Asian Sports Tribunal to be based in M’sia

KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia is set to become home to the first Asian Sports Tribunal to provide alternative resolutions to sporting disputes, says Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Abdul Rahman.

“I am very keen to work with the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) in its initiative for the proposed establishment of the very first sports tribunal.

“The recognition of AIAC as a court of arbitration for sports alternative hearing centre certainly lends credibility and legitimacy to the setting up of this tribunal,” he said in his speech at the launching of the International Sports Law Conference here yesterday.

He said the move would help spearhead the development of sports in the country in a more transparent and accountable manner.

Syed Saddiq also noted that there was a growing trend towards the development of sports law as a specialised branch of law.

“As Malaysians, we must be at the forefront of these global trends, helping to shape and direct its governance,” he added.

At a press conference later, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department Hanipa Maidin said the tribunal would promote nongovernment interference in sporting disputes.

“There must be independence for these bodies to resolve their disputes. We must be ready to exclude the role of the government in any sporting dispute,” he said.