Court-Annexed Mediation as Civil Case Management: The Malaysian Model

Court-annexed mediation (CAM) has been formally incorporated into Malaysia’s civil justice system as part of judicial case management under the Rules of Court 2012 (ROC 2012) and Practice Direction No. 2 of 2022 (PD 2/2022). This article examines the extent to which mediation is integrated within Malaysian civil procedure, focusing on its legal positioning as a case management mechanism rather than a stand-alone alternative dispute resolution process. Adopting a doctrinal legal methodology, the study undertakes a close textual and purposive analysis of Order 34 of the ROC 2012 and the mediation procedures prescribed in PD 2/2022. The analysis demonstrates that mediation may be directed by the court at multiple procedural stages, including during trial and on appeal, and that mediation outcomes are given formal procedural effect through consent judgments, recorded settlements, and issue-specific dispositions. These features indicate a high level of institutional integration, characterised by judicial oversight, procedural timelines, and enforceable obligations on parties. The article argues that Malaysia has developed a distinct model of mediation-based civil case management, which enhances procedural efficiency while raising important doctrinal questions concerning judicial discretion and the limits of party autonomy. By conceptualising CAM as an integral aspect of civil case management rather than a stand-alone alternative dispute resolution mechanism, this article contributes to a clearer understanding of Malaysia’s evolving civil justice model and offers insights relevant to other jurisdictions seeking to institutionalise mediation within their procedural frameworks.

Court-annexed mediation; civil procedure

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