THE highest degree of professionalism in mediation requires altruism – putting the interests of clients and society before oneself, said Universiti Sains Malaysia’s Associate Professor Dr Naseem Ameer Ali.
He said altruism, along with understanding cultural elements, are crucial to helping mediators resolve their clients’ disputes.
“In society, many are multinational people and if mediators were to help resolve disputes, they must first understand the cultural elements involved.
“It is also essential for them to use simple language in contracts when settling their clients’ disputes.
“This means no fancy legal words in the contracts, ” he said during his talk at the Cultural Diversity in Mediation Forum at Royal Hotel in Jalan Larut, Penang, recently.
Assoc Prof Naseem emphasised understanding and making communication easy to help resolve disputes.
“The simpler the contracts, the less chances there will be for disputes, ” he said.
Assoc Prof Naseem was speaking to 34 mediators at the forum organised by Penang Council of Justices of Peace (JP).
Its mediation bureau chairman Datuk Ong Seng Huat said the forum aimed to train mediators and help them develop professionally.
“We hope to train mediators so that in future, the public will turn to mediation before going to a lawyer, ” he said.
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