Gratitude Letter 2023

SAAAS Gratitude Letter 2023

This year at SAAAS we were privileged to assist clients in resolving their disputes through mediation, negotiation, arbitration and litigation. Our goal as always has been problem solving or designing or working to creative solutions to enable our clients to get back to business and life! We are pleased to have been of assistance to many of you.

Adding to her list of appointments to various international panels of mediators and arbitrators, SAAAS is delighted that Shanti Abraham was appointed as International Mediator of the Singapore International Mediation Centre in May 2023. This prestigious appointment and features Shanti Abraham as one of the first few Malaysians on the International Panel of SIMC. Adding to this Shanti was appointed to BICAM (Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation) and BDAC (Brunei Darussalam Arbitration Centre) both as arbitrator and mediator. We look forward to helping more clients resolve their issues through effective means, helping them get back to business and life according to their priorities and needs.

Apart from that, SAAAS has been in the forefront of public interest initiatives including

1. Educating Doctors and Hospital leadership on authentic problem solving in Medical Negligence matters with speaking engagements at the Sarawak Medico-Legal Conference,  Thomson Medical Centre,  Pantai Hospital (Malacca) and (Sime Darby) Bukit Tinggi Medical Centre.

Key Messages:

  • a. There is a Mexican saying that burying seeds only will cause something to grow
  • b. Similarly, if a healthcare facility’s approach is to stifle patient complaints by making patients feel uncomfortable or unwelcomed during a patient grievance mechanism meeting – the likelihood of a matter spiralling out of control is high.
  • c. Medical Litigation should be deemed a failure by parties (all parties) to find a more sensible solution to a problem whether it be a misunderstanding or a medical mistake.
  • d. Doctors and Hospitals should choose insurers who value swift solutions and provide mandates without delay. When will insurers be open to pre-action mediation?

2. Development of Mediation as a Mainstream Dispute Resolution Mechanism

    1. a . Our Shanti Abraham spoke of the evolving role of the mediation advocate and lawyer at APCAM Delhi – May 2023: APCAM International ADR SUMMIT

[Key message: Lawyers who devise effective solutions need to be congratulated]

    1. b. Our Shanti Abraham was invited by the Ministry of Law Singapore to be a Speaker during Singapore Convention Week August 2023 also with the focus on the role of mediation advocates in international commercial mediation matters: Singapore Convention Week

    2. [Key message: High Value Disputes can be resolved via mediation with the right mediation advocates. Singapore has seen international lawyers often led by transactional (corporate) lawyers to resolve billion dollar disputes and litigators need to develop skills or be left out of the negotiation room.]

    3. c. Shanti continues in her 4th year of involvement with BHEUU as the Malaysian Government takes steps to revamp the Mediation Act and set up systems to promote the use of mediation in dispute resolution.

3. Promotion of Mental Capacity Act

    1. a. In her capacity as President of the Medico-Legal Society of Malaysia, Shanti mooted and arranged for a video in collaboration with National Coalition Mental Wellbeing (NCMW) in October 2023: which was played in Singapore and Japan to showcase grassroot efforts in Malaysia to advance legislation for a Mental Capacity Act (link to video, viewing time 5:33 minutes)

      1. b. A companion conversation had been held earlier during BFM Interview May 2023: Elder Care Law Is Still In Its Infancy. So What Do We Need To Prioritise? (link to podcast, listening time 45:38 minutes)

      3. c. SAAAS was pleased that our Shanti Abraham was invited to present the Malaysian vision for a Mental Capacity Act to the Deputy Minister for Law on 4th December 2023 following several dialogues and initiatives to advance the establishment of this important legislation.

    1. d. SAAAS was pleased that our Shanti Abraham was invited to present the Malaysian vision for a Mental Capacity Act to the Deputy Minister for Law on 4th December 2023 following several dialogues and initiatives to advance the establishment of this important legislation.

4. Raising relief for Gaza in cooperation with WISTA

      1. a. Our seemingly tireless Shanti Abraham who is also the current Vice President of the Women’s International Shipping & Trading Association supported this initiative by connecting several vibrant women who have been moved by the plight of the events in Gaza to provide relief for the innocent

      1. b. We continue to pray for peace in Gaza & Israel and for a global voice to rise and denounce wholly disproportionate actions by those who support the idea of defending themselves at the expense of the innocent.

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