SIBU: The Sarawak Native Court is urged to expedite it efforts to solve outstanding cases at the District and Resident Native Courts.
Deputy Minister in Sarawak Premier’s Department (Native Law and Customs) Jefferson Jamit Unyat described the efforts of the Native Court as satisfactory.
However, he said there were still many more cases that had not yet been heard and decided by the District Officers and Magistrates from the Court Headquarters Office in Kota Samarahan.
There are still 5,987 cases or 35 per cent of the number of cases that have been filed under the Districts Bumiputera Courts Districts throughout the state that have not yet resolved,” he said during his working visit to Sibu Native Court here yesterday (May 5).
Jamit said that some of the cases involved land compensation and the court was giving priority to these cases.
“I deliberately touch on the Bumiputra District Court cases because they need to be resolved by community leaders. These include cases in Miri Division,” he said.
Jamit also revealed that currently, there were more than 2,800 cases in the Chief Court or Kot Penghulu and Superior Chief Court or Kot Pemanca throughout the state that had not been resolved yet.
“They include 284 cases in Sibu Division; 283 cases are under Kot Penghulu whlile one case is under Kot Pemanca,” he said.
The Bukit Goram assemblyman called on all community leaders involved to assist the court to resolve these outstanding cases as quickly as possible.
“Under the Sarawak Bumiputera Court Ordinance 1992, community leaders and Ketua Kaum appointed by the government which include Temenggong, Pemanca, Penghulu, Iban longhouse chieftains and Bidayuh village heads are given statutory duties, responsibilities and legislative powers to resolve custom violations and custom-based civil cases such as Native Customary Rights Land,” he said.
