Caretaker law minister Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said following the closure, the link for mediation applications on the website will be deactivated.

He said the centre played a role in helping the public resolve disputes arising from the inability to perform any contractual obligations that arose as a result of the implementation of the various movement control orders (MCOs) during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The Covid-19 mediation centre helped people to solve contractual obligations due to the MCOs in a good manner, without having to go to court. Dispute resolution through mediation has proven to be effective because it is faster, saves money, and offers a win-win solution to the community,” he said.

Since the establishment of the mediation centre, a total of 290 cases were referred to it and of that number, 79 cases were resolved with a cumulative dispute value of RM3.8 million.

The centre was set up under the Temporary Measures for Reducing the Impact of the 2019 Coronavirus Disease (Covid-19) Act 2020 (Act 829).

According to Wan Junaidi, the mediation carried out was on a voluntary basis, with the value of the dispute that could be referred to being not more than RM500,000, except for disputes regarding construction contracts.

He said the free mediation services under the centre were supported by mediators who were mobilised by the Malaysian Bar in Peninsular Malaysia, the Sabah Law Society and the Advocates Association of Sarawak.

“The government would like to thank the officers and staff of the Covid-19 mediation centre, the legal affairs division, and the Prime Minister’s Department who have served throughout the operation of the centre, as well as the mediators in Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak who made the initiative a success.

“The government also expresses its appreciation to those who have helped with the implementation of the centre,” he added.