Latest news with #NativeCourt
Daily Express
15-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Reform must unite, not divide: Sabah Native leaders
Published on: Thursday, May 15, 2025 Published on: Thu, May 15, 2025 Text Size: William (left) and Isaiah KOTA KINABALU: Two Sabah Native leaders have criticised a proposal by Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation president Daniel John Jambun, calling for Muslim officials to be excluded from the administration of Native Court affairs. Inanam Community Development Leader Datuk William Majinbon and Native Court Reform Committee member Isaiah Majinbon expressed concern that such rhetoric risks fuelling division and undermining ongoing efforts to modernise the institution. Advertisement They reaffirmed support for elevating the Native Court's status, citing digitalisation efforts under the Sabah Maju Jaya plan, and stressed that reform must be inclusive and based on merit, not religion. Both leaders highlighted the contributions of Muslim Native leaders to the court system, arguing that cultural knowledge and professional capability, not religious background, should define eligibility. They also clarified that, unlike Syariah Courts, the Native Court serves all Native communities regardless of faith, and reiterated calls for it to be recognised as an equal judicial pillar alongside Civil and Syariah Courts. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
13-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
‘Non-Muslims should oversee their affairs'
Published on: Tuesday, May 13, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 13, 2025 Text Size: Daniel proposed several reforms, including renaming and restructuring the Native Affairs Council and Department to reflect their true role in safeguarding indigenous customs and appointing qualified indigenous professionals, not political figures, to lead these institutions. Kota Kinabalu: Borneo's Plight in Malaysia Foundation President Daniel John Jambun called on the State Government to reform the Native Court to ensure it receives the same legal recognition and institutional support as the Syariah and civil courts. He criticised the lack of progress in strengthening the Native Court despite five years under the Gabungan Rakyat Sabah (GRS) administration. 'What reforms have been made to professionalise the Native Court or the Department of Native Affairs? The answer, unfortunately, is none,' he said in a statement. He pointed out that previous efforts to reform the court under the Warisan-led government were halted after the 2020 change in leadership. 'Native Affairs, which governs the customs and legal traditions of Sabah's non-Muslim indigenous communities, is currently managed by Muslim officials with little expertise in indigenous laws. 'This is unfair and unconstitutional. The Syariah Court is run by qualified Muslim professionals, yet non-Muslim natives are denied the same autonomy over their own customary laws,' he said. He cited Sarawak as a model, where the Majlis Adat Istiadat Negeri Sarawak operates independently, free from interference by civil or Syariah courts. Daniel proposed several reforms, including renaming and restructuring the Native Affairs Council and Department to reflect their true role in safeguarding indigenous customs and appointing qualified indigenous professionals, not political figures, to lead these institutions. Additionally, he proposed elevating the Native Court to equal standing with the civil and Syariah courts under Sabah's judicial system and forming an Independent Reform Commission to review and modernise the Native Court. 'We are not asking for special treatment. We are demanding the equality promised under the Federal Constitution and the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63),' he said. He said further delays would only deepen discrimination and erode indigenous rights. 'This is not a partisan issue, it is about justice, dignity and upholding Sabah's legal heritage,' he said, adding 'How much longer must our communities wait?' * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Borneo Post
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Borneo Post
Native Court reform long overdue, says Momogun National Congress
Wences KOTA KINABALU (May 5): The Momogun National Congress (MNC) has expressed strong support for the Sabah government's plan to implement the Native Court reform, replacing the current outdated Native Court Enactment. Its president, Tan Sri Wences Angang, sees the development as a momentous and historic development for the strengthening of the native administration in the state which should be heartily supported by all native or Momogun institutions. 'It's a historic change that is long overdue,' he said in a statement. 'It's high time the Native Court is reformed to function as a proper government body and should no longer remain as an avenue for political appointments. Its administration has long been in disarray due to the frequent replacement of its personnel after every state general election. 'By upgrading the Native Court to the same status as the Syariah Court, establishing its staffing with permanent and pensionable personnel, we will see a new era of a more efficient and stronger jurisdiction over customary affairs, most crucially in matters of inheritance, marriage, and native land in the respective districts.' Chief Minister Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor recently announced that the Sabah Native Court Enactment 1992 will be replaced with a new version to streamline the court's structure and strengthen its role. The draft of the 2025 enactment is under review by relevant state departments before being presented to the State Cabinet and Legislative Assembly. Wences, who is also a former Deputy Chief Minister, also fully supported the statement by Libaran member of parliament Datuk Suhaimi Nasir who said the Native Courts must be equipped with qualified personnel, proper facilities, and ongoing training to function effectively, and should cease being used for political purposes. Wences proposes that each district's Native Court should include a research and development section to continuously monitor social changes affecting customs and tradition in order to remain relevant. He said this in line with Suhaimi's reminder about the need to constantly include open consultations with indigenous community representatives, village chiefs, and grassroots leaders who truly understand the social realities on the ground. Wences also said that while appointments of Native Court chiefs and judges should be carried out transparently and free from political interference, the enactment should also provide that all Native Court personnel must be appointed from among natives who practice the customary laws they will be administering.
Daily Express
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Daily Express
Momogun National Congress: Native Court reform long overdue
Published on: Tuesday, May 06, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 06, 2025 Text Size: Wences (left) proposes that each district's Native Court should include a research and development section to continuously monitor social changes affecting customs and tradition in order to remain relevant. Kota Kinabalu: The Momogun National Congress (MNC) has expressed strong support for the Sabah government's plan to implement the Native Court reform, replacing the current outdated Native Court Enactment. MNC's president, Tan Sri Wences Angang, sees the development as a momentous and historic development for the strengthening of the native administration in the state which should be heartily supported by all native or Momogun institutions. 'It's a historic change that is long overdue,' he said in a statement. 'It's high time the Native Court is reformed to function as a proper government body and should no longer remain as an avenue for political appointments. Its administration has long been in disarray due to the frequent replacement of its personnel after every state general election. 'By upgrading the Native Court to the same status as the Syariah Court, establishing its staffing with permanent and pensionable personnel, we will see a new era of a more efficient and stronger jurisdiction over customary affairs, most crucially in matters of inheritance, marriage, and native land in the respective districts.' Wences, who is also a former Deputy Chief Minister, also fully supported the statement by Libaran MP Datuk Suhaimi Nasir who said the Native Courts must be equipped with qualified personnel, proper facilities, and ongoing training to function effectively, and should cease being used for political purposes. Wences proposes that each district's Native Court should include a research and development section to continuously monitor social changes affecting customs and tradition in order to remain relevant. He said this in line with Datuk Suhaimi Nasir's reminder about the need to constantly include open consultations with indigenous community representatives, village chiefs, and grassroots leaders who truly understand the social realities on the ground. Wences also said that while appointments of Native Court chiefs and judges should be carried out transparently and free from political interference, the enactment should also provide that all Native Court personnel must be appointed from among natives who practice the customary laws they will be administering. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
Daily Express
06-05-2025
- General
- Daily Express
Most divorces due to liquor, money: Jheains
Published on: Tuesday, May 06, 2025 Published on: Tue, May 06, 2025 By: Nora Ahmad Text Size: Jumain said in some cases couples are already seeking divorce in the Native Court before their marriage had reached a year. Kota Kinabalu: Alcohol abuse and financial instability are among the main causes of divorce among young couples in Sabah. State Islamic Religious Affairs Department (Jheains) Director Datuk Jumain Abdul Ghani said these two factors not only place pressure on the institution of marriage, but can also trigger conflicts that end in divorce, including among non-Muslim couples. According to him, there are 17 causes for divorce and both these factors ranks high on the list. Jumain said this based on his experience handling divorce cases among young couples. 'This is because it can lead to addiction, personality changes, job loss, financial problems and domestic violence,' he said after the Mental, Physical and Spiritual Youth Wellness Seminar and the Premier Islamic Pre-Marriage Course at Wisma Muis recently. The seminar was officiated by State Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation who is also the Islamic Religious Affairs Exco of Sabah, Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif. 'We also have a lot of experience dealing with youth divorce caused by drunkenness. 'They don't come home for days, and when searched are found in a neighbour's house. This often happens during major festive celebrations,' he said. 'As for financial problems, he said lack of knowledge, preparation and mutual understanding between couples all stem from financial pressure that is not properly addressed,' he said. He said in some cases couples are already seeking divorce in the Native Court before their marriage had reached a year. 'These people are still young, around 25 to 40. Some have been married for only six months and when problems arise, they immediately want divorce,' he said. He advised young couples to prepare themselves with knowledge about marriage before tying the knot, including attending pre-marriage courses. 'Even if their finances aren't strong, they can try to make ends meet, if they are hardworking, not lazy and so on,' he said. * Follow us on Instagram and join our Telegram and/or WhatsApp channel(s) for the latest news you don't want to miss. * Do you have access to the Daily Express e-paper and online exclusive news? Check out subscription plans available. Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express's Telegram channel. Daily Express Malaysia
