EFFORTS are underway to elevate the Sarawak native courts to an independent judicial system equivalent to the syariah and civil courts.
Minister in the Premier’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai said a comprehensive study was required to comply with the government directive to determine the current relevance of the native courts to meet the rising expectation of the stakeholders in today’s digitalisation and globalisation era.
“The study to transform the native courts was commissioned by the state government in January 2020.
“It was originally planned to be only a nine months study. Unfortunately, it was not completed as scheduled in October 2020. The delay was inevitable and mainly due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
“The consultant appointed to undertake the study had submitted its final report in March this year.
“The outcome and recommendations will soon be presented to the state cabinet for consideration and approval.
“One of the main recommendations to transform the native courts is to repeal the current Native Courts Ordinance 1992 and the Native Courts Rules 1993 with a new Native Courts Ordinance,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech today (May 24).
Sikie also said drafting of amendments to the Majlis Adat Istiadat Ordinance 1977 and the Native Customs (Declaration) Ordinance 1996 was in progress, and expressed the hope that the amendments could be tabled in the next Dewan Undangan Negeri meeting.
“The amendments are necessary to keep in tandem with the social development and social changes that have taken place since 1977 and the restructuring of the native courts,” he said.
