COURT cases can sometimes be time-consuming and costly.
And to avoid that, there is help for parties in dispute as a Community Mediation Service Centre was launched in the Komtar constituency today at its 2030 Centre to serve members of the public in the district.
Komtar assemblyman Teh Lai Heng expressed his gratitude to the Penang Council of Justices of the Peace and its JP Mediation Bureau for helping to set up the mediation centre in the Komtar area.
“Arguments and disputes happen often in our lives and while we can usually solve them by ourselves, there are times when two parties are unable to reach a settlement and will need the help of a third party.
“These could happen due to misunderstanding, miscommunication or lack of information sharing. To settle the problem, usually that means making a claim to the small claims court or even to the civil court. These could take a lot of time and money and end up costing more than what the argument is worth.
“That is why having a mediator to help both sides reach a concession is a good idea to settle the dispute peacefully and ends it in a win-win scenario. Mediation is a way of getting both arguing parties to sit together to find common ground, to resolve their quarrels,” Teh said in his speech.
He added that since the last appointment of JPs (Justice of Peace) happened 32 years ago in 1990, all members of the Penang JP Council are now well over their retirement age. Even the youngest JP is over 70 years old.
Teh said despite that, they still chose to dedicate their time by offering wisdom and guidance to the next generation by helping young local leaders to be mediators and contribute to their community.
“Moving forward to a new Malaysia with a new central government, I believe it is ever more important that we are able to solve issues between one another in a mature and civilised manner.
“Not all disputes have to end up being resolved through court. Community leaders should be empowered to play proactive roles as a mediator that can be a reliable third party to help solve disputes by mediating with both parties to meet at a middle ground that they can agree upon.
“For anyone who requires this service, all you need to do is to call my service centre at 04-2277068 and make an appointment. We will then arrange a time for the trained mediators to meet up and help you find that common ground to resolve your disputes,” Teh said.
Also present at the centre’s launching ceremony were High Court Judge Datuk Lim Chong Fong, Session Court Judge and Head Mediation Centre MPPP Ooi Sheow Yean, JP Council president Datuk Seri R. Arunasalam, Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution president Prof Datuk Sundra Rajoo and JP Council Penang secretary Datuk Ong Seng Huat.
Lim said he hoped the JP community mediation service would spread to all other constituencies in due course.
“Additionally, the JP Mediation Bureau should make approaches to the chambers of commerce, professional institutions, clubs, societies and clan associations in Penang to offer pro-bono pre-action mediation services.
“It must be appreciated that each successful pre-action mediation means a lesser case for the court too!” Lee said in his address.
At the ceremony, Lim later presented certificates to new mediators who have successfully undergone the fifth mediation training course in 2022 organised by the Penang JP Council and the Asian International Arbitration Centre/Asian Institute of Alternate Dispute Resolution.
Story by K.H. Ong
Pix courtesy of YB Teh Lai Heng’s office