TUARAN: Sabah Native Indigenous Customary Community Organisation Sunduan Nabalu (Maans–Sunduan Nabalu) and Ipec Bureau have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to explore strategic cooperation in developing standards and competency certification to strengthen the Sabah native customary governance ecosystem.
Held recently at the Sabah Native Customary School (Saans) headquarters here, the signing marks an initial step towards research, stakeholder consultations, and the development of competency frameworks, training, assessment, and quality assurance mechanisms.
The initiative also emphasises the preservation of heritage, traditional knowledge, and the customary diversity of native ethnic groups in Sabah.
Both parties stressed that the partnership is not intended to take over, replace, or interfere with the jurisdiction of the Sabah State Government, the Native Courts, or any official institutions, but serves as a complementary capacity-building effort.
Any future standards and competency schemes will adhere to existing laws, policies, and regulatory jurisdictions, while bridging traditional customs with modern developmental needs through Ipec Bureau, a certification body accredited by the Department of Standards Malaysia.
