BANDAR SERI BEGAWAN – Sarawak Governor Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and wife Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi honored the 79th birthday celebrations of Brunei’s Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Mu’izzaddin Waddaulah by attending a prestigious investiture ceremony at Istana Nurul Iman on Tuesday.
The royal event, held at 10:30 a.m. at the palace’s Singgahsana Indera Buana throne hall, featured traditional customs honoring His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam. Sarawak’s delegation included Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Abang Openg and Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Awang Tengah Ali Hasan, standing alongside Her Majesty Raja Isteri Pengiran Anak Hajah Saleha.
Tun Dr. Wan Junaidi expressed profound gratitude for the invitation: “We convey highest appreciation to His Majesty for this gracious consent.” The Governor emphasized the ceremony’s significance in reinforcing Brunei-Malaysia relations, noting the delegation’s presence “reflects the enduring friendship between Brunei Darussalam and Malaysia, particularly Sarawak.”
The Stars of Merit awarding ritual – part of the Sultan’s birthday observances – highlighted ongoing diplomatic ties between the neighboring Borneo territories. Observers noted the high-level Sarawak representation underscores cross-border collaboration priorities, coming just months after both governments signed new memoranda on energy and cultural exchange.
Background: This marks Tun Dr. Wan Junaidi’s second royal engagement in Brunei since becoming Sarawak Governor in 2023, following decades of parliamentary diplomacy as Malaysia’s former Dewan Rakyat Speaker.
