KUCHING: A new agency on adat (native law and customs) will be set up to assist the Majlis Adat Istiadat Sarawak (Mais) in carrying out its duties, says a state minister.
Minister in the Premier's Department Datuk John Sikie Tayai said Mais was in the process of drafting a proposal to establish an Institute of Adat Istiadat Sarawak through a new Bill.
He said the proposed agency would be similar to an institution of higher learning where adat could be taught and researched by those who wished to practise in Sarawak's Native Courts or for academic purposes and qualifications.
"The institution would have a department or branch managing cultural and traditional events.
"As a corporate body, the institution would explore the possibilities of commercial enterprise or ventures to finance some of its functions and duties," he told the state assembly in his winding-up speech on Monday (May 22).
Sikie said the details of the proposal and Bill might be revealed and tabled in the next state assembly meeting.
"Mais needs a competent agency or institution to be established to support it in discharging its functions and duties efficiently, as the present strength of staff is not sufficient," he said.
On the request by Pending assemblyman Violet Yong for child marriage to be eradicated in Sarawak, Sikie said Mais had taken initial steps to formulate a law on marriage under the native adat.
He said the provisions of the proposed law would cover the solemnisation, registration, capacity and impediments of marriage.
"There would be specific provisions regulating underage marriage," he added.
Yong, while debating the motion of thanks to the Head of State for his address last week, had called on the state government to tighten existing laws and policies to eradicate child marriage.
She had also called on Mais to secure the consent of all community leaders to raise the minimum marriage age to 18 years.
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