KOTA KINABALU: Upko will continue the fight to elevate Sabah’s native court to be on equal footing with the civil and syariah courts, says its president Datuk Ewon Benedick.
He said the state has all these three court systems but the native court, which presides over matters involving customary rights and practices of the state’s Kadazandusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) community, was considered as the lesser compared to the other two.
“It has been our party’s and my struggle since before to make these three courts equal among each other. Upko will strive to play its role until it becomes a reality,” added the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister.
He said speaking to reporters after launching a state native customary laws literacy seminar in the Kota Belud district on Saturday (Sept 30)
Benedick, who is also Kadamaian assemblyman, said among the achievements by Upko on indigenous community affairs was the setting up of the Sabah Native Court Training Institute in Penampang near here.
He said he had also proposed for a native court building to be built in Kota Belud, hoping it could be implemented under the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030).
“The native court building must be set up in Kota Belud so (the court) does not need to ride on the District Office.
“We just need to identify the site for the building. I suggest building it in the Kadamaian area,” he said.
On the funds for the project, Benedick said, they could apply for allocation from the Federal Government through the special Sabah native programme when the site is identified.
He urged the people to make full use of the existing native courts and services provided.
“The courts belong to all of us. So, use it for all matters under native customary laws such as marriages, engagements or native land matters.
“I had myself registered my marriage through the Kota Belud native court,” Benedick said.
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Upko President Datuk Ewon Benedick has stated that Upko will persist in advocating for the elevation of Sabah’s native court to the same standing as the civil and syariah courts. He highlighted the inequality between these three court systems in the state, with the native court, responsible for matters relating to the customary rights and practices of the Kadazandusun Murut Rungus (KDMR) community, being considered inferior. Benedick, also the Entrepreneur Development and Cooperatives Minister, expressed his party’s longstanding commitment towards achieving equality among the three courts. He shared these comments during a state native customary laws literacy seminar in Kota Belud, following its launch on September 30.
Benedick, who also serves as the Kadamaian assemblyman, hailed the establishment of the Sabah Native Court Training Institute in Penampang as one of Upko’s accomplishments concerning indigenous community affairs. Additionally, he proposed the construction of a native court building in Kota Belud, expressing hope that it could be included in the 13th Malaysia Plan (2026-2030). He emphasized the necessity of an independent native court building to avoid relying on the District Office. Benedick suggested locating the building in the Kadamaian area.
Regarding funding for the project, Benedick mentioned the possibility of seeking an allocation from the Federal Government through the special Sabah native programme once the site is identified. He urged the public to take full advantage of the existing native courts and the services they offer. He emphasized that these courts belong to everyone and should be utilized for matters governed by native customary laws, such as marriages, engagements, or native land affairs. Benedick revealed that he himself had registered his marriage through the Kota Belud native court, highlighting the accessibility and importance of such institutions.
Credit: The Star : News Feed
