SIBU: Head of State Tun Pehin Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar shared the deeply personal journey behind his latest book ‘Teriso’s Little Star’, revealing that the manuscript had remained on his laptop for years before finally seeing publication.
Wan Junaidi said the book only came to light after encouragement from a friend who proofread the work.
“It was written as ‘When A Child Was Born’. It stayed on my laptop for years – waiting to be published, not published, and then finally published,” he recalled when speaking at the Statesman’s Lecture, Book Talk and Book Launch held at the Tun Abdul Taib Mahmud Chancellor Hall, University of Technology Sarawak (UTS), today.
The event was also graced by Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.
Wan Junaidi admitted that despite having authored many books, including his latest works, he still relied on others to help refine his writing.
“Being a writer is no good without a proofreader. I have written about 16 books, including these two that I’ve just published. I still have two or three more manuscripts on my laptop, which I’m considering for publication,” he said.
Wan Junaidi also touched on his passion for poetry, explaining that his verses were often born from moments of deep emotion.
“I composed poetry whenever my feelings were touched. Can you imagine, the poem ‘The Silence’ was written in 1967 when I was still a young man. The beat of my heart became the words of my poems,” he said.
The books, ‘Teriso’s Little Star’ and ‘Silence’, reflect different facets of Wan Junaidi’s personal journey.
‘Teriso’s Little Star’ is inspired by his childhood experiences growing up in Kampung Teriso. At the heart of this story was noble Tuanku Jaafar, a devoted farmer and fisherman and Sharifah Hanifah, his wife, as they prepare to welcome their second child.
This is more than just a family milestone for them, but a moment of celebration, of life, resilience, unity and traditions that define their close-knit society.
Meanwhile, ‘Silence’ is a poetry collection that brings together the voices of Wan Junaidi, Yusuf Mustanir and Diana Ningkan, each offering deeply personal reflections shaped by their unique journeys.
From heartfelt tributes and historical narratives to childhood memories and global observations, these poems celebrate resilience, heritage and the human spirit.
