Transformation of Penang JPs
2014
3 January – The Council of the Justices of the Peace, State of Penang received a paper entitled: “Transformation of the Institution of Justices of the Peace of Penang” from The Honorary Justice Dato’ Lim Chong Fong, then an Advocate and Solicitor in private practice. After much deliberation, the ideas outlined in the paper were accepted in principle during the Council Annual General Meeting.
2015
March – The Council paid a courtesy call on The Honorary Justice Lim Chong Fong when he was posted to Penang after assuming the post of Judicial Commissioner to learn more about the various modes of alternative dispute resolution (ADR) particularly on mediation. In December, through the good office of The Honorary Justice Lim, Past President Dato’ Haw Kim Then, Past President, Dato’ Markend Joshi and Honorary Secretary Dato’ Ong Seng Huat met Professor Siti Naaishah Hambali of National University of Malaysia (UKM) on the possibility of conducting mediation training for the members of the Council.
2016
January – Dato’ Haw Kim Then and Dato’ Ong Seng Huat took up the offer and participated in the Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN)/UKM Mediation Course conducted by Professor Siti Naaishah Hambali in Putrajaya.
26 March – A pre-Annual General Meeting introductory talk on Mediation was conducted by Ir. Harbans Singh was well attended by members. At the Annual General Meeting that followed, the members present unanimously voted to register the Council as a Mediation Institution, a provision in the Mediation Act 2012.
26-28 August – With the support of Datuk Professor N. Sundra Rajoo, the then Director of KLRCA, the 1st KLRCA/Penang JP Council mediation training course was conducted by the KLRCA panel mediators led by Ir. Harbans Singh. A total of 18 participants successfully completed the training.
19 September – Dato’ Ong Seng Huat conducted a court annexed mediation at the request of the Penang High Court following the Federal Court’s Practice Direction no. 4 of 2016: Practice Direction on Mediation.
November – Dato’ Markend Joshi conducted another Court annexed mediation at the request of the Penang High Court.
2017
25-27 March – The 2nd KLRCA/Penang JP Council mediation training course was conducted by the KLRCA panel mediators led again by Ir. Harbans Singh. A total of 12 participants successfully completed the course including 2 officers of the High Court.
29 March – At the AGM, the Council resolved to use the term Mediation Bureau instead of Mediation Institution to reflect its objective to undertake pro bono pre-action mediation of Penang disputes.
20 July – The Penang JP Mediation Bureau was officially launched by His Excellency Head of State of Penang (Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang).
News coverage: The Star
2018
18-20 May – The 3rd AIAC/Penang JP Council mediation training course was conducted by the KLRCA panel mediators led again by Ir. Harbans Singh. A total of 12 participants successfully completed the course including 2 officers of the High Court.
12 August – Certificate Presentation Ceremony to the 3rd batch of successful participants/new Mediators by The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang, Tuan Chow Kon Yeow.
Speech by the Chief Minister
23 November – “Practical Aspect of Mediation” workshop, by speaker Mr T. Tharumarajah, the then Chairman of the Penang Bar Committee, and officiated by The Honourable Tuan Jagdeep Singh Deo, Penang State Executive Councillor for local government, housing, and urban and rural planning.
2019
10 January – Mediation Bureau office opening. The Right Honourable Chief Minister of Penang had been invited to officiate the event. The Honourable Tuan Wong Hon Wai, Member of Parliament for Bukit Bendera, represented the Chief Minister.
News coverage: The Star
29-31 March – The 4th AIAC/Penang JP Council mediation training course was conducted by the AIAC panel mediators led again by Ir. Harbans Singh. Mr. Vinayak P. Pradhan, the Director of AIAC, delivered a keynote speech, and officiated the launching of the 3-day course. A total of 16 participants successfully completed the course including 2 officers of the High Court.
News coverage: The Star
30 June – Certificate Presentation Ceremony to the 4th batch of 16 successful participants/new Mediators by His Excellency Head of State of Penang (Tuan Yang Terutama Yang di-Pertua Negeri Pulau Pinang). The representative of the Chief Minister of Penang, The Honourable Tuan Zairil Khir Johari, Penang State Executive Councillor for public works, utilities and flood mitigation, delivered the speech and presented the certificates of appointment to the 12 members of working committee of the JP Mediation Bureau. Mr Vinayak P. Pradhan, the Director of AIAC, delivered a keynote speech.
News coverage: Buletin Mutiara (Chinese), Sin Chew Daily, China Press
2 September – Forum on “Cultural Diversity in Mediation” by Professor Noushad Ali Naseem Ameer Ali, Massey University, New Zealand.
News coverage: The Star
6 October – Invited by Department of National Unity and Integration (JPNIN) to present at the Penang State Level Conference of Community Mediator Program (Program Sidang Mediator Komuniti) (PSMK) 2019.
9 November – Meeting on “Proposal for the Implementation of Policies and Process” by Ms Rammit Kaur Charan Singh.
10 November – Symposium on Community Mediation “Moving Forward”. The opening ceremony was officiated by the representative of the Chief Minister of Penang, The Honorable Tuan Phee Boon Poh, Penang State Executive Councillor for welfare, caring society, environment. The Honorary Justice Dato’ Lim Chong Fong, High Court Judge of Malaya, delivered the keynote speech.
2020
25 July – Construction Industry Law Centre (CILC) Webinar #2 “Embracing New Normal The Rise of Mediation as an Efficient Tool for Dispute Resolution” by Dato’ Ong Seng Huat, JP, moderated by Sr. Dr. Noushad Ali Naseem Ameer Ali.
10 October – Webinar on “Covid-19 Bill: Mediate NOT Litigate” with YAB Tuan Chow Kon Yeow as keynote speaker, panelists Mr T. Tharuma, Mr Lim Hock Siang, Dato’ Ong Seng Huat, JP, and moderated by Ir. Ting Chek Choon. Live stream 14:00 hours (UTC+8) at facebook.com/ChowKonYeow
Replay on YouTube
News coverage: The Star, Buletin Mutiara (Chinese, English), China Press, Nanyang Siang Pau, Kwong Wah Yit Poh
13 November – Establishment of liaison office on Jones Road in view of the pandemic which the Caring Society Complex (where mediation bureau was situated) had been classified as a quarantine center and subsequently as a vaccination center.
30 November – Northern University of Malaysia (UUM) School of Law webinar on “Conflicts: Approaches and Reconciliations” by Dato’ Ong Seng Huat, JP.
23 December – Webinar on “The Covid-19 Asian Mediation Forum” by Dato’ Ong Seng Huat, JP.
2021
27 July – Webinar on “MEDIATION the Preferred Dispute Resolution” with opening remark by Ts. Ir. Yam Teong Sian, President of Technological Association Malaysia, a case study by Ir. Ting Chek Choon, Vice President of Technological Association Malaysia, “Mediation in Dispute Management” by Dato’ Ts. Ong Seng Huat, Honorary Secretary of Council of Justices of the Peace, State of Penang, and “Mediation and Judicial Process” by Dato’ T. Tharumarajah, Past Chair of Penang Bar Committee.
Replay on YouTube https://youtu.be/4Aiuetmqhvw
2022
12 March – Official Launching of Min Sin Seah Mediation Services by The Right Honorable Mr. Chow Kon Yeow, Chief Minister of Penang. Dato’ Seri R. Arunasalam, President of Council of Justices of the Peace, State of Penang handed over Mediation Material to Dato’ Dr. Yee Thiam Sun, President of Min Sin Seah. Dato’ Ts. Ong Seng Huat, JP, Honorary Secretary of Council of Justices of the Peace, State of Penang, delivered an address [PDF, 813 KB].
News coverage: Buletin Mutiara (Chinese, English), Guang Ming Daily, Kwong Wah Yit Poh, Nanyang Siang Pau, Oriental Daily, Sin Chew Daily, The Vibes
28 April – Webinar on “SME Conflict, Dispute Management and Mediation” with speakers Ms. Rammit Kaur Charan Singh, Dato’ Ong Seng Huat, JP, Dr. Leow Lei Ping, Mr. Alwin Siah, hosted by Dr. Francis Wong, organized by the SME Association of Seberang Perai.
30-31 July, 5-7 August – The 5th JP-AIADR mediation skills training course was delivered by the Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution panel mediators led by Ms. Rammit Kaur Charan Singh and Dato’ Ricky Tan. A total of 14 participants successfully completed the course.
6 August – The signing of Memorandum of Understanding between Asian Institute of Alternative Dispute Resolution and Council of Justices of the Peace, State of Penang, promoting cooperation in purpose and contents, represented by Datuk Professor Sundra Rajoo and Dato’ Seri R. Arunasalam, JP, respectively, witnessed by The Honorable Dato’ Ir. Haji Ahmad Zakiyuddin bin Abdul Rahman, Deputy Chief Minister 1 of Penang.
News coverage: Guang Ming Daily
3 December – Launching of Essential Skills in Mediation book, Launching of N28 KOMTAR JP Community Mediation Service Centre by The Honorable Teh Lai Heng, State Assembly Member of KOMTAR, Certificate Presentation Ceremony to the 5th batch of 14 successful participants/new Mediators and 13 refreshers by The Honorary Justice Dato’ Lim Chong Fong, High Court Judge of Malaya. Among the distinguished guests were The Honorary Justice Quay Chew Soon, High Court Judge, The Honorary Justice Anand Ponnudurai, High Court Judge, Dato’ Haji Mohd Nasir bin Haji Nordin, Penang State Court Director.
News coverage: Buletin Mutiara, Guang Ming Daily, Sin Chew Daily
2023
18 February – Court Annexed Mediation Seminar with its keynote speech delivered by The Honourable Justice Datuk Harmindar Singh Dhaliwal, Federal Court Judge.
17-18, 23-25 June – The 6th JP mediation skills training course was delivered by Ms. Rammit Singh of Victorious Vie PLT, ‘Ain Husna Mohd Arshad, PhD, Associate Professor Nor Azlina Mohd Noor, PhD, Associate Professor Rohana Abdul Rahman, PhD, of Universiti Utara Malaysia. The closing ceremony was attended by The Honorable Ramkarpal Singh, Deputy Minister for Law and Institutional Reform, The Honorary Justice Anand Ponnudurai, High Court Judge of Malaya, Associate Professor Zainal Amin bin Ayub, PhD, Assistant Vice-Chancellor and Dean of School of Law of Universiti Utara Malaysia, and Dato’ Seri R. Arunasalam, President of Council of Justices of the Peace, State of Penang.
26 August – Certificate Presentation Ceremony to the 6th batch of successful participants/new Mediators by The Honorary Justice Dato’ Lim Chong Fong, Court of Appeal Judge. Launching of Society of Community Mediators.
1 September – Courtesy call to the mayor of City Council of Penang Island.
13 October – Courtesy visit to Universiti Islam Malaysia.
19 October – Second edition of Essential Skills in Mediation launched.
1-3 December – Mediation Skill Training (Part 1) for Professional Logisticians was successfully carried out at the AK Academy.
14 November – MOU signing with Small And Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) Malaysia.
15 November – ‘Introducing peer mediation to tertiary institutions’, 1st collaborator Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman, Kampar.
6 December – JP Community Mediators attended International Symposium organised by Universiti Islam Malaysia and Majlis Agama Islam dan Adat Istiadat Melayu Perlis at the Hotel Seri Malaysia, Kangar, Perlis.
2024
19-21 January – “Introduction to Mediation” for JCI Penang.
14 March – Appointment of twelve community mediators to serve the JP Community Mediation Panel for the term 2024-2025.
26 March – ‘JP Mediation Bureau participation in the EMAX/PMAX expo 24-26 July 2024′. Post press conference brief with Deputy Chief Minister II of Peanng, The Honourable Tuan Jagdeep Singh, the organisers, Dato’ Ong Seng Huat JP, Dato’ Seri Markend D. Joshi, JP, Mr. J. Philip Vincent and Mr. Kenny Yong.
19 April – Courtesy call on Deputy Chief Minister II of Penang, The Honourable Tuan Jagdeep Singh. Delegation led by JP Council President Dato’ Kho Hai Meng.
23 April – Court-annexed mediators led by JP Council President Dato’ Kho Hai Meng paid a courtesy call on The Honourable Justice Dato’ Anand Ponnudurai, High Court Judge, at his chamber.