Baku:Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof emphasized the necessity of developing Malaysia's legal and institutional infrastructure in tandem with its physical and digital frameworks to bolster economic growth and maintain investor confidence.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Fadillah highlighted the importance of an effective dispute resolution system as a vital aspect of the country's economic infrastructure, which enhances the ease of doing business and facilitates foreign investment. He stressed that investors require assurance that disputes will be managed fairly, efficiently, and predictably, especially in cross-border situations.
Fadillah delivered these remarks during his executive address at the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) Asia Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) Week 2026. The event also featured the presence of Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said, Court of Appeal President Datuk Seri Abu Bakar Jais, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform) M Kulasegaran, and Sabah State Attorney-General Datuk Brenndon Keith Soh.
He further noted that the demand for effective dispute resolution mechanisms would increase as significant commercial projects, outlined in Budget 2027, come to fruition. This is particularly pertinent to large-scale infrastructure and utility projects related to the national electricity grid, renewable energy capacity, water security, and flood mitigation.
Fadillah also mentioned that the success of statutory adjudication frameworks, such as the Construction Industry Payment and Adjudication Act 2012 (CIPAA 2012), hinges on ongoing institutional improvements and competency development. He encouraged the AIAC to continue developing CIPAA as a global standard for statutory adjudication.
On regional ADR developments, Fadillah announced an upcoming agreement to establish an AIAC branch office in Sarawak, with the signing witnessed by Sarawak Premier Tan Sri Abang Johari Tun Openg and Azalina. This initiative aims to enhance institutional dispute resolution accessibility in Sarawak and the broader Borneo region, fostering a more interconnected ADR ecosystem.