KUCHING: Sarawak government has decided to undertake a comprehensive study with the ultimate objective of restructuring and elevating the status of the Native Court to be an independent and autonomous judicial system like the Syariah and civil courts.
Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas said the government is in the process of appointing a consultant to undertake the study which will cover various aspects of the court such as its structure and organisation, operation and management, special jurisdiction and amendments to the existing Native Courts Ordinance 1992.
“The outcome and deliverable of the study will be a master plan and recommended action plans on the restructuring and elevation of current Native Courts of Sarawak particularly in terms of its organizational structure and manpower, special powers and jurisdiction with regards to native customary land, laws and customs, and organisational capacity and computerisation of the Native Court system,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech yesterday.
Uggah, who is also Modernisation of Agriculture, Native Land and Regional Development Minister, said the functions and operations of the Native Court of Sarawak which is part of the state administrative system even before the formation of Malaysia and is relevant and applicable to almost 70 per cent of the population.
“We are therefore very fortunate and most thankful to the chief minister for recognising and according due importance to the Native Court in the administration of justice pertaining to disputes over NCR land and the “adat” among the natives.
“The approval state government to embark on a comprehensive study to transform the Native Court of Sarawak is indeed a wise and noble move as this will ensure that Native Court remain relevant in meeting current and future challenges of the native community, particularly the challenges resulting from our continuous development of the rural areas and digital economy.”
