Sabah Registration of Birth and Death Ordinance should not be repealed – CJ

0

Tan Sri Richard Malanjum

KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Registration of Birth and Death Ordinance 1953 should not be repealed but viewed as a means to protect citizenship, said Chief Justice Tan Sri Richard Malanjum.

Malanjum also said Section 22 of the same Ordinance also meant to ensure that there were no elements of irregularities in the late registration process.

Under Section 22(2) of the Sabah Registration of Birth and Death Ordinance 1953, every entry of birth and death made after the expiration of 42 days and 10 days, respectively, shall be marked clearly as late registration and subject to provision Section 22 (3) and 31 of the same Ordinance shall apply to certified extracts of such entries.

Malanjum also said that the judiciary had also played an important role to the people through its mobile court and recommended the parliament members and state assemblymen to identify areas which required the mobile court service so that the service could be extended to those areas.

“The mobile court is an effort of the judicial body to increase access to justice by improving the court delivery service to the public. The service of the mobile court among others is to hear applications for late registration of birth and death.

“In line with the aspirations of the judiciary in enhancing the public’s understanding on the justice process, the judiciary is also in the midst of planning to start a program with schools to create awareness amongst students regarding the Federal and State Constitution as well as the government’s administrative system.

“This includes individual rights, separation of powers between executive, legislative and judiciary and federal list contents, state lists and joint lists,” he said in his speech at the dialogue with members of parliament and Sabah state assemblymen at the Pacific Sutera Harbour Resort here yesterday.

Malanjum’s speech was delivered by the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk David Wong Dak Wah.

Apart from that, Malanjum also touched on the importance of establishing a Native Court which is presided by judges with an academic qualification in customary law as it would put the Native Court on a par with the Syariah Court.

“The Ketua Anak Negeri should carry out administrative tasks apart from monitoring the issue of illegal immigrants in their respective areas,” he added.