KUCHING, March 8: The roles of community leaders and tribal chiefs (Ketua Kaum) under the proposed new native court system could possibly be amended while the present statutory function as principal officer will be reviewed.
Deputy Minister in the Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) Jefferson Jamit Unyat said this is in line with the transformation of the Sarawak Bumiputera Court which will involve tabling a new Bumiputera Court Ordinance Bill in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN) that will replace the existing Bumiputera Court Ordinance 1992 if approved.
“A study carried out by a consultant on the restructuring and upgrading of the native court system has been completed. The next step is to bring the recommendations from the study to the Sarawak Cabinet and I am confident and hope the proposal will be approved.
“In short, the current native court system will be restructured and will see its jurisdiction expanded,” he said in a news report by Sarawak Public Communications Unit (Ukas) yesterday (March 7).
He highlighted this when speaking at a dinner in conjunction with his working visit to the Bumiputera Court of Miri Division on Monday (March 6).
Elaborating, the Bukit Goram assemblyman emphasised that the role of community leaders and tribal chiefs as guardians to preserve, promote and protect the customs of the native people will remain and will be further developed according to changing times and in line with Sarawak’s current development.
“All of this will be announced after the decision is made by the Sarawak government,” he added.
With that, Jefferson also called on community leaders appointed as judges and advocates in helping the government to resolve cases related to native customary law at the grassroots level to fulfill their responsibilities and duties with integrity and reasonable care.
Meanwhile, the working visit to Miri and the Bumiputera Court Marudi District aimed to identify issues and problems faced by Bumiputera courts in order to improve their status to be on par with the Syariah and Civil Courts.
The Sarawak government is currently in the process of restructuring and upgrading the Bumiputera courts throughout Sarawak to become an independent and autonomous judicial institution like the Civil Court and Syariah Court.
Sarawak Bumiputera Court acting chief registrar Dahim Nadot, Miri Division Deputy Resident Juan Ubit, Miri District Officer Siti Rohanie Yusof, Miri Division Malay community Temenggong Dato Abdul Rahman Abang Fadzail, Miri Division Iban community Temenggong Willson Atong Limping and Miri Division Chinese community Temenggong Yong Vui Seng were also present at the dinner. — DayakDaily
