Photo credited to AIAC
The Kuala Lumpur Regional Centre for Arbitration (KLRCA) has recently moved into its new premise, and now boasts to be one of the largest Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) centres in the world.
It began operations at its new location at the five-storey Bangunan Sulaiman, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, in Kuala Lumpur, on August 25.
Equipped with state-of-the-art facilities, it has an extra-large hearing room with Court Recording and Transcription System (CRT) which can seat 50 pax; three large hearing rooms with a seating capacity of 22 pax, each; 10 medium hearing rooms with a seating capacity of 14 pax, each; and six small hearing rooms with a seating capacity of 10 pax, each.
It also has an auditorium (which can seat 182 pax), a business centre, a private dining room, an outdoor dining area, a specialised ADR and Construction law library, and ample parking space. It is also equipped with ultra-modern video conferencing equipment.
“This momentous relocation marks the dawn of a new era as we continue to embark on our quest to serve you better and to be the preferred dispute resolution centre in the Asia-Pacific region,” KLRCA director Prof Datuk Sundra Rajoo says of the move.
The KLRCA is a non-profit, non-governmental international arbitral institution established in 1978 under the auspices of the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO). It is the first regional centre established by AALCO in Asia to provide institutional support in a neutral and independent venue for the conduct of domestic and international arbitration proceedings in the region.
It was also the first centre in the world to adopt the UNCITRAL Rules for Arbitration as revised in 2010, which enables its arbitral awards to be enforceable in 149 countries.
Among the strengths of the KLRCA is that is it internationally recognised, and it has a panel of over 700 experienced domestic and international arbitrators. Its fees are fixed with a structure that is 20% less than other arbitral institutions. It is also an official adjudication authority under the Construction Payment & Adjudication Act 2012 (CIPAA).
All awards made the arbitral tribunal are final and binding, and are rendered within three months from the date of final submission. The appointment of arbitrator is made within 48 hours of receipt of all necessary documents.
At MahWengKwai & Associates, our managing partner, Raymond Mah is also an experienced arbitrator and adjudicator. He has dealt with claims arising from unforeseen adverse physical conditions in the construction of a dam; disputes arising from plumbing works for a residential development project; disputes on design faults arising from the collapse of a basement car park; disputes arising from the electrical and telecommunications works for a resort development project; and claims for outstanding progress claims for the construction of a residential development project. Raymond is also handling a Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act (CIPA) 2012 matter, currently in court.
