By Nancy Nais
KAPIT, Oct 5: The Sarawak government will upgrade its Native Court to be on par with the Civil Court to enhance the efficiency in dealing with matters affecting the Bumiputera community such as native customary rights (NCR) land.
Disclosing this, Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said they will gather the experts on matters related to native customs and embed it to the existing native laws.
“We will strengthen and upgrade our native court. So when there is any problem arising, we can refer to this court fairly and to better serve the community,” he said during his working visit to Nanga Mujung bridge, located some 35km away from here this morning.
Meanwhile, Abang Johari revealed that the state government wants the Native Law to be introduced to local university.
He lamented that the current Law Faculty syllabus does not have nor teach on Sarawak’s Native Law or Malaysia Agreement 1963, hence many people do not know about it.
“That is why I want the federal government to grant us permission for Swinburne University to have Faculty of Law and to include our Sarawak Native Law in the syllabus. Those who take up this degree or PhD can study further on Sarawak Native Law,” he said.
Earlier at Nanga Mujung bridge, Abang Johari was briefed by Public Works Department (JKR) on the progress of the road project from Ng Mujung to Tunoh and the Balleh Hydroelectric Dam site.
Among those present were Deputy Chief Minister Tan Sri Datuk Amar Dr James Jemut Masing, Federal Minister for Domestic Trade and Consumers Affairs Datuk Alexander Nanta Linggi, Minister of Tourism, Culture and Arts Datuk Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah, State Secretary Datuk Amar Jaul Samion, Assistant Minister for Utility Datuk Liwan Lagang and local community leaders. -DayakDaily
