Introduction to Mediation in Malaysia

Mediation has been in Malaysia as a modern problem-solving mechanism for over twenty years. Mediation has found its way into many industries in Malaysia. Institutions have been established to train mediators and to also facilitate the registration of cases for mediation and appointment of mediators. Malaysia is one of the first in the region to have a Mediation Act and features interesting clauses including immunity for trained mediators. Apart from court-annexed mediation which often is carried out in the absence of lawyers, private ad hoc or institutional mediation is also part of the Malaysian mediation landscape and lawyers generally have a larger and more important role in first designing a mediation overture and then supporting their client to conclusion.