By DayakDaily Team
KUCHING, Nov 18: The drafts for the Bills that have been proposed for restructuring exercises to transform the Native Courts have been submitted to the State Attorney General.
According to Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department, Dato Sri John Sikie Tayai, the New Native Courts Bill will replace the current Native Courts Ordinance 1992 and the New Native Courts Rules is to replace the current Native Courts Rules 1993.
He also said that the New Native Courts Judges Appointment Council and Native Courts Judges Remuneration Bill will be on the appointment and scheme of service for Native Court Judges.
He said this in his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUS) sitting today.
Further elaborating, he told the august House that the restructuring would be implemented in three phases over several years.
He said that during the initial phase, the basic requirement for the restructuring is the proposed enactment of new State laws and the amendment to existing laws.
Sikie, who is in charge of Native Laws and Customs, further explained that to elevate its status, amendments to several Federal laws under Parliament would be necessary, and these would be initiated under Phases 2 and 3 of the transformation programme.
He explained that the focus for the restructuring now is on the introduction or amendments of the State laws, which are Sarawak matters.
“In the meantime, the Native Courts will continue to operate based on the current Native Courts Ordinance 1992 and the Native Courts Rules 1993.
“This will continue until the DUS approves the new Native Courts Bill,” he said. — DayakDaily
