AG appointed chairman of Asian International Arbitration Centre

 

Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh will chair the board of directors, that will include other members from within and outside the country with extensive experience in various fields. (AGC pic)

PUTRAJAYA: Attorney-General Ahmad Terrirudin Mohd Salleh has been appointed chairman of the board of directors of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) Malaysia.

The legal affairs division in the Prime Minister’s Department today also announced the appointment of the former chairman of Bursa Malaysia Bhd and non-executive director of Media Prima Bhd, Shireen Ann Zaharah Muhiudeen, as the deputy chairman.

In a statement, it said the appointments follow the signing of a supplementary agreement to the host country agreement on Feb 20 between the government and the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organisation (AALCO).

Law and institutional reform minister Azalina Othman Said, in consultation with AALCO secretary-general Kamalinne Pinitpuvadol, had agreed to the appointments.

The AIAC board of directors will also include other members from within and outside the country who have extensive experience in various fields, in both the public and private sectors.

The members include the division’s director-general Zamri Misman; Philip Chan (former legal practitioner/managing director); Stephen Fietta KC (international public law practitioner); and Andrea Carlevaris (former secretary-general of the International Court of Arbitration, ICC).

“The AIAC board of directors will play a comprehensive check-and-balance role in the governance structure, administration and management of AIAC, as well as provide views, suggestions and strategic advice to strengthen AIAC’s competitiveness under the leadership of the new CEO to be appointed.

“The AIAC board of directors will also be responsible for formulating important policies and strategies to enhance AIAC’s activities and service standards,” the statement said.

The supplementary agreement signed is in line with the Cabinet’s decision regarding the direction and improvement of AIAC’s administrative and operational structure.

“It is based on the concept of separating powers to strengthen AIAC’s position to be on par with leading international arbitration institutions on the global stage.

“The direction and improvement of AIAC’s administrative structure agreed upon by the Cabinet emphasises good governance aspects and oversight mechanisms in line with the Madani government’s goal of elevating Malaysia’s position in the field of alternative dispute resolution internationally,” according to the statement.

A task force between the legal affairs division and AIAC has also been established to strengthen the Arbitration Act 2005 (Act 646) and the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 (Act 746).

“Consultations with stakeholders are being conducted in stages to obtain feedback and suggestions from the relevant agencies, practitioners and institutions,” the statement added. - FMT