Ibrahim, Haslina
(2023)
Interreligious mediation in Malaysia:
the needs, requirements, challenges and the way forward.
In: National Mediation Conference, 3-6 July 2023, Tākina Convention & Exhibition Centre, Wellington, New Zealand.
(Unpublished)
Abstract
Malaysia takes pride in being a multiracial and multireligious society. In the past, polarisation used to be a stumbling block to unity. However, since the beginning of the 21st century, more emphasis has been placed on the need to find ways to achieve unity at the grassroots and governmental levels. One of the challenges to unity in Malaysia is that race and religion are so intertwined. Disputes involving either race or religion may possibly affect each other in negative ways. The authorities categorise both as sensitive issues that can be subjected to the Sedition Act. Hence, racial and religious disputes are unlikely to become public debates. Therefore, the most common approach to mitigating them was through litigation. This presentation is proposed based on the presenter’s five-year experience in training community leaders to acquire mediation skills in solving simulations of religious and racial issues that occur in the community. The presenter therefore aims to underscore the potential role of interreligious mediators in Malaysia. The presenter also suggests that its implementation be strengthened in view of the fact that mediation adopts a win-win approach that will increase mutual trust among people of different religions in Malaysia. In this regard, the presenter hopes to justify the need to implement interreligious mediation as an alternative to litigation, along with the requirements and challenges that may hamper its practice. Finally, the presenter intends to propose some strategic solutions to develop resources that can help realise the practice of interreligious mediation in Malaysia.
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