KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia’s aspiration to become a neutral, credible and global hub for alternative dispute resolution (ADR) is an attainable reality, thanks to the nation’s readiness and its cultural and legal sophistication, says Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof (pic).
The Deputy Prime Minister said Malaysia’s position along the world’s busiest trade corridors provides a unique advantage in bridging East and West, offering neutrality, cultural fluency and legal credibility.
“Our pro-arbitration judiciary, robust legal reforms and multicultural professional community provide the bedrock of neutrality and trust.
“Indeed, Malaysia’s diversity is our greatest strength; it allows us to appreciate and harmonise differences, which is the very essence of ADR,” he said at the Asia ADR Week 2025.
Fadillah said that in a world often defined by conflict and contention, ADR offers a path of dialogue over discord and collaboration over confrontation.“It reflects the very values that define the Malaysia Madani vision – inclusivity, compassion and shared responsibility – principles that guide how we govern, engage and resolve.
“ADR gives that ability, form, structure and purpose, transforming disputes into dialogue, and friction into progress.
“Across Asia and beyond, we are witnessing a profound transformation in the way disputes are resolved.
Neutrality, integrity and credibility have become the defining benchmarks for trusted arbitration,” he said.
Fadillah said the Arbitration (Amendment) Act and the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication (Amendment) Act represent a major leap forward in modernising Malaysia’s dispute resolution framework.
“These are not mere procedural improvements. They are transformational reforms that position Malaysia at the forefront of the global ADR landscape.
“They do so while preserving our national character and ensuring that accessibility, transparency and trust remain the lifeblood of our system,” he added.
Also present were Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Works Minister Datuk Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi and Attorney General Tan Sri Mohd Dusuki Mokhtar.
