WORKING with Sabah on the Borneo International Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (BICAM) is a better option for Sarawak than funding the peninsula-based Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) and operating a branch in the state, Ba Kelalan assemblyman Baru Bian said. 

In his debate in the state assembly today, Baru said he “had been informed” that the Sarawak government is already in discussion with the AIAC on the setting up of a branch. 

The state government, he said, had even identified a building for the branch’s use and was willing to give AIAC an annual grant for the establishment, maintenance, and operation of the branch. 

BICAM, headed by ex-chief judge of Sabah and Sarawak David Wong and located at the Sabah International Convention Centre in Kota Kinabalu, “is more than willing to come to Sarawak to partner with us”, Baru told the assembly. 

The organisation is currently supported and funded by the Sabah government. 

Baru said BICAM was offering Sarawak, among others, equal decision-making powers, alternate chairmanship and revenue sharing. 

“In the spirit of MA63, the better option is for us to cooperate with BICAM,” he said in reference to the Malaysia Agreement 1963. 

“Our leaders and social activists are now championing Sarawak autonomy and even independence. Our ministers are pushing for the devolution of powers from the central government to the Borneo states. 

“Partnering with Sabah in the establishment of BICAM would be a significant step in the assertion of our autonomy from West Malaysia,” Baru said. 

He added that Sarawak would benefit from the imminent move of the Indonesian capital to Nusantara in Kalimantan and the expected economic activity and investments. 

He said BICAM was already in discussion “with their Nusantara counterparts” on future cooperation. 

“Having our own arbitration and mediation centre will go a long way towards increasing investor confidence in this region.” 

Baru, who said he was all for the move to promote alternative dispute resolutions (ADR) in Sarawak questioned the benefit it would bring to ADR practitioners to be dependent on the AIAC. 

“What decision-making powers will we have? Will the revenue from the operations of the branch be taken by the AIAC HQ or be kept by the Sarawak branch for use as it deems fit?” he asked. – May 18, 2023.