TopicsPolitician AnalysisRosey Yunus

Rosey Yunus

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

As Bekenu's ADUN since 2006, Rosey Yunus directly influences the allocation of rural infrastructure and digital connectivity projects for constituents across the seat's nine polling districts. In her role as Sarawak Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development, she shapes state-level programmes — including business start-up grants, EPF contribution assistance, and skills training — that affect single mothers, female household heads, and children seeking access to early education. Residents of Bekenu and Sarawakians in her ministry's target groups are most directly affected by her legislative priorities and the programmes administered through her ministerial portfolio.

Summary

Datuk Rosey binti Haji Yunus (born 1956) is the PBB assemblywoman for Bekenu, Sarawak, having held the seat continuously since May 2006 across four successive state elections. A former teacher and University of Malaya graduate, she has served as Sarawak's Deputy Minister for Women, Family, Welfare, Community Wellbeing and Childhood Development since September 2011. Her political career spanned SPDP, the breakaway Teras party, and ultimately PBB, which she joined formally in August 2016.

Biography

Datuk Rosey binti Haji Yunus (born 16 January 1956, Miri) is a Malaysian politician and former teacher who has served as the Member of the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (ADUN) for Bekenu since May 2006 [1]. She graduated from the University of Malaya with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in linguistic art, upper second-class honours, and a Diploma of Education in 1980 [1]. She began her political career under the Sarawak Progressive Democratic Party (SPDP), winning the newly created Bekenu seat at the 2006 state election [1]. She retained the seat in 2011 with an increased majority and was appointed Assistant Minister for the newly created Ministry of Welfare, Women and Family Development [1]. In 2014, Rosey left SPDP alongside then-president Tan Sri William Mawan Ikom to join the breakaway party Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras), where she served as Senior Vice-President [2]. She contested the 2016 state election as a Barisan Nasional direct candidate under the Teras banner, winning Bekenu with a majority of 4,789 votes [2]. On 16 August 2016, she formally joined Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) upon acceptance by then-Chief Minister and PBB President Adenan Satem [2]. At the 2021 Sarawak state election, she successfully defended Bekenu under the Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) ticket, securing 50.1% of votes cast and a majority of 5,397 [3]. She has served as Sarawak Deputy Minister for Women, Family, Welfare, Community Wellbeing and Childhood Development since September 2011 and remained in that role as of late 2023 [4].

Known for

Rosey Yunus is known as one of Sarawak's longest-serving women assemblymen, having held the Bekenu seat without interruption since the constituency's creation in 2006. She is closely associated with women's welfare, childhood development, and rural community issues in the Miri Division. Her party trajectory — from SPDP to Teras to PBB — reflects the broader shifts in Sarawak's coalition politics during the 2010s.

Political positions

Rosey Yunus has consistently emphasised rural development, digital connectivity, and education for rural communities in Bekenu. During the 2021 state election campaign, she stated that closing the digital gap between urban and rural areas and advancing education for rural students were her priorities [4]. In her capacity as Deputy Minister for Women, Childhood and Community Development, she has communicated state government support for single mothers through programmes such as business start-up equipment grants of RM5,000, EPF contribution assistance via the Kasih Suri Keluarga Malaysia scheme, and skills training initiatives including the Women's Skills Training and Sarawak Women Entrepreneur Licensing (PUWAS) programmes [5]. She has also participated in state government initiatives relating to inclusive early childhood education for Sarawakian children [4][6].

References

  1. [1]en.wikipedia.org
  2. [2]freemalaysiatoday.com
  3. [3]election.thestar.com.my
  4. [4]malaymail.com
  5. [5]bernama.com
  6. [6]November 2023

Education

  1. 1980Graduated from the University of Malaya with a Bachelor of Arts (Hons) majoring in linguistic art with upper second-class honours and a Diploma of Education.⛓

Political career

  1. May 2006First elected as ADUN for Bekenu under SPDP at the 9th Sarawak state election — the first election held for the newly created Bekenu constituency.⛓
  2. 2011Re-elected for Bekenu under SPDP with an increased majority. Appointed Assistant Minister for the newly created Ministry of Welfare, Women and Family Development.⛓
  3. May 2014Left SPDP alongside president William Mawan Ikom to co-found the breakaway party Parti Tenaga Rakyat Sarawak (Teras); served as Teras Senior Vice-President.⛓
  4. 7 May 2016Contested and won Bekenu at the 11th Sarawak state election as a Barisan Nasional direct candidate (Teras-aligned), with a majority of 4,789 votes.⛓
  5. 16 August 2016Formally accepted into Parti Pesaka Bumiputera Bersatu (PBB) by then-Chief Minister and PBB President Adenan Satem.⛓
  6. 18 December 2021Re-elected for Bekenu under GPS-PBB at the 12th Sarawak state election with 50.1% of votes and a majority of 5,397.⛓

Election history

  • 2021BekenuWon50.1%⛓
  • 2016BekenuWon⛓
  • 2011BekenuWon⛓
  • 2006BekenuWon⛓

Stance evolution

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

  1. 2021PBB
    • Besides continuing the existing infrastructure upgrading works, education development among the rural students is also my priority

      Said during the 2021 Sarawak state election campaign at a Parrot Birds Exhibition Programme at Kampung Pejuang Kelulit in Bekenu. · Source

Perspectives on key issues

  • GovernmentGPS chairman Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg confirmed Rosey Yunus as one of five Miri Division incumbents retained for the 2021 state election, stating that the five had worked hard serving their respective areas.⛓
  • VerifiedFactsRosey Yunus has held the Bekenu seat since the constituency's inaugural 2006 election and has served as Sarawak Deputy Minister for Women, Family, Welfare, Community Wellbeing and Childhood Development since September 2011.⛓
  • VerifiedFactsAs of November 2023, Rosey Yunus continued to serve as one of two Deputy Ministers in the Sarawak Ministry of Women, Childhood and Community Wellbeing Development, alongside Datuk Mohammad Razi Sitam, under Minister Datuk Seri Fatimah Abdullah.⛓

Sources

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

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