MIRI – Sarawak’s native court will soon be elevated to “independent” judiciary status, said Minister in the State Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie.
Currently part of the state government administration, this move will put it on the same level as the civil court and the shariah court, he said.
“This final masterplan will be tabled to the state cabinet soon.
“After it is approved by the state cabinet, it will proceed to the implementation stage statewide,” he said in an update from the state public communications unit.
The native court has been part of the state’s administration for the past 153 years since the Brooke rajah era in 1870.
It deals with issues faced by native communities such as longhouse land disputes, boundary disagreements and family property disputes.
Activists from various Sarawak ethnic groups have long been asking for the native court to be made separate from the government administration. – The Vibes, May 23, 2023
