KUCHING: The office of the Registrar of the Sabah and Sarawak High Court will be rotated between Kuching and Kota Kinabalu every 10 years.
The relocation of the office from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu would take effect today.
Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said this was the compromise reached between him and the Sabah and Sarawak High Court Registry office.
On Tuesday evening, delegates from the office met with him to inform him in person of the impending change.
This led to an emergency motion moved by Batu Lintang assemblyman See Chee How in the state assembly the next morning, which was disallowed due to technical grounds by State Legislative Assembly (DUN) Speaker Datuk Amar Mohd Asfia Awang Nassar.
“We have registered our views and they have decided, because the authority is under the federal government.
“We will compromise on the 10-year rotation basis,” said Abang Johari when met by reporters after the GPS Backbenchers’ Night at a hotel here on Wednesday night.
He added that he was informed by the delegates that the Chief Justice and Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad had decided that the registry would be in Kota Kinabalu.
He reiterated that Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) did not agree to the relocation, adding that the federal government should have consulted the state government on the decision.
“It is under Article 121 (4) of the Federal Constitution that they have to inform and consult the state government of the decision.
“However, the decision lies with the Yang Di-Pertuan Agong (who acts) on the advice of the prime minister,” he explained.
