Perak Bar Mediation Centre Opens to Speed Up Civil Dispute Resolution
Stories are grouped across languages, rewritten into a fixed editorial format, and linked to original sources. How we report.
TL;DR
- Perak Bar Mediation Centre (PBMC) launched in Malaysia.
- PBMC aims to resolve long-standing civil disputes quickly, sometimes in one day.
- Mediation allows cases to be stayed in court without withdrawal.
- Service costs are significantly lower than litigation.
Overview
The Perak Bar Mediation Centre (PBMC) was launched in Ipoh, Malaysia, offering a new avenue for the swift and cost-effective resolution of civil disputes. The centre enables pending civil cases to be referred to mediation, which can result in agreements within a single day, according to Deputy Minister M. Kulasegaran.
What Happened
Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M. Kulasegaran launched the PBMC in Medan Istana, Ipoh on July 10, 2026.
Kulasegaran stated that unresolved and backlogged civil cases can now be directed to mediation without the need for withdrawal, simply by applying to the court to stay proceedings and seeking the judge's consent.
He emphasized that mediation offers a less adversarial environment, with reduced cost and time compared to traditional litigation, and that settlements reached through mediation remain legally binding.
The PBMC mediation services are priced between RM3,000 to RM5,000, which is considerably lower compared to litigation costs.
Context
Civil litigation in Malaysia can take many years due to the length of the judicial process, including potential appeals. Mediation is being promoted as a way to relieve court backlog and provide parties with a more amicable and efficient resolution process.
The government has also launched other mediation centres, such as the Madani Mediation Centre in Kuala Lumpur, which offers free services to lower and middle-income groups.
Why It Matters
- The opening of the PBMC could help reduce the civil court backlog in Malaysia by providing parties with an efficient alternative to litigation.
- Mediation may allow parties to resolve disputes quickly and cost-effectively while maintaining the option to return to litigation if mediation fails.