“Selamatkan Sabah Plan Must Restore Dignity to Native Justice”
Daniel John Jambun
President
Borneo’s Plight in Malaysia Foundation (BoPiMaFo)
KOTA KINABALU — The Change Advocate Movement of Sabah (CAMOS) today called on Parti Warisan to make Native Court reform a key pillar of its Selamatkan Sabah Plan when it returns to government, saying the system must be elevated to equal standing with the Shariah judiciary to restore justice and dignity to Sabah’s indigenous communities.
CAMOS President Daniel John Jambun said the Federal Government’s move to establish a Malaysian Shariah Judiciary Commission and improve the service conditions of Shariah judges should inspire Sabah to do the same for its Native Court system — one of the most important institutions of statehood and cultural identity.
“If the Shariah judiciary can be professionalised through a national commission, then the Native Court — which safeguards the customs and laws of our indigenous peoples — deserves equal respect, institutional recognition, and professional standing,” Daniel said.
He added that Warisan, upon forming the next government, should immediately enact a Native Courts Reform Bill to transform the system into a modern, independent, and professional judicial institution through the establishment of a Sabah Native Judiciary Commission with authority over:
Appointments and promotions of Native Court judges and chiefs;
Professional training and certification standards;
Remuneration and benefits aligned with the civil judiciary; and
The creation of a Native Supreme Court (Mahkamah Agung Adat) as the final appellate body for native law matters.
“The Native Court must no longer be treated as a ceremonial relic. It is a living institution of justice rooted in our people’s values — the heart of the Momogun identity,” Daniel said.
He also urged that the retirement age of Native Court judges be extended to 66 years, in line with the proposed Shariah reform, and that judicial independence and security of tenure be guaranteed through proper legal mechanisms.
“This reform is not merely administrative — it is a matter of honour. It represents our right to administer justice according to our own customs and to restore dignity to Sabah’s indigenous legal system,” he added.
Daniel said the Native Court reform should be integrated into Warisan’s Selamatkan Sabah Plan and the state’s 13th Malaysia Plan as part of its broader commitment to empower local institutions, strengthen state autonomy, and preserve cultural integrity.
“When Warisan returns to government, it must show the political will to elevate the Native Court to its rightful place — as an equal pillar of justice alongside the civil and Shariah courts,” Daniel concluded.
Justice for the Natives, Dignity for Sabah.
