State Government forms Sabah Law Reform Advisory Council

Sabah has taken a step further to enhance governance and legal reform and to ensure that proposed reforms remain rooted in the values, customs and socio-cultural realities unique to Sabah. The State Government has established the Sabah Law Reform Advisory Council (SLRAC) as part of a broader effort to uphold the rule of law, enhance governance and promote legal reform in Sabah. The SLRAC is an independent, non-partisan advisory body which will conduct a comprehensive review of existing State laws, and it will submit recommendation for reforms to improve legal clarity, efficiency, fairness and relevance.

Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Haji Hajiji Haji Noor said that the State Government looks forward to the valuable insights and recommendations from the SLRAC, which are expected to form the foundation for meaningful and enduring legal reform in Sabah. Legal reforms recommended by SLRAC align with state leadership’s vision for a progressive, inclusive, and forward-looking Sabah, where legal development advances in tandem with social and economic progress, while preserving the state’s unique heritage, Hajiji added.

“The establishment of SLRAC is a significant initiative aimed at modernising and improving the legal framework in Sabah to better serve the needs of its people,” Hajiji said on 31 July 2025 during presentation of the appointment letters to members of SLRAC, led by its Chairman, Tan Sri David Wong Dak Wah, who is the former Chief Judge of Sabah and Sarawak, at Menara Kinabalu. The other members of the Council are Datuk Daniel Tan Jwee Peng, Dr David Fung Yin Kee, Datuk John Sikayun, Datuk Roger Chin Ken Fong, and Shakinur Ain Karama, while Janice Junie Lim will serve as the Secretary.