Train officers before raising standing of native court – Fatimah

KUCHING: There is an urgent need to provide legal training to existing presiding officers while the Attorney- General’s (AG) Chambers worked on the paperwork to raise the standing of the Native Court to be on par with the Civil and Syariah courts.

Welfare, Community, Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, in giving full support to the initiative, emphasised that the Council for Native Customs and Tradition is recognised in the Federal Constitution.

“This is important so that the native court system can have a proper structure like the Civil and Syariah courts to deal with issues based on the customs of the indigenous people,” she told a press conference during a visit to Nur Murni Welfare and Education Centre at Batu Kawah

This is important so that the native court system can have a proper structure like the Civil and Syariah courts to deal with issues based on the customs of the indigenous people. Datuk Fatimah Abdullah, Welfare, Community, Well Being, Women, Family and Childhood Development Minister

here.

Fatimah was responding to the call by Chief Justice of Sabah and Sarawak, Tan Sri Richard Malajum, for the native court system in East Malaysia to be given the same standing as the civil and syariah courts.

In the interim period while the paperwork was being done, she pointed out that the immediate things that needed to be done are to provide legal training to presiding officers who are not proficient with the native laws.

“It is important to equip them with the knowledge so that justice can be properly meted out,” she said.

She also called for the review of the quantum of maintenance for children in the event of a divorce which is to be raised as cost of living has drastically changed over the years.

“Also, there is a need to look into the legal age of marriage which cannot be below 16 years old,” she added.

Two days ago, Malajum pointed out in a legal seminar in Kota Kinabalu that native laws should be dealt with in a native court for the natives knew better about their customs and lands than outsiders.

Raising the native court system to be at par with the other court systems in the country, he added, could give native courts the independence they should have when hearing cases.