KUCHING: Sarawak Native Court has a total of 11,003 cases under its jurisdiction as of May 30 this year.
Of that number, a total of 5,962 cases were yet to be solved.
This was disclosed by Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Office (Native Law and Customs) Datuk John Sikie Tayai in his reply to Yussibnosh Balo (GPS- Tellian) in the august House yesterday.
He also informed that Sarawak Native Court at present has a total of 19 magistrates who are appointed fulltime on contract.
The magistrates comprised one president, Native Appeal Court; two magistrates, Native Court Resident; and 16 magistrates, District Native Court.
“ The responsibilities of these magistrates are handling civil cases such as Native customary land disputes and applications to be recognised as native community.
Besides, he said, Sarawak Native Court is also handled by 52 ex-officio magistrates that comprised 12 divisional residents and 40 district officers.
While for cases involving breach of customs, the Sarawak Native Court are handled by 2,546 Ketua Kaum, 390 Penghulu and 87 Pemanca/Temenggong.
