KOTA KINABALU: July 23, 2026 – Sungai Sibuga State Assemblywoman, Nurulalsah Binti Hassan Alban, has urged the government to ensure that the District Chiefs, Native Chiefs and Village Heads Bill 2026 strengthens customary leadership institutions without opening the door to the centralisation of political power.
Debating the Bill during the Sabah State Legislative Assembly sitting today, she said efforts to modernise the customary administration system should be supported, but such reforms must be accompanied by checks and balances to guarantee the integrity of these institutions.
“We acknowledge the intention to modernise customary leadership, but modernisation does not mean centralisation of power. Do not allow our customary power to be swallowed by political power,” she said.
Nurulalsah said every law passed will have an impact on the lives of the people, therefore those entrusted with leadership must always be subject to the principle of accountability.
She raised several cases of abuse and sexual harassment as examples of how the failure of trustees and weaknesses in the system could undermine public confidence in institutions responsible for safeguarding the welfare of the people.
According to her, the issue raised was not merely about criminal offences, but rather the failure of the system to take action against individuals who betrayed the trust placed in them.
“What I am trying to highlight today is not solely about the acts of abuse or harassment themselves. What I want to emphasise is the issue of betrayal by those entrusted with responsibility, and the system that protects them,” she said.
She said the same principle should be applied to the Bill, because District Chiefs, Native Chiefs and Village Heads are not just community administrators, but trustees who safeguard the customs and heritage of Sabah’s communities.
In this regard, she proposed that appointing powers should not be concentrated in the hands of a single minister alone. Instead, appointments should be made from a list of candidates endorsed at the district and community level.
Additionally, she also proposed that communities be given the right to submit petitions to the Native Courts Commission to remove any District Chief, Native Chief or Village Head found to have abused their power or failed to uphold customs.
“If the leader forgets the customs, let the customs remind them,” she said.
Nurulalsah said the proposal was not intended to limit ministerial powers, but to protect customary leadership institutions from political interference, to ensure that every decision is made transparently and accountably.
She also expressed disappointment that her proposed amendments were not accepted, but hoped that the principles she raised would be considered in the future to strengthen the customary leadership system in Sabah.
Concluding her speech, she stressed that customs are not merely cultural symbols, but rather the foundation of Sabah’s community identity that must be preserved.
“Customs are not just symbols; they are the heart of our community. Do not allow this heart to be fully controlled by a single political hand,” she said.
