Jefferson Jamit Unyat

Summary

Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat (PBB/GPS) is the elected assemblyman for Bukit Goram, a Sarawak state constituency in the Kapit Division first created in 2016. He has won the seat twice — in 2016 and 2021 — with vote shares of approximately 68 per cent on both occasions. Since December 2021, he has held the post of Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Native Laws and Customs), overseeing the Sarawak Native Court system and native customary land compensation matters.

Biography

Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat is a Sarawak state assemblyman representing the Bukit Goram constituency under Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). Born in 1957 or 1958 — Malay Mail reported his age as 58 at the time of his 2016 nomination [1] — he is identified as belonging to the Orang Ulu community of Sarawak's Kapit Division. Prior to entering elected politics, he served as Political Secretary to the Sarawak Chief Minister, as well as the pro-tem chairman of a PBB branch [2]. Bukit Goram was a newly created state seat, first contested in the 11th Sarawak State Election on 7 May 2016, where Jefferson won with a majority of 2,586 votes under the Barisan Nasional banner, representing PBB [3]. He successfully defended the seat in the 12th Sarawak State Election on 18 December 2021, this time under GPS, securing a majority of 3,538 votes with a vote share of approximately 68.45 per cent [3]. All four of his opponents in 2021 lost their election deposits [4]. Following the GPS victory in December 2021, he was appointed Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department (Native Law and Customs) in the Sarawak Cabinet announced on 30 December 2021 [1]. He was subsequently elevated to Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Native Laws and Customs), the title he holds as of 2026 [1]. In this role, he has been involved in efforts to address backlogs in the Sarawak Native Court system, including land compensation cases [4][5].

Known for

Jefferson Jamit Unyat is identified with the administration of native customary law and the Sarawak Native Court system, serving as Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Native Laws and Customs) from at least 2022. He first entered elected politics in 2016 when Bukit Goram, a newly created seat in the Kapit Division, was contested for the first time. He has retained the seat with consistent vote shares of approximately 68 per cent across both the 2016 and 2021 elections.

Political positions

As Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Native Laws and Customs), Jefferson Jamit Unyat has publicly focused on resolving backlogs in the Sarawak Native Court. In May 2023, he stated that 5,987 cases — representing 35 per cent of all cases filed under the District and Residen Bumiputra Courts — remained pending [4]. He called on community leaders across Sarawak's divisions to assist in resolving these cases, noting that some involve land compensation matters treated as priorities by the court [4]. In November 2025, he told the Sarawak State Assembly that RM6.7 million in land compensation was being held up by administrative and legal process delays, citing shortages of magistrates and frequent adjournment requests as contributing factors [5]. On cost-of-living matters, he has urged constituents to spend prudently during festive seasons, referencing global economic uncertainties [1].

Before politics

1. Before 2016Served as Political Secretary to the Sarawak Chief Minister and as pro-tem chairman of a PBB branch prior to contesting elected office.⛓

Political career

1. April 2016Named as PBB/BN candidate for the newly created Bukit Goram state seat in the 11th Sarawak State Election.⛓
2. 7 May 2016Won the Bukit Goram seat in the 11th Sarawak State Election under BN-PBB, polling 4,596 votes with a majority of 2,586 votes. Bukit Goram was a new seat contested for the first time.⛓
3. 18 December 2021Retained the Bukit Goram seat in the 12th Sarawak State Election under GPS-PBB, polling 4,253 votes with a majority of 3,538 votes and a vote share of 68.45 per cent. All four opponents lost their deposits.⛓
4. 30 December 2021Appointed Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister's Department (Native Law and Customs) in the new Sarawak Cabinet.⛓
5. 4 January 2022Sworn in as part of the new Sarawak Cabinet, one of twelve new faces in the post-2021 election government.⛓
6. May 2023In his capacity as Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Native Customs and Law), publicly disclosed a backlog of close to 6,000 cases in the Sarawak Native Court during a visit to the Sibu division Bumiputra Court.⛓
7. November 2025Informed the Sarawak State Assembly that RM6.7 million in land compensation was being held up in the native court system, citing administrative delays and a shortage of magistrates.⛓
8. 31 May 2026In his role as Deputy Minister in the Premier's Department (Native Laws and Customs), urged constituents to travel safely and spend prudently during the Gawai Dayak festive season.⛓

Election history

• 2021Bukit GoramWon68.45%⛓
• 2016Bukit GoramWon67.97%⛓

Perspectives on key issues

• GovernmentSarawak Premier Abang Johari Openg appointed Jefferson Jamit Unyat as Assistant Minister (later Deputy Minister) in the Premier's Department (Native Laws and Customs) following the GPS victory in the 12th Sarawak State Election, signalling the government's recognition of his role in administering native customary law matters.⛓
• VerifiedFactsBukit Goram is a state constituency created in the 2015 redistribution, first contested in 2016. Jefferson Jamit Unyat has held the seat in both elections held to date (2016, 2021), with his vote share remaining stable at approximately 68 per cent across both contests.⛓
• AffectedFree Malaysia Today reported in November 2025 that RM6.7 million in land compensation was being held up in the native court system, with Jamit attributing delays to document verification, valuation, ownership confirmation processes, a shortage of magistrates, and frequent adjournment requests — factors that directly affect indigenous landowners awaiting resolution of NCR land compensation claims.⛓