Rokiah Mahmud
Mediation as a process in settling disputes through discussion and compromise is not new and traditionally has been adopted by many social leaders, said Minister at the Prime Minister’s Office Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi bin Haji Mohd Yussof.
However, mediation has evolved to a more formalised process adopted by the courts and other bodies to settle disputes, the minister said at the opening ceremony for ‘Strategic Conflict Management for Professionals: Managing Conflicts and Resolving Disputes through Mediation with Accreditation’ programme at At-Taqwa Multipurpose Hall of the Public Service Department building yesterday.
The training programme was organised by the Brunei Darussalam Arbitration Centre (BDAC) in collaboration with Singapore Mediation Centre (SMC).
Pehin Datu Lailaraja Major General (Rtd) Dato Paduka Seri Haji Awang Halbi said only a small fraction of disputes are referred to the courts.
This, he added, “Does not reflect the true amount and variety of disputes in Brunei Darussalam. Therefore, the potential for mediation as an alternative method for dispute resolution is ever more apparent and hence there is a need to better understand and utilise mediation in Brunei Darussalam.”
The minister expressed his hope that the inaugural training programme will assist to the increase in number of accredited mediators in Brunei Darussalam and further contribute towards the efforts to enhance access to justice for all, in line with the Prime Minister’s Office Strategic Plan 2021-2025.
He called for parties to utilise the facilities and venue offered by BDAC to ensure a more expedient and cost-effective process for the settlement of disputes.
Meanwhile, BDAC Chairman Radin Safiee bin Radin Mas Basiuni said 24 participants comprising individuals from the government and private sectors had registered for the training programme which focusses on the nature of conflict as well as disputes and effective techniques for resolving them.
This course, he added will help to equip participants with the ability to resolve disputes which can be utilised in various situations especially in an organisation, either internally or externally.
BDAC was established to provide arbitration and mediation services to meet the needs of domestic and international users. The course was the first of its kind and is intended to increase and strengthen its panel of mediators as part of the centre’s effort to be the preferred venue for the settlement of disputes.
