Ali Biju (PH-Krian) said the move would better equip those presiding over native cases, including disputes over native customary rights land.

“Any disputes within the Native Communal Reserve must be dealt with by the Native Courts. The issue will be, what is the capability of our Native Courts system to adjudicate all those land matters among the natives, bearing in mind there are lots of native court cases pending in the Native Courts,” he said.

Speaking during the debate on a motion of thanks for Yang di-Pertua Negeri Abdul Taib Mahmud’s address, he highlighted the concerns of natives with regard to the Native Communal Reserve under section 6 of the Sarawak Land Code.

Dr Ting Tiong Choon (PH-Pujut) urged the state cabinet to consider providing equal constituency funds for all members of the assembly.

He said more than 20% of the voters in the 10 constituencies won by Pakatan Harapan had voted for Barisan Nasional or Gabungan Parti Sarawak (GPS). “We, as elected members deserve our share, and we demand equal status with all elected GPS members of this House, so that we can serve all Sarawakians in fairness,” he said.

Gerald Rentap Jabu (GPS-Layar) said PH assemblymen must also be given due credit for voting in support of the motion on amendments to the Federal Constitution, which was passed during the current sitting. “This shows maturity,” he said.