By Ling Hui
KUCHING, May 22: The masterplan to transform the current Sarawak Native Courts into an independent judicial system like the Syariah and Civil Courts will be tabled to the State Cabinet for approval and implementation.
Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie said this, highlighting that the final report containing the transformation masterplan had been approved by the Study Steering Committee chaired by Deputy Premier Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas in September 2022.
Looking back, he said the current Native Legal System had existed since the Rajah Brooke era in 2870 and had evolved during the last 153 years to become part of the Malaysian Plural Legal System until today.
“The current Native Courts Sarawak came into being with the passing of the Native Courts Ordinance in December 1992.
“The Office of the Chief Registrar, which oversees and supervises all the Native Courts under the Residents and Districts, became operational on June 1, 1993, and by June 1 next month, the Office of the Chief Registrar would have been in existence for 30 years,” he added.
Meanwhile, on the Native Courts’ performances, John Sikie said 10,583 cases or 60 per cent of the total 17,003 registered cases reported as of April 30 this year, have been settled.
He said this is an achievement of 720 additional cases within the last year, and the settlement of the cases at the District and Resident Native Courts is mainly through the circuit contract magistrates.
“The Native Courts Sarawak is making every effort to settle the remaining 6,420 outstanding cases, particularly before the District and Resident Native Courts,” he said in his winding-up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today.
John Sikie added that the cases registered before 2014 and cases involving land compensation would be given priority. — DayakDaily
