By Christine T
KUCHING, Oct 19: A heritage textile museum building in Kuching will be transformed into Borneo’s first Asian international arbitration hub through a RM10 million upgrade funded by the Sarawak government, with implementation expected to begin next year to bring international commercial dispute resolution closer to businesses in the region.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Dato’ Seri Azalina Othman Said said the facility would be more than a conventional branch office, with plans to attract international lawyers and legal chambers to use Kuching as a venue for resolving commercial disputes.
“As we approach our 50th anniversary, Sarawak’s decision to welcome the AIAC to Kuching will give us an advantage in strengthening our position as a major hub for the international community, with a focus on ASEAN,” she told reporters after the exchange of agreement between the Sarawak goverment and AIAC Malaysia at the DUS Complex today.
Sarawak Premier Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg witnessed the agreement exchange.
Also present were Minister for Tourism, Creative Industry and Performing Arts Dato Sri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah; Deputy Minister in the Premier’s Department for Law, MA63 and State-Federal Relations Datuk Sharifah Hasidah Sayeed Aman Ghazali; Sarawak Attorney-General Dato Sri Saferi Ali; and Sarawak Secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki.
At the same time, Azalina said the facility was envisioned as a regional hub serving Sarawak and Borneo as a whole.
“The word ‘branch’ makes it sound small, but that is not what it is intended to be,” she said.
The heritage building, located in Kuching’s heritage area, was selected to house the AIAC’s second office, which is expected to expand international legal activities beyond Kuala Lumpur.
Azalina said the heritage building was a suitable choice for the hub, given its location in Kuching’s historic area, and that the initiative would strengthen Malaysia’s standing in international dispute resolution.
“I visited the building this morning, and I believe it is a perfect choice. It is located in the old heritage area, which has a rich history.
“At the same time, we believe this sends a message to the world that Malaysia meets international standards, not only in financial services, investment and the petroleum industry, but also in dispute resolution,” she said.
Azalina said implementation was expected to begin next year, starting with the appointment of several council members to get operations running.
The proposed hub is also intended to strengthen Sarawak’s investment appeal by giving businesses and investors greater access to international dispute resolution services.
Azalina said investors needed confidence that their interests would be protected wherever they invested, adding that access to the courts alone was not enough.
They must also have access to platforms that can resolve international disputes more efficiently and conveniently through ADR, she said.
The initiative also aligns with the AIAC’s wider ambition to expand access to ADR services across Borneo and neighbouring markets.
The hub also aims to use its presence in Sarawak to strengthen collaboration in ADR, create employment opportunities, develop local talent through capacity-building and widen access to dispute resolution services. — DayakDaily
