Sarawak is poised to become a regional center for alternative dispute resolution with the establishment of the Asian International Arbitration Centre’s (AIAC) first branch office outside Kuala Lumpur. The move is scheduled for next year and will involve the appointment of key personnel to lead the new facility.

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department overseeing Law and Institutional Reform, highlighted the branch’s role in providing a platform specifically geared towards resolving disputes related to international trade and business. She emphasized that the initiative aims to enhance investor confidence by assuring them of accessible and efficient legal protection for their interests.

“Not only can you go to court, but you must also have a legitimate expectation that there is a platform handling international disputes efficiently and quickly,” Azalina said following the formal signing of the agreement between the Sarawak government and AIAC. The signing ceremony took place at the Sarawak Legislative Assembly complex, witnessed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg and Datuk Seri Azalina.

The agreement was exchanged between Sarawak state secretary Datuk Amar Mohamad Abu Bakar Marzuki and AIAC chief executive officer Datuk Danesh Chandran. Officials noted that Sarawak’s rapid growth in international trade makes it an ideal location for the new AIAC hub.

Azalina underscored the significance of the branch not merely as a satellite office but as a major regional hub that will attract legal professionals and law chambers specializing in international arbitration. The presence of AIAC’s regional center in Sarawak is expected to facilitate quicker dispute resolution and bolster the state’s profile in the international legal and business community.