LEGAL education in Borneo is set to enter a new phase with plans to establish law faculties at Universiti Malaysia Sabah (UMS) and Universiti Malaysia Sarawak (Unimas), targeted to commence as early as this year.
Chief Justice of Malaysia Datuk Seri Wan Ahmad Farid Wan Salleh said the Malaysian Judiciary has pledged its full commitment and support for the initiative, which aims to expand access to legal education in Sabah and Sarawak.
“The Judiciary warmly welcomes the aspiration of the Yang di-Pertua Negeri, Tun Musa Aman, to see law faculties established at public universities in Sabah and Sarawak.
“We will extend our full support and assist in whatever capacity is required to ensure these plans are successfully realised,” he told reporters after paying a courtesy call on Tun Musa on Thursday.
The visit was to deliver an official invitation to the Head of State to attend the Opening of the 2026 Legal Year for Sabah and Sarawak, which will be held in Kota Kinabalu.
Wan Ahmad said that at the event, the Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak will deliver the official address outlining the judiciary’s direction and priorities for the region in 2026.
He added that the Sabah Law Society (SLS) will also host a dinner in conjunction with the event to welcome legal delegations from across the country.
Also present were Court of Appeal President Datuk Abu Bakar Jais, Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak Datuk Azizah Nawawi, and Chief Judge of Malaya Datuk Hashim Hamzah.
