Tamparuli assemblyman Wilfred Madius Tangau said his proposal is in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the history behind Malaysia’s formation, and Sabah’s status as a founding territory of the federation. (Facebook pic) PETALING JAYA: The Sabah government has been urged to table a motion calling on the federal government to amend Articles 121(1) and 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution to grant the native courts constitutional recognition equal to that of the shariah courts. Wilfred Madius Tangau (GRS-Tamparuli) said the native courts were still regarded as tribunals at present and did not enjoy the same constitutional status as the shariah courts.
“Tamparuli is not proposing that the native courts take over the functions of the civil or shariah courts, but that Sabah’s customary judicial institution be accorded the constitutional status it deserves,” Bernama quoted him as saying when debating the Native Court Bill 2026 at the Sabah legislative assembly today. Tangau, who is also the Tuaran MP, said the proposal was in line with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the history behind Malaysia’s formation, and Sabah’s status as a founding territory of the federation. He believed the strength of a judicial institution should not be measured by the number of cases it heard, but by the people’s confidence in the justice it delivered.
“When the people have confidence that the native courts hear cases fairly, make wise decisions, and act without being influenced by other interests, that is when the institution truly attains the stature it deserves,” he said.
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