by NOOR SYAHHIRA HADY & NEVILLE TIMOTHY SANDERS
KUCHING: The Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (MAIS) has embarked on a review of the seven codified Adat (Customs) to effectively execute its function as a corporate body.
According to the Minister in the Premier’s Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai, the Majlis Adat Istiadat Ordinance 1977 and Native Customs (Declaration) Ordinance 1996 needs to be reviewed and amended accordingly.
“This is because some provisions in those Adat are not relevant or compatible with the changing social circumstances prevailing in some native communities.
“In some cases, there is no Adat regulating the new social circumstances or affairs,” he said.
He said this in his ministerial winding-up speech at the Sarawak State Legislative Assembly (DUN) sitting today (Nov 29).
Taking the regular splitting or breaking away of longhouses in the Iban communities as an example, he said that there is no Adat on the matter.
“In this case, a longhouse breaks-up into two or three longhouses and the new and break away longhouses are within the jurisdiction or territorial domain of the old longhouse.
“The Adat regulating the rights to land and natural resources are not quite relevant to these new circumstances.
“In view of this, the codified Adat need to be reviewed with a view to repel and substitute them with new codified Adat to accommodate the new social circumstances in the communities,” he said.
In light of this, he disclosed that the seven codified Adat that will be review 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; Adet Kayan-Kenyah 1994; Adat Bisaya 2004 and Adat Lun Bawang 2004 are currently at the preliminary stage of the review process.
“Meanwhile, five Adat (Adet Melanau, Adet Berawan, Adet Kajang, Adet Bagatan and Adet Kiput) are now going through the drafting and vetting processes,” he said.
