TopicsPolitician AnalysisJulaihi Narawi

Julaihi Narawi

Party
PBB · United Bumiputera Heritage Party
Coalition
GPS
Constituency
Sebuyau
State
Sarawak
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Why this matters to you

As Sarawak's Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications, Julaihi Narawi directly influences the cost, reliability, and reach of electricity, water, and internet services for all Sarawakians — from urban households in Kuching and Sibu to rural longhouse communities seeking electrification under the ALAF programme, which has allocated RM315 million benefiting nearly 20,000 households since 2018 (Source: bernama.com). His ministry's consolidation of Sarawak's three water boards into one entity and the planned upgrade of the Salim Water Treatment Plant will affect the quality and pricing of piped water for Sibu residents and beyond (Source: theedgemalaysia.com). For Sebuyau residents specifically, his earlier role as Assistant Minister for Infrastructure championed the RM848 million Batang Lupar Bridge — a 7-kilometre crossing intended to replace the Sebuyau-Triso ferry service — directly improving commute safety and connectivity for that community (Source: bernama.com).

Summary

Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi is a PBB-GPS politician who has represented the Sebuyau state constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly since 2011, winning three consecutive elections. He currently serves as Sarawak's Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications — a portfolio covering electricity, water supply, and telecommunications — while holding a Vice-President post in PBB's Bumiputera wing. He is a consistent advocate for Sarawak's energy export ambitions and greater Borneo representation in the federal Parliament.

Biography

Datuk Seri Julaihi Narawi is a Malaysian politician from Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB), a component party of Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). He has served as the Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for the Sebuyau constituency since first winning the seat in 2011 under the Barisan Nasional banner [1]. He was re-elected in the 2016 Sarawak state election with a vote share of 69.88 percent, and again in the 12th Sarawak state election in December 2021 under the GPS banner with 79.3 percent of votes cast — providing GPS its first declared win of that election night [1][2]. Following the 2016 election, Julaihi was sworn in as an Assistant Minister in May 2016 [3]. He held the portfolio of Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development from at least 2016, overseeing major road and bridge projects in Sarawak [3]. After the 2021 state election, he was appointed to the full ministerial post of Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications in the new Sarawak cabinet sworn in in January 2022 [4][5]. In his ministerial role he has overseen Sarawak's electricity supply expansion, rural electrification targets, water board consolidation, and telecommunications infrastructure rollout [3][6][4]. Within PBB, Julaihi holds the position of Vice-President (Bumiputera wing), a post he has retained at successive party conventions, most recently at the February 2025 PBB General Assembly where he secured 900 votes [3][6]. He also advocates for greater Sarawak representation in the federal Parliament [6].

Known for

Julaihi Narawi is known as a long-serving Sebuyau assemblyman who rose from Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development to become Sarawak's Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications from January 2022. He has been a prominent voice for Sarawak's energy ambitions, including the state's planned electricity export to Singapore and Sabah, as well as rural electrification and water supply consolidation. Within PBB, he is an elected Bumiputera wing Vice-President and a consistent advocate for Sarawak's political autonomy from peninsula-based parties.

Political positions

Julaihi has consistently aligned with the GPS coalition's position that Sarawak's interests are best served by a Sarawak-based coalition rather than peninsula-based parties. He has argued that GPS representatives can advocate freely for Sarawak whereas MPs or ADUNs aligned with peninsula coalitions must refer decisions to their national leadership [3]. On energy policy, he has championed Sarawak's role as a regional renewable energy exporter, assuring constituents that planned electricity exports to Singapore and Sabah — projected at 12 percent of total generation — will not compromise local supply [3]. He has tabled amendments to Sarawak's Electricity Ordinance to entrench the state's status as a renewable energy powerhouse capable of exporting to Sabah, Brunei, Kalimantan, Singapore, and Peninsular Malaysia [3]. On water policy, he oversaw the consolidation of three Sarawak water boards into a single entity and confirmed a major upgrade to the Salim Water Treatment Plant to double its capacity [7]. On telecommunications, he targeted 100% 4G coverage for populated Sarawak areas and supervised satellite broadband installations for interior communities [6]. At the 2023 PBB Convention he presented resolutions calling for an increase in Sarawak's parliamentary constituencies to achieve one-third Borneo representation in the Dewan Rakyat [6].

References

  1. [1]malaysiakini.com
  2. [2]nst.com.my
  3. [3]malaymail.com
  4. [4]bernama.com
  5. [5]en.wikipedia.org
  6. [6]thestar.com.my
  7. [7]theedgemalaysia.com

Political career

  1. April 2011First elected as ADUN for Sebuyau under BN-PBB in the 10th Sarawak state election, defeating PAS candidate Adam Ahid and an independent with 3,748 votes and a majority of 2,448.⛓
  2. May 2016Re-elected as ADUN for Sebuyau under BN-PBB in the 11th Sarawak state election with a vote share of 69.88 percent and a majority of 2,742.⛓
  3. May 2016Sworn in as one of 18 Sarawak assistant ministers following the 2016 state election, before the Yang Dipertua Negeri at Dewan Lapau.⛓
  4. 2016–2021Served as Assistant Minister for Infrastructure and Port Development, overseeing road and bridge projects including the RM848 million Batang Lupar Bridge and the Sarawak Coastal Road Network.⛓
  5. December 2021Re-elected as ADUN for Sebuyau under GPS-PBB in the 12th Sarawak state election with 4,937 votes and a majority of 4,134, providing GPS its first declared win of the night.⛓
  6. January 2022Appointed Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications in the new Sarawak cabinet formed after the 12th state election, sworn in virtually alongside other GPS cabinet ministers.⛓
  7. February 2025Retained his PBB Bumiputera wing Vice-President post at the party's 16th General Assembly, receiving 900 votes — the second-highest tally among six candidates contesting four positions.⛓

Election history

  • 2021Sebuyau (N27)Won79.3%⛓
  • 2016Sebuyau (N27)Won69.88%⛓
  • 2011Sebuyau (N27)Won⛓

Stance evolution

Public statements grouped chronologically. The party tag shows which party the politician was contesting under at that point.

  1. 2023PBB
    • This means that by 2032, based on the projection, we still have enough electricity power of 8,399 MW or 88 per cent for local use and needs in Sarawak.

      Winding-up speech in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly on electricity export plans to Singapore and Sabah. · Source

  2. 2022PBB
    • Only GPS knows the direction and the next plan for the state that will secure a better future for all generations.

      Speaking on behalf of Sarawak Premier Abang Johari at the launch of the Sarawakku Sayang programme in Sadong Jaya ahead of the GE15 polling day. · Source

  3. Undated
    • The ministry remains committed to achieving full electrification in Sarawak by delivering reliable power supply to rural areas, supporting the state's economic development.

      Statement at Sarawak Energy Berhad's Iftar event while reviewing the Sarawak Electricity Master Plan 2025–2030. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • GovernmentJulaihi holds a full ministerial portfolio as Sarawak's Minister of Utilities and Telecommunications since January 2022 and is a PBB Bumiputera wing Vice-President, placing him among the inner GPS state government leadership. He was re-elected unopposed to the PBB VP post in 2022 and retained it with 900 votes at the 2025 party convention.⛓
  • ExpertPolitical analyst Awang Azman Pawi assessed that Julaihi Narawi was likely to retain his PBB vice-president post ahead of the 2025 party elections due to his strong leadership standing within the party.⛓
  • VerifiedFactsJulaihi Narawi is a state-level assemblyman (ADUN) for Sebuyau, not a federal Member of Parliament. Sebuyau is a constituency in the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly. His three election wins (2011, 2016, 2021) are all for the state seat, confirmed by multiple allowlist sources.⛓

Sources

Every URL the AI used to draft this profile, for editor and reader verification.

Reviewed by editorHigh confidence