SARAWAK and Sabah should have their own separate high court registries to reflect the position of the two states in the federation, said Sarawak United People’s Party (SUPP) Youth secretary-general Milton Foo today.

Foo said Sarawak after all already has separate Bars, attorneys-general and police commissioners.

To establish a separate Sarawak High Court, Foo said Sarawak federal lawmakers will therefore have to push for an amendment to Article 121(1)(b) of the federal constitution and the Courts of Judicature Act.

He said a separate high court for Sarawak will not only “reflect the true spirit” of the Malaysia Agreement 1963 (MA63) but it will also be in line with Sarawak’s drive for greater autonomy.

“I hope the 18 Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS) MPs will stand firm on this issue to table a motion in parliament to amend the law.

“It is absurd that while we have three separate bars, we only have two high court registries.”

Foo said the ranking of the three high court registries must also be of equal status.

He also suggested that all revenues collected by way of fines and court filing fees must go to the upkeep and maintenance of the high court buildings and premises.

“We do not want to see our courts in Sarawak to turn dilapidated like the schools in Sarawak.”

The Advocates’ Association of Sarawak meanwhile said they remain entrenched in their position against the relocation of the Sarawak and Sabah High Court registry from Kuching to Kota Kinabalu.

“We are still maintaining our opposition to the move in principle even though we respect the rule of law,” AAS president Ranbir Singh Sangha said on the unhappiness of the state’s legal fraternity on the move.

Ranbir said AAS had written letters to Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg and to the State Attorney-General’s Chambers “expressing our views and opposition to the move”.

He said the association had reiterated their opposition in their meetings with the chief minister and the state Attorney-General Talat Mahmood Abdul Rashid. – November 14, 2019.