Kota Kinabalu: The Native Court will continue to remain as an independent and exclusive judiciary institution in Sabah which is the only state in this country to have such, said Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Hajiji Haji Noor. He gave the assurance in replying to a supplementary question from Tamparuli Assemblyman Datuk Wilfred Bumburing during the Q&A session at the State Legislative Assembly sitting here Tuesday.
Earlier, he said the government is committed to uplifting the status of the Native Court institution to make it continue to be relevant in the National Judiciary System.
"The government has, in the process and will continue to implement programmes for empowering the Native Court Institution so it would be on the same par with the other judiciary institutions like the Syariah and Civil Courts," he said to a question from Matunggong Assemblyman Jelin Dasanap @ Jelani Hamdan.
Hajiji said part of the government plans for the Native Court Institution is the setting up of State Native Court Training Institution (ILMANS) which is currently being constructed in Penampang at an estimated cost of RM30million.
Ten Native Courts would be constructed throughout the State under the Tenth Malaysia Plan (10MP), he said, adding these include the one in Penampang which has started construction on Mar 1 last year, in Keningau (also start construction on Mar 1), Kudat (Mar 14) as well as in Lahad Datu, Sandakan and Tuaran which all start construction this year.
The other four will begin construction next year, he said.
He said the setting up of a Sabah Native Judiciary Department (JKANS) is now still at a proposal stage.
In terms of human capital development, Hajiji said the State Government spent RM362,000 annually for the native customary law training purpose and thus far has trained 3,732 people comprising district chiefs, native chiefs, native chief representatives, village heads and Chinese kapitans.
He said the State Government has also held a convention for the State native chiefs where there were several resolutions made, which include holding a customary collection symposium for every ethnic group.
