Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak

The Governor of Sarawak^[1] (Malay: Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak) is the ceremonial head of state of Sarawak, Malaysia.^[2] The Yang di-Pertua Negeri is styled Tuan Yang Terutama (lit. 'His Excellency'). The official residence of the governor is The Astana, located on the north bank of the Sarawak River in Kuching.^[3]

Yang di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak Governor of Sarawak
Coat of arms
Incumbent Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar, 8th Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak since 26 January 2024
Style	Tuan Yang Terutama (formal) His Excellency (formal)
Status	Head of state
Residence	The Astana, Kuching, Sarawak
Nominator	Premier of Sarawak
Appointer	Yang di-Pertuan Agong
Term length	4 years no restriction on renewal
Constituting instrument	Constitution of the State of Sarawak
Precursor	Governor of the Crown Colony of Sarawak
Formation	16 September 1963
First holder	Tun Abang Haji Openg
Website	Astana Negeri Sarawak

Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar has been the Governor of Sarawak since 26 January 2024.^[4]

Appointment

The office of the governor is established by article 1(1) of the Constitution of Sarawak. The position is appointed by the Yang di-Pertuan Agong after consultation with the premier. Every governor is appointed for a term of four years. However, the king reserves the power to extend his term of appointment.

The governor has neither deputy nor assistant. However, in event of his inability to govern the state due to illness, absence or any other cause, the king reserves the power to appoint a person to exercise the function of the governor.

Functions, powers and privileges

Many functions and powers of the king – at the federal level – are delegated to the governor at the state level – like the other rulers of states. The governor, however, has no power and function towards the judiciary. Most of them are appointed after consultation with the premier, except in appointing the premier. The same process occurred during dismissal of an office bearer.

The Constitution also describes powers of the governor in the Council Negri. All bills must be assented by the governor in 30 days after a bill passed. The governor also has to address the assembly annually.

List

No.	Coat of Arms	Portrait	Name (Birth–Death)	Term of office			Monarch Reign
				Took office	Left office	Time in office
Governors of Crown Colony of Sarawak
1			Charles Arden-Clarke (1898–1962)	1 July 1946	26 July 1949	3 years, 26 days	George VI r. 1946–1952
2			Duncan Steward (1904–1949)	14 November 1949	10 December 1949	27 days
-			Christopher Dawson	10 December 1949 – 4 April 1950 Acting Governor of Sarawak		116 days
3			Anthony Foster Abell (1906–1994)	4 April 1950	15 November 1959	9 years, 226 days
							Elizabeth II r. 1952–1963
4			Alexander Waddell (1913–1999)	23 February 1960	21 July 1963	3 years, 149 days
Governors of Sarawak
1			Tun Datuk Abang Openg (1905–1969)	16 September 1963	28 March 1969	5 years, 194 days	Tuanku Syed Putra r. 1960–1965
2			Tun Datuk Patinggi Tuanku Bujang (1898–1986)	2 April 1969	1 April 1977	8 years, 0 days	Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah r. 1965–1970
							Tuanku Abdul Halim r. 1970–1975
							Sultan Yahya Petra r. 1975–1979
3			Tun Pehin Sri Abang Muhammad Salahuddin (1921–2022) 1st term	2 April 1977	1 April 1981	4 years, 0 days	Sultan Yahya Petra r. 1975–1979
							Sultan Ahmad Shah r. 1979–1984
4			Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Abdul Rahman Ya'kub (1928–2015)	2 April 1981	1 April 1985	4 years, 0 days
							Sultan Iskandar r. 1984–1989
5			Tun Datuk Patinggi Haji Ahmad Zaidi Adruce (1924–2000)	2 April 1985	5 December 2000	15 years, 248 days
							Sultan Azlan Shah r. 1989–1994
							Sultan Ja'afar r. 1994–1999
							Sultan Salahuddin r. 1999–2001
6			Tun Pehin Sri Abang Muhammad Salahuddin1 (1921–2022) 2nd term	22 February 2001	28 February 2014	13 years, 7 days
							Sultan Salahuddin r. 1999–2001
							Tuanku Syed Sirajuddin r. 2001–2006
							Sultan Mizan Zainal Abidin r. 2006–2011
							Tuanku Abdul Halim r. 2011–2016
7			Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud (1936–2024)	1 March 2014	26 January 2024	9 years, 332 days	Tuanku Abdul Halim r. 2011–2016
							Sultan Muhammad V r. 2016–2019
							Al-Sultan Abdullah r. 2019–2024
8			Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Haji Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar (born 1946)	26 January 2024	Incumbent	1 year, 28 days	Al-Sultan Abdullah r. 2019–2024
							Sultan Ibrahim r. 2024–

See also

• Yang di-Pertua Negeri

Notes

1.^ Abang Muhammad Salahuddin was the first Yang di-Pertua Negeri to serve twice as the Governor of Sarawak.

References

1. "Pejabat Tuan Yang Terutama Yang Di-Pertua Negeri Sarawak". tyt.sarawak.gov.my. Retrieved 7 January 2025.
2. Milne, R. S. (1963). "Malaysia: A New Federation in the Making". Asian Survey. 3 (2): 76–82. doi:10.2307/3023678. ISSN 0004-4687. JSTOR 3023678.
3. Yang di-Pertua Negeri of Sarawak Archived 7 September 2015 at the Wayback Machine
4. "Wan Junaidi appointed Sarawak governor effective today". The Star. Retrieved 26 January 2024.