A new Native Courts Bill aimed at restructuring and upgrading the Sarawak Native Courts is currently being drafted and will be tabled in the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (DUN).
Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk Jefferson Jamit Unyat said the proposed Bill would replace the existing Native Courts Ordinance 1992 as part of the state government’s transformation plan for the Native Courts system.
“To enable this restructuring, the existing Native Courts Ordinance 1992 needs to be repealed and replaced with a new Native Courts Ordinance.
“Therefore, a new Native Courts Bill is currently being drafted and will be tabled in the DUN,” he said in response to a question raised by Pelagus assemblyman Wilson Nyabong Ijang during the DUN sitting today.
Jefferson said the move followed a study on the restructuring and upgrading of the Sarawak Native Courts which began in 2020 and was completed in February 2023.
He said the final report of the study was later presented to the Majlis Mesyuarat Kerajaan Negeri (MMKN) in July 2023.
“The State Cabinet has, in principle, approved the findings of the ‘Masterplan for the Transformation of the Native Courts of Sarawak’,” he said.
He also said the restructuring under the proposed Bill would involve changes to the administrative structure and jurisdiction of the Sarawak Native Courts.
