SIBU: The State government will look into the recommendations on restructuring the Sarawak Bumiputera Court into an autonomous judiciary institution similar to the Syariah and Civil courts.
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department (Bumiputra Laws and Customs), Jefferson Jamit Unyat said he was informed by the Chief Registrar of the Sarawak Bumiputra Court Datuk Micheal Dawi that the study on the matter by a consultant has been completed and submitted to the government.
“The report is being studied and the next process is to get approval for the report including the Sarawak Bumiputera Court Transformation Master Plan contained in the final report.
“Let us pray that the State government will be able to implement the restructuring and upgrading of the Sarawak Bumiputera Court soon,” he said during the opening ceremony of the Kapit Division Community Leaders Workshop here, yesterday (Sept 12).
Jamit said the move was necessary in order to upgrade the status of Bumiputera Court similar to the Civil and Syariah courts. On the workshop, Jamit pointed out that under the state native courts system, community leaders play an important role in resolving disputes and problems related to customs violations and disputes involving the boundaries of Native Customary Rights land.
“Pemanca and Penghulu, are entrusted with the statutory role of Presiding Officer or Assessor or Apprentice to the Presiding Officer.
“These duties and responsibilities are enshrined in the Native Courts Ordinance 1992 and the Native Courts Regulations 1993, which are currently in force,” he said.
A total of 102 community leaders from the Kapit division attended the workshop aimed at exposing as well as increasing the knowledge and competence of the participants to handle court cases, especially the newly appointed community leaders.
