Launched in 2023, these centres were set up in Kuala Lumpur, Perak, Johor, and Penang to address neighbourhood squabbles stemming from trivial issues, such as noise disturbances, pets soiling communal spaces, parking disputes, and foul-smelling trash left by neighbours.
Minister Aaron Ago Dagang said the ministry recognised that disputes over minor issues were common, prompting the creation of the centres to resolve conflicts.
“At the community mediation centre in Kuala Lumpur, for example, numerous disputes have been recorded. However, they were successfully resolved by community mediators without the need to involve the police or the courts,” he told FMT in an interview.
He noted that to date, at least 571 certified mediators have been appointed to help settle disputes.
“Most importantly, issues involving race, religion and royalty need to be addressed quickly before they worsen. This is the expertise of our certified mediators,” Aaron added.
Following positive outcomes, the ministry set up four more centres in Melaka, Negeri Sembilan, Putrajaya, and Perlis.
Aaron explained that the centres were established with four main objectives: to resolve conflicts at the grassroots level, provide free services, offer counselling and advice, as well as conduct activities that facilitate conflict resolution.
Tolerance needed to solve neighbourly squabbles
Retiree Abdul Rashid Ahmari, 49, said that trivial disputes were not worth escalating to the point where authorities needed to intervene or be taken to court.
“As residents of a densely populated city, we must have tolerance. The police have enough work to do and usually advise us to resolve issues amicably,” said Rashid, who lives in a flat in the city.
Housewife Zarina Mat Yusof, 52, praised the ministry’s initiative to appoint mediators to resolve conflicts in densely populated areas, calling it timely.
“This initiative is very appropriate given the increasing number of issues we hear about. I hope the government will allocate more funding to the ministry so that more mediators can be appointed nationwide,” she said.