Native Courts looking for legally qualified candidates to sit as magistrates

KUCHING, Dec 1 2025: The Native Courts has taken interim measures to lay out the necessary foundation while awaiting the passing of the new Native Courts Bill, Minister in the Premier’s Department (Native Laws and Customs) John Sike has said.

John Sikie Tayai: By recruiting legally trained individuals, we are ensuring that the courts is staffed with personnel capable of handling a wider variety of cases with professionalism, consistency, and fairness.

He said the courts is currently working closely with the Human Resource Development and Management Unit to identify and recruit individuals with recognised legal backgrounds as magistrates.

“These include those who possess the Certificate in Legal Practice (CLP), to serve as Native Courts

magistrates,” he  said in his winding up speech at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly (SLA) today.

He added the interim initiative is both timely and crucial, saying that the growing complexity of cases before the courts requires officers who not only have a deep understanding of local customs, but are also knowledgeable in legal principles and judicial procedures.

“By recruiting legally trained individuals, we are ensuring that the courts is staffed with personnel capable of handling a wider variety of cases with professionalism, consistency, and fairness.

“Furthermore, this recruitment effort will help address the current and anticipated shortage of magistrates,” he said, adding that as the transformation programme progresses, a sufficient pool of qualified officers will be essential to ensure smooth operations, minimize delays, and maintain public confidence in the system.

Sikie said the combination of legal training and contextual understanding of Adat will enable the magistrates to administer justice effectively, especially in cases where customary principles intersect with broader legal considerations.

He added that as of October this year, out of the total 18,233 registered court cases since 1992 that involve all levels of courts throughout Sarawak, 13,763 cases or 75 per cent have been settled.

He said there are still 4,470 or 25 per cent cases that remain at several different stages of the process.

Sikie said the Native Courts is making every effort to ensure that these remaining cases are resolved promptly and efficiently.