GEORGE TOWN, Nov 2: A joint effort by Advance Dispute Resolution Council (ADRC) and Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM) to produce trained professional mediators using win-win alternative dispute resolution (ADR) techniques culminated in a graduation ceremony for 75 of them at the university here on Tuesday.
This pioneer group has also been tasked to mentor additional new mediators by recruiting at least two would-be mediators to enlarge the pool of mediators to serve the public.
In his speech, ADRC Senior Advisor Tan Sri Mohd Yussof Latiff urged the pioneer batch of mediators to light the torch for ADRC and its collaborator, USM’s Graduate School of Business (GSB), in this new endeavour.
As representatives of community leaders and future leaders themselves, he said the mediators should propagate the practice of ADR to benefit society.
Yussof again stressed that mediation is a less threatening ADR process compared to litigation as it possesses a dual purpose role by reducing the burden on the Judiciary through less litigation cases while providing a fair, effective and cost-saving process to result in a win-win situation for the disputing parties involved.
He also revealed that ADRC has successfully obtained approval from the International Mediation Institute (IMI), which is headquartered at The Hague in the Netherlands, to provide mediation training under the Certified Mediator Training Programme for the “Executive Certificate in Professional Mediation”.
As such, Yussof urged those who had gone through the ADRC-USM professional certificate programme to improve their qualifications by becoming “IMI Qualified Mediators” to allow them to be considered for emplacement on the mediator panel of the Asian International Arbitration Center (AIAC).
In addition, he said there would also be opportunities for these graduates to be recognised as as “court-annexed mediators” in Malaysia in the future.
In her address, Associate Professor Dr Fathyah Hashim, Dean of USM’s GSB, who also presented certificates to the recipients, told them to make use of the knowledge gained from the programme to help more people in need of such resolution mechanisms.
Later on Tuesday night, ADRC also issued certificates of appointments to 33 ADRC-USM-trained mediators who will form the ADRC working committee.
They received their certificates from Penang Yang Dipertua Negeri, Tun Ahmad Fuzi Haji Abdul Razak, at a dinner that was also supported by Yayasan Amal Tuan Yang DiPertua Negeri, USM and the Penang Green Council (PGC).
Ahmad Fuzi also gave plaques to some 30 organisations that had met the criteria under the ADRC-USM and PGC Environmental, Social and Governance (ESG) Pioneer Awards.
In his speech, Yussof hoped the awards would serve as a catalyst to promote and recognise corporate leadership that upheld ESG principles.
By highlighting organisations with best practices in terms of ESG readiness, the awards would also encourage more organisations to prioritise sustainability and create a positive impact to society and the environment, he said.
The ESG Pioneer Awards Steering Committee for Industry led by Ts Lance Lai Menn Tatt also raised RM100,000 for charity purposes, ESG research and grants, and ESG projects.
Lai, who is also the Chair of Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE), Penang Chapter, said in his remarks that the organisers will endeavour to help the Penang state government’s initiative to replant up to one million trees.
Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang’s Deputy Chief Minister II, in his speech also pledged the state’s government’s commitment towards upholding sustainability in its initiatives besides making Penang a top investment destination.
ESG Pioneer Awards Winners: AAE Solution Sdn Bhd,AK Designpro Sdn Bhd, Ancubic Industries Sdn Bhd, CLPG Packaging Industries Sdn Bhd, CMAPX Aggregates Sdn Bhd, City Council of Penang, Island Ecotec (Penang) Sdn Bhd, Jurucita Consultant, NCT Land Sdn Bhd, Pen Konsult Sdn Bhd, Peninsula College Georgetown, PWD Smart Farmability Enterprise, Sentral College, SJK (C) Union, SMJK Chung Ling, Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology, Penang Branch, Pan-International Electronics (M) Sdn Bhd, PLB Engineering Bhd, GIMTEK (Singapore) Pte Ltd, Biopolis Resources Sdn Bhd, East Design Architect Sdn Bhd, Chin’s Modern Chinese Cuisine Sdn Bhd, JJT Food & Beverage Resources, Kalyx Consultants Sdn Bhd, NST, SMG, Nanyang and BERNAMA.
Donors to the 2023 ESG Pioneer Awards: Ace Fire Protection and Services Sdn Bhd, Malone Shipping Sdn Bhd, Focus Biz-Link Sdn Bhd, East Design Sdn Bhd and Biopolis Resources Sdn Bhd
WE
