KUALA LUMPUR: Attorney-General Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh has been appointed as the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) chairman, the Legal Affairs Division of the Prime Minister's Department (BHEUU) said today.
Media Prima Bhd independent non-executive director Datuk Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen was appointed deputy chairman.
Following the signing of the supplementary agreement to the host country agreement between Malaysia and Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO), Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said with the consultation of AALCO secretary-general Dr Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, appointed AIAC board members comprising individuals with vast experience in different fields in the public and private sectors.
AIAC board members:
1. Datuk Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh (Attorney-General)
2. Datuk Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen (MPB independent non-executive director, former Bursa Malaysia chairman)
3. Zamri Misman (BHEUU director-general)
4. Datuk Philip Chan Hon Keong (former legal practitioner/managing director)
5. Stephen Fietta KC (international civil law practitioner/international arbitrator/King's College visiting lecturer)
6. Andrea Carlevaris (former ICC International Court of Arbitration secretary-general and the ICC Dispute Resolution Services director).
"AIAC board members will play the role of check-and-balance in the governance, administration and management of AIAC, apart from contributing views, recommendations and strategic advice to strengthen AIAC that will be led by the soon-to-be appointed chief executive officer.
"The board will also be responsible for drafting important policies and strategies to enhance the standards of AIAC activities and services," read the statement.
BHEUU said the supplementary agreement was in line with the Cabinet's decision on AIAC's direction and administrative and operative structural improvements through a more transparent, efficient and orderly governance.
This it said, is based on the separation of powers concept to strengthen AIAC's position to be on par with among the best international arbitration institutions.
The improvements on AIAC agreed by the cabinet is to emphasise on the aspects of good governance and check-and-balance mechanism, in line with the unity government's commitment to elevate Malaysia in the field of international alternative dispute resolution to the global stage.
"At the same time, a taskforce between BHEUU, Prime Minister's Department together with AIAC will be established to enhance the Arbitration Act 2005 and Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012, whereby consultation with stakeholders is being done in stages to gather feedback and suggestions from relevant agencies, practitioners and institutions.
"In line with the cabinet's aspiration and the supplementary agreement, a pro-tem committee for the AIAC arbitration court will be established in the near future towards realising the establishment of the court, which is being implemented in stages."
Through the holistic and comprehensive initiatives currently being done, the Madani government hopes that AIAC, as an international and independent institution under the patronage of AALCO, would continue its excellence as the main alternative dispute resolution (ADR) hub at the domestic and international level, while promoting Malaysia as the preferred seat of arbitration, it added.