KUCHING: Chief Minister Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg is right to say that he and the Sarawak government are committed to upgrading the Native Court along the line propounded by the Chief Justice of Malaysia Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.
Parti Pesaka Bumiputra Bersatu (PBB) information chief Datuk Idris Buang did not deny that the idea to include the Native Court was prompted by the Lord President.
“However, in order for anything involving amendments to the Federal Constitution or the Court Judicature Act or otherwise creation of any other federal act or acts of Parliament to come into force and be implemented in any particular state, its state assembly must give its consent,” he added.
In this respect Article 76(2) of the Federal Constitution is relevant, along with Article 161E, he pointed out in response to a statement by Sarawak DAP Socialist Youth publicity secretary Abdul Aziz Isa.
Aziz in a statement was quoted as saying: “Abang Johari’s statement that the Sarawak government is committed to upgrading the Native Court in Sarawak is mere rhetoric and insincere.”
Quoting the Malay proverb, “Kalau kail hanya sejengkal lautan dalam jangan dicuba” (lit. If your fishing line is short, don’t fish in the deep sea), Idris told Aziz against attacking the Chief Minister for the sake of seeking cheap publicity.
He said first and foremost, Aziz needed to understand how the state’s legislative and legal system works.
