GABUNGAN Parti Sarawak leaders must hold extensive consultations with all ethnic bodies and political parties in the state on its plans to revamp the Sarawak Native Court, said Sarawak PKR.
Sarawak PKR chairman Roland Engan said all stakeholders in the state must be duly informed and given their chance to voice their views.
“During the state assembly sitting in Kuching, it was mentioned that the state government is appointing a consultant to look into revamping the Sarawak Native Court.
“All stakeholders must be consulted before any final decision is made on the revamp.
“The revamp is needed but the state government and its consultants in this matter must consult all sides as this involves natives’ rights,” he said.
Engan, a lawyer, said that disputes involving native land, community rights, appointment of longhouse and village headmen by the state government and other related community affairs had surged statewide.
“The number of these disputes are piling up.
“The Sarawak Native Courts need more judges and qualified arbitrators to handle these cases that are increasing every year,” he said.
On September 29 last year, a group of native Penans living in the interior of northern Sarawak took the unprecedented step of bringing the state government to court for appointing a headman allegedly without seeking the views of the local residents.
The Penans are from the Ba’Abang Akah settlement located in the upper reaches of the Baram district, about 300km inland of Miri city.
They filed a legal application at the Miri Court Complex to seek a judicial review of the state government’s decision to appoint the headman named Aran Nyaling. – May 14, 2024
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