The Ministry of National Unity has thoroughly improved the 2012 Pension Act

KUALA LUMPUR, 17 Oct: The Ministry of National Unity (MNU) is reviewing proposals for improvement of the Intermediation Act 2012 to provide a clearer legislative basis to strengthen implementation of Community Mediation services under the Department of National Unity and Integration (DNIU).

The Minister on Datuk Aaron Ago Dagang said the scope of the Mediation Act 2012 under the provisions of the Section of Legal Affairs (BHEUU) at present does not specifically cover the operation of Community Mediation by JPNIN.

He said the mediation services as well as training and monitoring of community mediators by JPNIN are currently under Section 8 (d) of the Neighbourhood Partnership Act 2012, but that provision is still not sufficient to provide a specific framework covering the overall operation of the service.

"In this regard, I request JPNIN to hold a meeting with BHEUU to review the improvement proposals, including amendment proposals to the Intermediaries Act 2012, so that there is a clearer legal basis for the service", he said.

He said this during the inaugural meeting of the Social Collaborative Mediation Community Housing Mediation Project in Seri Kota, here today, which was also attended by MP Bandar Tun Razak who is also the wife of Prime Minister, Datuk Seri Dr Wan Azizah Wan Ismail.

Aaron also asked JPNIN along with the National Institute for Integration Studies and Training (IKLIN) to conduct a comparative study with countries with more specific community mediation legislative frameworks, including Singapore, India and Sri Lanka.

"Singapore through the Community Mediation Centres Act 1997, India through the Mediation Act 2023 and Sri Lanka through the Mediation Boards Act 1988, so this comparison is important for us to see how aspects of power, function, mediator supervision, mediation process and protection of parties involved are regulated by law", he said.

Meanwhile, he said the government will continue to expand the network of Community Mediation Centres through the establishment of 12 new centers this year in strategic locations across the country including Kota Kinabalu, Sabah; Miri, Sarawak; Pontian, Johor; Kuala Terengganu, Terengganu; and Shah Alam, Selangor.

"This centre will be a community reference centre for information, early counselling services and solutions to relevant community issues and disputes.

"This approach allows conflicts to be identified and addressed at an early stage, before escalating into more serious disputes and affecting relationships within the community", he said.

Regarding the Municipal Series Public Housing Community Mediation Center, Aaron said that the center is JPNIN's 11th community mediation center which was selected based on several factors, including population close to 6,000 people, local facilities available, community demand and need to address neighborhood issues in the field.

He said the establishment of the centre is also a continuation of the resolution proposal of the Strategic Workshop on K2K Development Initiatives hosted by Think City together with government agencies and stakeholders in 2024. -TVS