MEDIATION ACT 2012

Mediation laws OF MALAYSIA Act 749 Mediation act 2012 1 2 Laws of Malaysia Date of Royal Assent Act 749 ... ... 18 June 2012 Date of publication in the Gazette ... ... ... 22 June 2012 Publisher’s Copyright C percetakan nasional malaysia berhad All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system or transmitted in any form or by any means electronic, mechanical, photocopying, recording and/or otherwise without the prior permission of Percetakan Nasional Malaysia Berhad (Appointed Printer to the Government of Malaysia). Mediation laws of malaysia Act 749 Mediation act 2012 ARRANGEMENT OF Sections Part I preliminary Section 1. 2. Short title and commencement Non-application 3. Interpretation 4. Mediation does not prevent court action, arbitration, etc. Part II Commencement of mediation 5. Commencement of mediation 6. Mediation agreement Part III Mediator 7. 8. Appointment of mediator Termination of appointment of mediator Part IV Mediation process 9. 10. Role of mediator Submission of statements to mediator 11. Conduct of mediation 3 4 Laws of Malaysia Part V Conclusion of Mediation Clause 12. Conclusion of mediation 13. 14. Settlement agreement Effect of settlement agreement Part VI Confidentiality and Privilege 15. Confidentiality 16. Privilege Part VII miscellaneous 17. Costs 18. Power to amend Schedule 19. Liability of a mediator 20. Regulations Schedule Act 749 5 Mediation laws of malaysia Act 749 Mediation act 2012 An Act to promote and encourage mediation as a method of alternative dispute resolution by providing for the process of mediation, thereby facilitating the parties in disputes to settle disputes in a fair, speedy and cost-effective manner and to provide for related matters. [ ] ENACTED by the Parliament of Malaysia as follows: Part I Preliminary Short title and commencement 1. (1) This Act may be cited as the Mediation Act 2012. (2) This Act comes into operation on a date to be appointed by the Minister by notification in the Gazette. Non-application 2. This Act shall not apply to— (a) any dispute regarding matters specified in the Schedule; 6 Laws of Malaysia Act 749 (b) any mediation conducted by a judge, magistrate or officer of the court pursuant to any civil action that has been filed in court; and (c) any mediation conducted by the Legal Aid Department. Interpretation 3. In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires— “non-party” means a person who participates in a mediation, other than a party or mediator, and includes counsels of each party, experts in the subject matter of a dispute and witnesses; “institution” means a body or organization that provides mediation services; “mediation communication” means an oral or written statement made— (a) during a mediation; (b) in relation to a mediation; or (c) for the purposes of considering, conducting, participating in, commencing, continuing, reconvening or concluding a mediation or retaining a mediator; “Minister” means the Minister charged with the responsibility for legal affairs; “mediator” means a mediator appointed by the parties under section 7; “mediation” means a voluntary process in which a mediator facilitates communication and negotiation between parties to assist the parties in reaching an agreement regarding a dispute; “mediation agreement” means the agreement referred to in section 6; “settlement agreement” means the agreement referred to in section 13; Mediation 7 “party” means a party to a mediation agreement and includes the Federal Government and a State Government; “proceedings” means any proceedings of a civil nature and includes an application at any stage of proceedings. Mediation does not prevent court action, arbitration, etc. 4. (1) Subject to section 2, any person may, before commencing any civil action in court or arbitration, initiate mediation. (2) A mediation under this Act shall not prevent the commencement of any civil action in court or arbitration nor shall it act as a stay of, or extension of any proceedings, if the proceedings have been commenced. Part II Commencement of mediation Commencement of mediation 5. (1) A person may initiate mediation by sending to the person with whom he has a dispute, a written invitation regarding the mediation. (2) The written invitation referred to in subsection (1) shall briefly specify the matters in dispute. (3) Upon receipt of a written invitation sent by the person initiating the mediation under subsection (1), the person with whom he has a dispute may, in writing, accept the written invitation. (4) A mediation shall be deemed to have been commenced upon the person initiating the mediation receiving the acceptance of the written invitation from the person with whom he has a dispute under subsection (3). (5) An invitation regarding a mediation under subsection (1) shall be deemed to have been rejected if the person initiating the mediation does not receive a reply from the person with whom he has a dispute, within fourteen days from the date he sends the person the written invitation or within such other period of time specified in the written invitation. 8 Laws of Malaysia Act 749 Mediation agreement 6. (1) Upon the commencement of a mediation as specified under subsection 5(4), the parties shall enter into a mediation agreement. (2) A mediation agreement shall be in writing and signed by the parties. (3) A mediation agreement shall contain an agreement by the parties to submit to mediation disputes which have arisen or which may arise between them, the appointment of a mediator, the costs to be borne by the parties and other matters the parties deem appropriate. Part III Mediator Appointment of mediator 7. (1) The parties shall appoint a mediator to assist them in the mediation. (2) A mediator appointed under this Part shall— (a) possess the relevant qualifications, special knowledge or experience in mediation through training or formal tertiary education; or (b) satisfy the requirements of an institution in relation to a mediator. (3) The parties may request for assistance from the institution to appoint a mediator or mediators on their behalf. (4) The appointment of a mediator under subsection (1) shall be made by way of a mediation agreement under section 6 and there shall be one mediator for a mediation unless the parties agree otherwise. Mediation 9 (5) If there is more than one mediator, the mediators shall act jointly in the mediation. (6) No appointment of any mediator shall be valid except with the prior written consent of the mediator. (7) A mediator appointed under this Part shall disclose, before accepting the appointment, any known facts that a reasonable person would consider likely to affect his impartiality as mediator, including a financial or personal interest in the outcome of the mediation. (8) The mediator may be paid a fee or given any other consideration as agreed between the parties. Termination of appointment of mediator 8. (1) If a mediator appointed under this Part— (a) no longer possesses the relevant qualifications, special knowledge or experience in mediation as required under paragraph 7(2)(a); (b) no longer satisfies the requirement of an institution in relation to a mediator as required under paragraph 7(2)(b); (c) is found to have financial or personal interest in the dispute; (d) is found to have obtained his appointment by way of fraud; or (e) is unable to serve as a mediator for the mediation, the parties may terminate the appointment of the mediator and appoint another mediator for the mediation or request the institution to appoint another mediator. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the parties may terminate the appointment of a mediator for any reason and shall inform the mediator the reason for the termination. 10 Laws of Malaysia Act 749 Part IV Mediation process Role of mediator 9. (1) A mediator shall facilitate a mediation and determine the manner in which the mediation is to be conducted. (2) A mediator may assist the parties to reach a satisfactory resolution of the dispute and suggest options for the settlement of the dispute. (3) For the purposes of subsection (1), the mediator shall act independently and impartially. Submission of statements to mediator 10. (1) A mediator may request each party to submit a statement setting out the brief facts of the dispute, supplemented by any documents that the party deems appropriate to submit. (2) At any stage of a mediation, a mediator may request any party to submit any additional information or document as the mediator deems appropriate. Conduct of mediation 11. (1) A mediator shall ensure that a mediation is privately conducted and he may meet with the parties together or with each party separately. (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1)— (a) a non-party of any party’s choice may participate in a mediation to assist the party, subject to the consent of the mediator; and (b) a non-party of a mediator’s choice may participate in a mediation to assist the mediator during the mediation, subject to the consent of the parties. Mediation 11 (3) A mediator may end the mediation if, in his opinion, further efforts at mediation would not contribute to a satisfactory resolution of the dispute between the parties. Part V Conclusion of Mediation Conclusion of mediation 12. A mediation shall conclude— (a) upon the signing of a settlement agreement by the parties under section 13; (b) upon the issuance of a written declaration by a mediator to the parties stating that further efforts at mediation would not contribute to a satisfactory resolution of the dispute; (c) upon the issuance of a written declaration by the parties to a mediator stating that the mediation is terminated; or (d) unless otherwise provided by mediation agreement referred to in section 6— (i) upon the issuance of a written declaration by a party to the other party and the mediator stating that the mediation is terminated; (ii) upon the withdrawal from a mediation by any party; or (iii) upon the death of any party or incapacity of any party. Settlement agreement 13. (1) Upon the conclusion of a mediation and the reaching of an agreement by the parties regarding a dispute, the parties shall enter into a settlement agreement. (2) The settlement agreement under subsection (1) shall be in writing and signed by the parties. 12 Act 749 Laws of Malaysia (3) The mediator shall authenticate the settlement agreement and furnish a copy of the agreement to the parties. Effect of settlement agreement 14. (1) A settlement agreement shall be binding on the parties. (2) If proceedings have been commenced in court, the settlement agreement may be recorded before the court as a consent judgment or judgment of the court. Part VI Confidentiality and Privilege Confidentiality 15. (1) N o p e r s o n communication. shall disclose any mediation (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), mediation communication may be disclosed if— (a) the disclosure is made with the consent of the parties; (b) the disclosure is made with the consent of the person who gives the mediation communication; (c) the disclosure is required under this Act or for the purpose of any civil or criminal proceedings under any written law; or (d) the disclosure is required under any other written law for the purposes of implementation or enforcement of a settlement agreement. Privilege 16. (1) Any mediation communication is privileged and is not subject to discovery or be admissible in evidence in any proceedings. Mediation 13 (2) Notwithstanding subsection (1), the mediation communication is not privileged if— (a) the privilege is expressly waived in writing by the parties, the mediator and the non-party; (b) it is a public document by virtue of the Evidence Act 1950 [Act 56]; (c) it is a threat to inflict bodily injury or commit a crime; (d) it is used or intended to be used to plan a crime, attempt