The Registrar of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak performs judicial as well as administrative functions. He is the chief judicial officer in Sabah and Sarawak, and answers directly to the Chief Judge in matters concerning the Courts Registries and Courts management in the two States, and to the Chief Registrar of the Federal Court in Putrajaya.

In the performance of his functions, he is assisted by a number of Deputy Registrars and Senior Assistant Registrars in Sabah and Sarawak, as well by the Subordinate Courts Registrars.

The Registrar is also in charge of the Roll of Advocates and he is responsible for the issuance of the annual practicing certificates for the advocates.

The Registrar is legally trained. The current Registrar is Tuan Azhahari Kamal Bin Ramli.

The office of the Registrar of the High Court in Sabah and Sarawak, like the office of the Chief Judge is located in Kuching Courts Complex. There are separate registries for each of the High Courts in Kuching, Sibu, Bintulu and Miri in Sarawak and in Kota Kinabalu, Sandakan and Tawau in Sabah. Each High Court has its own Deputy Registrar or Senior Assistant Registrar, who are all legally trained officers. He or she will be in charge of the judicial work and the court personnel (court interpreters, clerks, bailiffs and process servers).

The main work of the Registry is to register cases, draw up cause lists and other court documents, accept court fees, fines, deposits, to be in charge of the safekeeping of court exhibits, among other support work.

The Registries provide “one-stop” service counters where fines, bail bonds are paid and where oaths and affirmations are taken. Registry officials also register moneylending transactions as required by the law at the service counter.

The opening hours of the Court Registries are:

Monday to Thursday : 8.30 a.m. – 11.30 a.m.

2.00 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.

Friday : 2.15 p.m. – 3.30 p.m.

The Registrars also attest and certify documents.

The Commissioners of Oaths are also a part of the Registry and affirm oaths and affirmations.

The Registry does not provide translation services.

The Subordinate Courts (Sessions Courts and Magistrates’ Courts) throughout Sabah and Sarawak each has its own Registry which performs support functions similar to the High Court Registry. There are a number of Registrars of the Subordinate Courts who are para-legal officers, and perform certain limited judicial functions.