Amanah will protest if Native Court’s jurisdiction put under CM’s Department

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KENINGAU: Angkatan Amanah Merdeka (Amanah) Keningau has asked the state government and Sabah Umno leaders to continue to maintain and strengthen the power of the Native Court which is still relevant to the native communities in the state.

“Amanah requests that the government and Umno continue to maintain and strengthen the authority and right of the Native Court, especially in relation to Native Customary Rights (NCR) for the native communities in the state,” Paul Kadau said in a statement yesterday.

Paul was commenting on a statement made by Sukau assemblyman Datuk Saddi Abdul Rahman during the Budget 2012 debate at the recent state assembly meeting published in a local newspaper (not Borneo Post) recently.

In his statement, Saddi proposed a white paper on dubious native certificates and that future issuance of natives certificates should no longer be done by the Native Court but must be obtained through a committee under the Chief Minister’s Department and with approval from the Head of State.

The Sukau assemblyman also suggested that Felda investigate allegations by certain quarters that some so-called settlers were illegal immigrants possessing false identification documents.

Meanwhile, in his statement Paul said Amanah described Saddi’s statement as dishonest and prejudiced against one ethnic group.

“I have many Sino-Kadazan relatives and their everyday lives are similar with the KDM’s. For me the presence of Sino-Kadazans in this state is not doubted even if their ancestors came from China,” he said, adding that the concern should be the presence of illegal immigrants.

He is also challenging the assemblyman to lodge a police report against the Kota Kinabalu Native Court office for allegedly issuing a suspicious native certificate and the Lahad Datu Registration Office for verifying the document.

Paul said Amanah would protest if the Native Court’s jurisdiction for the issuance of native certificates be put under the Chief Minister’s Department.

“I also challenge Saddi to make a stand on the establishment of a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) on Project IC as this leader had suggested that FELDA investigate allegations that some so-called settlers were among illegal immigrants possessing false identification documents,” he said.

He said Sabah Umno leaders should be supported to strengthen the power and rights of the Native Court and not to reduce it.