CM: Native courts chief registrar office set for transformation

KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg said the Sarawak government wants to transform the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Native Courts to allow it to move forward in tandem with the overall development of the state.

He said the government welcomes proposals towards amending the Native Court Ordinance 1992 or current organisational set- up to meet the expectations and increasing demands of its stakeholders, whilst congratulating the Office of the Chief Registrar of the Native Courts on its 25th anniversary this year.

“Sarawak is now embarking on a major transformation programme covering all areas of development. Our focus is not only on physical development but also on human and inst itut ional capacity building by adopting relevant laws, policies or procedures to improve our service delivery system and, more importantly, the transformation of the civil service to meet the challenges of today and the future,” he said through a press statement.

He said he was pleased with the Office of the Registrar of the Native Courts which has been performing its roles and functions effectively for the past 25 years.

“I must congratulate and thank the entire present group of officers and those who have served in the past for their contribution to enable the unit to function according to its terms of reference.

“Their services as magistrates or administrators have made the native courts and the Office of Registrar remain relevant to the needs of the native people of Sarawak,” he said, adding that the Native Courts of Sarawak is an important unit in the Chief Minister’s Department.

It is the agency which administers, supervises and coordinates the native courts in the state, he pointed out.

“We are fortunate indeed as the existence of the unit makes the state unique and different from other states in Malaysia. Besides the civil and syariah courts, we have in place a formal institution for the adjudication of breaches of native laws and adat (customs) and this is applicable to over half of the state’s population,” he said.

Earlier yesterday, Abang Johari received a courtesy call from members of the organising committee for the Sarawak Native Courts’ 25th anniversary celebration at his office here.

The delegation was led by Deputy Chief Minister Datuk Amar Douglas Uggah Embas who is an advisor to the committee. Other members include Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Native Laws and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai, Deputy State Secretary Datu Jaul Samion, president of the Native Court of Appeal Datu Thomas Akin Jelimin, and Chief Registrar Datu Michael Dawi Ali, who is the event organising chairman.

The anniversary dinner will be held tonight (Aug 24) at Imperial Hotel here.