‘Native Chiefs victimised’ claim
Published on: Friday, April 12, 2019
By: Mail Mathew
TENOM: A local NGO, Angkatan Perpaduan Sabah (APS), echoed the call for non-Muslims to head native affairs in Sabah because certain cases that they have to deal with would involve a pig.
APS Vice President Paul Kadau said in view of this, such role cannot be held by a Muslim.
ADVERTISEMENT
“There’s always a problem when a Muslim has to handle cases involving the natives. Under native law, there’s such a thing as the ‘sogit’ which in most cases would involve a pig,” he said.
He was responding to Chief Justice of Malaysia Tan Sri Richard Malanjum who had insisted that non-Muslims should head native affairs as most of the indigenous people in the State are non-Muslims and rely on their customs as a way of life.
He had also said politicians should not be involved in appointing Native Chiefs.
In relation to this, Paul expressed disappointment with the State Ministry of Law and Native Affairs for terminating the service of Native Chiefs who he thinks should have been allowed to continue to serve for they have knowledge and experience to do the job.
ADVERTISEMENT
“In the Keningau native court, for example, all the experienced personnel have been terminated,” he said.
He said it is wrong for politicians to victimise them just because they were not on their side in the last general election.
ADVERTISEMENT
“Now they have been fired even though they are very experienced,” he added.
Paul also said it is not right for District and Native Chiefs to be appointed and terminated every time a new state government takes over power.
He said by law they are considered as civil servants whose appointment and termination must be in accordance with what is set by the Public Service Commission.
He pointed out that their appointment and service termination is subjected to the Enactment No 3, 1992, not according to the whims and fancies of the government of the day.
“The question is, on what basis under the Enactment does the government use in appointing or terminating them? Every time a new government takes over power, there’s always new District and Native Chiefs getting appointed while others terminated,” he said.
It is understood that the service termination of a civil servant must comply with certain regulations concerning the civil service.
On this point, he said the Ministry of Law and Native Affairs cannot simply appoint and terminate the Native Chiefs as they please for they are considered as civil servants.
Chief Justice of Malaysia Tan Sri Richard Malanjum had opined that politicians must not be involved in appointing Native Chiefs.
Meanwhile, former Native Chief Maribin Rugin was also supportive of the call by Malanjum, saying the time has come for elected representatives in all areas not to interfere in the appointment of District Chiefs and Native Chiefs.
Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
Daily Express Malaysia
