeguards, the lack of constitutional entrenchment left Sarawak and Sabah’s rights vulnerable. Over time, federal laws steadily eroded one after another of those guaranteed rights The Petroleum Development Act 1974 and Emergency laws centralised control of oil and gas under PETRONAS. The Territorial Sea Act 2012 narrowed maritime rights. Encroachments spread into education, healthcare, and governance. “Because MA63 was not entrenched in the Constitution, Parliament after Parliament passed laws that undermined Sarawak’s rights. “Oil, gas, and even our territorial waters were taken away,” Wan Junaidi lamented. Decades of silence, then a revival For much of the late 20th century, MA63 was politically dormant. Successive Prime Ministers paid lip service, while rural Sarawak remained underdeveloped. The revival began with the late Tan Sri Adenan Satem in 2016, who boldly raised MA63 with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak. After GE14 in 2018, Pakatan Harapan promised reforms but focused narrowly on restoring Article 1(2) to its original 1963 wording. The real breakthrough, however, came when Wan Junaidi assumed the role of Law Minister in 2021. He spearheaded constitutional amendments that, for the first time, inserted explicit recognition of MA63 and related documents into the Federal Constitution. “It was not easy, but we could not allow another decade to pass without securing Sarawak and Sabah’s position. “Recognition in the Constitution was the minimum we owed to the spirit of 1963,” he added. Wan Junaidi’s caution for the future Today, Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg has made reclaiming MA63 rights a central focus of his administration, particularly in terms of energy and revenue autonomy. Wan Junaidi supports these efforts but offers a note of realism about rights which are spelt out within the intergovernmental report, which have not been put into reality based on the MA63. “We must be realistic. Referendums like Scotland’s cannot happen here because our Constitution does not provide for them. “The only way forward is through law, negotiation, and constitutional amendment,” he cautioned. For him, the struggle is ongoing. Constitutional recognition was a breakthrough, but the implementation of rights, especially in resources, revenue, and governance, remains unfinished business. The Spirit of 1963 While reflecting on his struggles, Wan Junaidi insists the goal has never been secession but fairness. “Our struggle is not to undo Malaysia, but to make Malaysia fair to Sarawak and Sabah. “That was the spirit of 1963, and that must be the spirit today,” he said. MA63, he reminds Malaysians, encompasses key documents such as the IGC Report and the Malaysia Act 1963, which together laid the foundation of the federation. “The MA63 itself is only three pages long with 11 clauses, yet its long neglect weakened that foundation, while its formal recognition helped to strengthen and restore it,” he said. For Wan Junaidi, the struggle has been personal, political, and historical. Yet, it is also unfinished, a story still being written, with Sarawak and Sabah’s place in Malaysia continuing to evolve.

KUCHING: Seramai 231 lagi individu menerima Darjah-Darjah Kebesaran Negeri Sarawak daripada Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar dalam satu majlis yang berlangsung di Dewan Santapan, Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak di sini hari ini. Menurut Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS), istiadat yang bermula sekitar jam 11 pagi itu diadakan sebagai tanda penghargaan kepada sumbangan besar para penerima dalam pelbagai bidang termasuk pentadbiran awam, pendidikan, keselamatan, industri dan khidmat masyarakat. Majlis dimulakan dengan penyampaian Darjah Utama Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Kenyalang Sarawak Pegawai Bintang Kenyalang (P.B.K) kepada Hasbilah Mohamad Salleh, Austin James Nieet diikuti 21 penerima yang lain. Manakala, Tahir Mohd Sharee, Yalin Asan, Abang Iskandar Bolhassan Abang Mihamad Ariif serta 28 penerima lain dianugerahkan Pingat Pentadbiran Awam Pingat Perkhidmatan Bakti (P.P.B). Mejar Kaha Othman, Abdul Rahman Ahmad, Awang Hairil bersama 31 penerima lain pula dianugerahkan Pingat Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak Ahli Bintang Sarawak (A.B.S). Turut diraikan ialah 62 individu bagi Pingat Pentadbiran Awam Pingat Perkhidmatan Terpuji (P.P.T) termasuk Abang Abdul Rahman Salihin, Baharin@ Arin Saili dan Billy Bibi Ragan. Darjah Yang Amat Mulia Bintang Sarawak Bentara Bintang Sarawak (B.B.S) pula dianugerahkan kepada 61 penerima termasuk Abang Dzulhanif Abang Sukarno, Abdur Majid Mohamad Yoosof, Abdul Rahman Lsman, Abdul Wahab Venchu Mohamed Yoosoof, Abu Bakar Wahi serta individu lain. Hadir sama pada majlis itu ialah Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, Speaker Dewan Undangan Negeri Sarawak Tan Sri Datuk Amar Mohamad Asfia Awang Nassar, Timbalan Menteri Perancangan Bandar, Pentadbiran Tanah dan Alam Sekitar Sarawak Datuk Len Talif Salleh, Timbalan Menteri Pembangunan Wanita dan Kanak-Kanak Datuk Rosey Yunus serta ketua-ketua Jabatan.

KUCHING: Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar serta isteri Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi menyerikan Karnival Baca Perdana dan Pesta Buku Sarawak 2025 yang diadakan di The Hills di sini, hari ini. Menurut laporan Unit Komunikasi Awam Sarawak (UKAS), kehadiran Tun Wan Junaidi dan isteri telah disambut oleh tetamu kehormat yang turut hadir pada majlis tersebut. Hadir menyambut ketibaan beliau ialah Timbalan Menteri Perpaduan Negara Saraswaty Kandasamy, Pengerusi Lembaga Pengurusan Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Datuk Dr Abang Abdul Rauf Abang Zen, Ketua Pegawai Eksekutif Pustaka Negeri Sarawak Japri Bujang Masli serta dif kenamaan lain. Sejurus tiba ke majlis perasmian, Yang di-Pertua Negeri dan isteri disambut dengan persembahan 'Selamat Datang' dan turut menyaksikan persembahan Bicara Berirama. Pada kemuncak majlis, Tun Wan Junaidi telah menyempurnakan simbolik perasmian dan seterusnya turut menyempurnakan pelancaran lapan buku baharu pada majlis tersebut. Beliau bersama isteri turut berkesempatan menyampaikan hadiah kepada pemenang Anugerah Pengiktirafan Pembaca Aktif 2024 serta Anugerah Pemenang Pertandingan Bicara Berirama sebelum bergerak untuk melakukan lawatan ke reruai pameran. Pesta Buku Sarawak 2025 berobjektif menggalakkan budaya membaca dalam kalangan masyarakat terutama generasi muda di samping meningkatkan akses kepada bahan bacaan berkualiti dengan harga mampu milik. Sempena pesta tersebut, ia juga meraikan penganjuran Karnival Baca Perdana anjuran Perpustakaan Negara Malaysia yang memilih Sarawak sebagai destinasi utama tahun ini terutama negeri ini yang menjadi lambang keharmonian masyarakat majmuk yang kaya dengan tradisi kesusasteraan lisan, pendidikan dan kebudayaan. Tahun ini, Pesta Buku Sarawak 2025 disertai 32 pempamer dari dalam dan luar negara yang berlangsung sejak 27 September lepas dan berakhir pada 5 Oktober kelak. Sepanjang sembilan hari penganjuran, pelbagai program dan aktiviti menarik telah dirancang termasuk jualan buku besar-besaran oleh Big Bad Wolf, sesi perkongsian ilmu, wacana, bengkel, sesi 'meet and greet' bersama penulis dan aktiviti komuniti untuk seisi keluarga.

MIRI: Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar serta isteri, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi menyantuni mangsa tanah runtuh Kampung Lereng Bukit di Pusat Pemindahan Sementara (PPS) di Dewan Bulan Sabit Merah (BSM) Miri pada hari ini. Lawatan itu bertujuan menzahirkan keprihatinan serta memberikan sokongan moral kepada mangsa yang terjejas akibat insiden tersebut. Kedua-dua mereka turut menyampaikan sumbangan makanan kepada mangsa sebagai tanda solidariti serta memastikan kebajikan terpelihara. Turut mengiringi ialah Menteri Pelancongan, Industri Kreatif dan Seni Persembahan Dato Sri Karim Abdul Rahman Hamzah bersama Datin Sri Zuraini Jabbar, Timbalan Menteri Belia, Sukan dan Pembangunan Usahawan Datuk Dr Ripin Lamat dan Timbalan Menteri Pelancongan, Industri Kreatif dan Seni Persembahan Datuk Sebastian Ting. Hadir sama, Timbalan Setiausaha Kerajaan Negeri Sarawak (Perancangan Ekonomi dan Pembangunan) Dato Sri Dr. Muhammad Abdullah Zaidel, Datuk Bandar Miri yang juga ADUN Pujut Adam Yii, Residen Miri Galong Luang, serta Ketua Polis Daerah Miri ACP Alexson Naga Chabu. Seramai 105 penduduk daripada 25 keluarga telah dipindahkan ke PPS tersebut. Rombongan turut menerima taklimat tentang keadaan semasa di PPS itu serta langkah-langkah bantuan dan perlindungan yang sedang dilaksanakan oleh pihak berkuasa bagi memastikan kesejahteraan mangsa. Dalam kejadian pada awal pagi Rabu, kejadian tanah runtuh tersebut telah memusnahkan dua buah rumah kediaman penduduk yang bersebelahan. Lima mangsa telah meninggal dunia akibat kejadian tanah runtuh itu.