KUCHING: Sarawak Governor, Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar is set to deliver a statesman’s lecture (syarahan negarawan) in conjunction with opening of the Syariah Legal Year.

According Syariah Chief Judge, Datu Awang Suhaili Ledi, the lecture will be delivered at the Majma’ Hall Tunku Abd Halim Mu’adzam Shah on January 21.

"InsyaAllah, the lecture will provide guidance and assistance to us, particularly in the Syariah courts, to strengthen our efforts in areas related to legal and judicial matters.

"This is the first time we are holding the opening of the Syariah Legal Year, accompanied by a statesman's lecture to be delivered by the Sarawak Governor," he said.

He told reporters after leading a delegation from the Sarawak Syariah Judiciary Department to pay a courtesy call on the Sarawak Governor and his wife, Toh Puan Datuk Patinggi Fauziah Mohd Sanusi, here on Wednesday.

Datu Awang Suhaili added that the purpose of organising the Syariah Legal Year opening is to demonstrate the commitment of all parties involved in legal and judicial matters, ensuring that everything is managed systematically, with integrity, and fairness.

"Tun Pehin Sri Dr. Wan Junaidi always reminds us to enhance judicial administration efficiency, including matters related to the recruitment of Syarie lawyers and ensuring that all legal processes are relevant and in line with current developments,” he added.

The programme, which will be attended by the Sarawak Syariah Appeal Court Judges, Appeal Court Judges from the Department of Syariah Judiciary Malaysia, and Chief Syariah Judges from Peninsular Malaysia, is expected to bring positive improvements in strengthening the Syariah courts and developing Syariah legal and judicial systems, especially in Sarawak.

On a related matter, Datu Awang Suhaili shared that the recruitment of syarie lawyers in Sarawak is managed by the Syariah Lawyers Committee under the Syariah courts.

To date, over 100 applications have been received from graduates of local and international universities.

Also present were Sarawak Islamic Council (MIS) Secretary, Mual Suaud, Syariah High Court Judges, Mahiden Sah and Najarudin Nedri, as well as Acting Chief Registrar, Noor Rafidah Ali. -UKASnews