By William Isau
SIBU, May 5: Community leaders have been urged to assist in settling the 5,987 cases (35 per cent of cases) filed to the Native Courts throughout Sarawak.
According to Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Native Customs and Law), Jefferson Jamit Unyat, some of the cases involve land compensation.
“Despite our satisfactory achievements so far, I understand there are still more cases that have not yet been heard and decided by the District Officers and Magistrates from the Court Headquarter Office in Kota Samarahan,” said Jefferson during his visit to Sibu Division Native Court today.
He said he had deliberately touched on the Native District Court cases because they needed to be resolved by community leaders.
He added that there are more than 2,800 cases in the Chief Court or Kot Penghulu and Superior Chief Court or Kot Pemanca throughout the region that have also not yet been resolved.
Of the number, 284 cases are in Sibu Division which is 283 cases under Kot Penghulu and one under Kot Pemanca.
Therefore, the deputy minister called on all community leaders to assist the Court in settling these outstanding cases as quickly as possible.
Under the Sarawak Native Court Ordinance 1992, community leaders and Ketua Kaum appointed by the government, which includes Temenggong, Pemanca, Penghulu, Iban longhouse chieftains, and Bidayuh village heads, are given statutory duties, responsibilities, and legislative powers to resolve custom violations and custom-based civil cases such as Native Customary Land dispute (Native Customary Rights Land). — DayakDaily
