KOTA KINABALU: Sabah Minister Datuk Arifin Arif tables two landmark bills at the state legislative assembly to reform Muslim inheritance management and restructure the Native Court system on Wednesday (July 22).
Arifin is the Local Government and Housing Minister and handles Islamic Religious Affairs.
He said the Muslim Succession Bill 2026 establishes a legal framework for inheritance involving Muslims, converts, and non-Muslim family members under Syariah law. It protects vulnerable groups, provides structured early arrangements for converts, and penalises the falsification of heir documents or asset concealment.
He said the Native Court Bill 2026 updates 1992 legislation to streamline court hierarchies into District, High, and Appeal courts without overriding Civil or Syariah laws. It introduces a Native Judicial Appointments Advisory Committee to select judges based on merit while maintaining customary elders' roles.
Assembly members debated port regulations alongside concerns regarding native law recognition at federal and international levels. Winding up for the Sabah Ports (Privatisation) (Amendment) Enactment 2026 continues Thursday (July 23).
