Comparison between community mediation program in Malaysia and Ireland: Some lessons for Malaysia
Malaysia is a multiethnic country, whose population is made up of Malays, Chinese, Indians and various indigenous ethnicities. She has fared relatively well peacewise, despite simmering interethnic tensions and disputes. The Malaysian government, through the Department of National Unity and Integ...
| Main Authors: | , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Conference or Workshop Item |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Laws (AIKOL), International Islamic University Malaysia
2017
|
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://irep.iium.edu.my/57786/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/57786/ http://irep.iium.edu.my/57786/1/57786.pdf |
| Summary: | Malaysia is a multiethnic country, whose population is made up of Malays, Chinese,
Indians and various indigenous ethnicities. She has fared relatively well peacewise, despite
simmering interethnic tensions and disputes. The Malaysian government, through the
Department of National Unity and Integration has decided in 2007 to introduce community
mediation as a means of resolving community disputes, as this is well established in
countries like Singapore, Australia, the UK, United States, amongst others. Ho Khek
Hua (2009) addressed the challenges faced i.e., the limited number of trained mediators,
the issues of providing mediation training to community leaders, the need for case studies
and financial constraints. In this paper, for the research in Malaysia, interviews have been
carried out with the aim of gathering the descriptions and opinions of the practitioners
of mediation such as, community leaders, mediators, trainers, members of resident
associations and individuals with knowledge and experience in community disputes.
The research in Ireland involves studying the structure, practice and development of the
community mediation centres. Besides library research, interviews and discussions have
been conducted with project managers, mediators and trainers with respect to current
status, planning and development of community mediation. The findings of this research
should assist Malaysia in its effort to improve the current structure, practice, training and
development of community mediation. Based on the research conducted, the paper will
examine firstly, the structure and practice of community mediation in Malaysia, secondly,
the structure and practice of community mediation in Ireland, thirdly, comparison between
Ireland and Malaysia, and lastly, what Malaysia can learn from Ireland. |
|---|