KUALA LUMPUR, June 19 — Former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Parliament and Law) Tan Sri Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar was elected as the 19th Dewan Negara president today.
Wan Junaidi’s appointment, effective June 18, is to replace Tan Sri Rais Yatim, whose tenure ended on June 16.
The appointment was made after Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim nominated Wan Junaidi, who is also the sole candidate proposed for the post.
“According to Standing Order 2(1) of the Dewan Negara, I have ensured that he agrees to serve if elected,” he said.
The motion was seconded by Investment, Trade and Industry Minister Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.
Former deputy home minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed, meanwhile, was elected as deputy president after defeating Senator Datuk Razali Idris of Bersatu by 43 votes to 11.
Earlier, Wan Junaidi, Nur Jazlan and former minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Seri Dr Mujahid Yusof were sworn in as senators.
They took their oath of office before acting president of the Dewan Negara, Senator Prof Datuk Seri Dr Awang Sariyan, during the swearing-in ceremony at the Upper House.
Wan Junaidi and Nur Jazlan were appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong while Mujahid was elected by the Perak State Legislative Assembly on May 25 to represent the state as a senator.
During the previous administration of prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, Wan Junaidi served in the legal portfolio from 2021 to 2022.
He had also served as Dewan Rakyat Deputy Speaker from 2008 to 2013.
Mujahid, who is also Perak Pakatan Harapan chairman, was minister in the Prime Minister’s Department in charge of religious affairs from 2018 to 2020, while Nur Jazlan served as Deputy Home Minister from 2015 to 2018.
The Dewan Negara will sit for six days from today.
— Bernama
