Seven codified ‘adat’ up for review, says minister-in-charge

THE Majlis Adat Istiadat (Council for Native Customs and Traditions) Sarawak has embarked on the review of seven codified ‘adat’ (native customs).

According to Minister in Premier of Sarawak’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai, the seven are Adat Iban 1993, Adat Bidayuh 1994, Adet Kayan-Kenyah 1994, Adat Bisaya 2004, Adat Lun Bawang 2004, Adet Kelabit 2008, and Adet Penan 2011.

“Adat Bidayuh 1994, Adat Kayan-Kenyah 1994, Adat Bisaya 2004 and Adat Lun Bawang 2004 are currently at the preliminary stage of the review process,” he said in his ministerial winding-up speech in the august House.

In explaining the rationale behind the review, he said some provisions in these ‘adat’ were no longer relevant or compatible with the changing social circumstances prevailing in some native communities.

“For example, there’s no ‘adat’ regulating the splitting or breakaway of longhouses with respect to the Iban community. In such a case, a longhouse breaks up into two or three longhouses; the new breakaway longhouses are within the jurisdiction or territorial domain of the old longhouse.

“The ‘adat’ regulating the rights to land and natural resources are also not quite relevant to the new circumstances.

“In view of this, the codified ‘adat’ are in need of review with a view of repealing and substituting them with new codified ‘adat’ to accommodate the new social circumstances in the native communities,” he said.

Meanwhile, Sikie said five ‘adat’ were going through the drafting and vetting processes, namely Adet Melanau, Adet Berawan, Adet Kajang, Adet Bagatan and Adet Kiput.

On a relevant subject, the minister also called for the amendments to and a review over the Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak Ordinance 1977 and Native Customs (Declaration) Ordinance 1996, aimed at ensuring that the council could effectively execute its functions as a corporate body.

“The Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak was established in 1972 with the aim to preserve, codify and promote the ‘adat’ of the natives in Sarawak. From 1974, the council has functioned as a unit under the then-chief minister’s department, up to now under the Premier of Sarawak’s Department.

“After a long established history of half a century, the council is embarking on its corporatisation. Once corporatised, the management of the council would have a free hand in determining dayto-day administration that includes, among other things, the recruitment of officers and the planning for future undertakings,” he detailed.

In this regard, Sikie said works on ‘corporatising’ the council were in progress, in line with its strategic plan 20222026.

“Among the most notable proposals that the council is embarking on is the setting-up of a research institute on the ‘adat’ of various ethnic groups. This institute would strengthen its (council’s) position as the focal agency for matters pertaining to native ‘adat’ and ‘istiadat’ (traditions”,” he said.

This, he added, would be a key enabler for the council to fully utilise its research capacity in the development and promotion of native ‘adat’, as well as to become a platform in preserving, nurturing and promoting native customs and traditions.