Calling it another “unconstitutional” move by the federal government, Dominique Ng said there were clear political motives involved.

“It could have been done to show who is the power holding sway in Putrajaya,” he said.

He added that the decision came as those in Sarawak increasingly raise concerns about Putrajaya’s motives regarding the state.

He also said the Advocates Association of Sarawak (AAS) had voiced its objections, questioning as well whether Sarawak Chief Minister Abang Johari Openg had been consulted.

The decision to move the High Court registry was revealed in an internal circular by Chief Registrar of the Federal Court Latifah Mohd Tahar on April 19, which was leaked on social media.

Another practising lawyer, Desmond Kho, said the announcement came as a “big surprise” and that enquiries with AAS revealed that there was no consultation from the Palace of Justice.

“This is an enormous decision that must have consensus from all parties concerned,” he told FMT, calling for the decision to be suspended pending a proper process.

Another lawyer, Shankar Ram, said the registry had been located in Kuching for a long time.

“Why the sudden move? Does this have something to do with Gabungan Parti Sarawak MPs abstaining from voting on the Federal Constitution (Amendment) Bill 2019?”

He, too, questioned whether Prime Minister Dr Mahathir Mohamad had obtained the consent of the chief minister, as required by the constitution.

He warned that decision could be seen as a way of eroding the rights of Sarawakians.

“What are they going to do next? Are they going to lift our immigration laws as well?”