Kuala lumpur: The Sabah government has been urged to table a motion to the federal government seeking amendments to Article 121(1) and Article 121(1A) of the Federal Constitution to grant the Native Court constitutional recognition equal to that of the Syariah Court.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Datuk Seri Wilfred Madius Tangau (GRS-Tamparuli) stated that currently, the Native Court is still regarded as a tribunal by the Civil Court and does not enjoy the same constitutional status as the Syariah Court. He clarified that the proposal is not for the Native Court to take over the functions of the Civil Court or the Syariah Court, but rather for Sabah's customary judicial institution to be accorded the constitutional status it rightfully deserves.

Madius addressed this issue while debating the Native Court Bill 2026 at the Sabah State Legislative Assembly. He emphasized that the proposal aligns with the spirit of the Malaysia Agreement 1963, the historical context of Malaysia's formation, and Sabah's status as a founding territory of the Federation of Malaysia.

He further expressed that a judicial institution's strength should be gauged not by the volume of cases it handles, but by the public's confidence in the justice it delivers. "When the people have confidence that the Native Court hears cases fairly, makes wise decisions and acts without being influenced by other interests, that is when the institution truly attains the stature it deserves," he remarked.