THE current status of the native courts of Sarawak (Mahkamah Bumiputera Sarawak) is being studied to restructure and to improve it.
Political Secretary to Sarawak Premier Jefferson Jamit Unyat explained that a study entitled ‘The Restructure and Elevation of the native courts of Sarawak’ is still undergoing.
He said that the study will help restructure and elevate the court similar to the civil and syariah courts.
“The result of the study will be presented to the state government for approval before it is implemented,” said the Bukit Goram assemblyman during the third day of the DUN session.
He was replying to Bukit Semuja assemblyman John Ilus during question time. John has asked about the status of the native courts in Sarawak.
Jefferson explained that the native court is a unit under the Department of Sarawak Premier established under the Native Courts Ordinance 1992.
“The court is part and parcel of the state administration. We also have the civil court under the Federal Judicial Department and the syariah court under the Sarawak Syariah Judicial Department.
“Each court has its own structure and jurisdictions,” he said.
On the native court, he said the court’s role is to listen and handle cases related to the breaches of native laws and customs.
It is set under the Codified Adat, customs that have been recorded and made into written law, for all native communities.
“It also handles dispute cases over ownership and compensation of native customary land under the State Land Code,” he said.
