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Straits Times
22-05-2025
- Business
- Straits Times
Singapore's dispute resolution ecosystem must evolve to stay relevant: Murali
Mr Murali Pillai, Minister of State for Law and Transport, speaking at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference on May 22. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN SINGAPORE – Hubs for Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) must evolve to remain relevant to businesses, to deliver certainty and rule of law amid the volatile global landscape. In a speech on May 22 to about 200 delegates at the Alternative Dispute Resolution Conference, Mr Murali Pillai, Minister of State for Law and Transport, said Singapore aims to navigate the complex and dynamic global environment in three ways – upholding the rule of law, innovation and creating partnerships. On the rule of law, Mr Murali said Singapore is a strong proponent of multilateralism, noting that the Republic had signed and ratified a number of key international conventions, including the New York Convention, the Hague Choice of Court Convention, and the Singapore Convention on Mediation. He said these instruments enhance the enforceability of arbitral awards, court judgments, and mediated settlement agreements across borders. Mr Murali highlighted the most recent addition - the Singapore Convention on Mediation, which currently has 18 parties and 57 signatories, including many progressive countries from ASEAN and Asia. 'We hope that more countries will sign and ratify the Convention, allowing mediation to become a truly effective and trusted means for resolving cross-border disputes – complementing arbitration as a key pillar of international dispute resolution,' he said. Speaking at the conference, jointly organised by the Law Society of Singapore and LawAsia (The Law Association for Asia and the Pacific), held at the Pan Pacific Singapore, Mr Murali said Singapore must consistently innovate, improve, and create better ways to meet global needs. He noted changes were made to introduce a framework for fee agreements, to align the ADR landscape in Singapore with practices and developments on the international front. Singapore also embraced technology, with the Singapore International Mediation Centre (SIMC) offering the use of the Mediation Artificial Intelligence (AI) Assistant. The tool allows users to quickly make sense of large volumes of information, including generating a chronology of events, outlining the roles of individuals, providing a table of common positions and differences between parties, and summarising the documents and data provided by parties Mr Murali said because of the international nature of the disputes, Singapore recognises that it cannot operate in isolation. At the government-to-government level, he noted that the Ministry of Law has signed memorandum of understanding with counterparts around the world. ADR institutions have also collaborated with foreign ADR institutions, trade bodies, bar associations, hearing centres and law schools, to exchange knowledge and best practices. Mr Murali said ADR institutions in Singapore have an international Board, Court and panel from both common law and civil law jurisdictions. 'Just as Singapore is integrated into the global trading system, our ADR ecosystem must also be globally connected. 'To this end, we have liberalised our dispute resolution regime,' he added, noting that parties can appoint counsel, arbitrators and mediators of any nationality. In his speech, Mr Murali said he is optimistic that globalisation is here to stay, though in a different form, with new ties forged between like-minded jurisdictions. He said he was especially confident about the future of Asia, noting that three of the top five largest economies in the world are in Asia – China, Japan and India. 'ASEAN, as a collective bloc, is around the same size as India. This region is dynamic and full of promise. 'The Asia-Pacific is home to over 60 per cent of the world's youth aged 15 to 24, representing not only a significant source of talent, but also a growing base of consumers. 'With an expanding middle class and increasing urbanisation, we are witnessing a surge in infrastructure development and economic activity. 'And where business thrives, so too does demand for legal and dispute resolution services. There is room for all of us to benefit from this growth,' he added. Legal experts speaking to The Straits Times at the sideline of the event said new trends are emerging in the ADR environment. One of the delegates at the conference, Mr See Chern Yang, director of dispute resolution at Drew & Napier, told The Straits Times: 'We are starting to see more commercial disputes, especially now... cross border, commercial disputes between two parties of different countries getting through the mediation system. 'We are also starting to see a trend of what we call pre-commencement mediation, which means even before the case is found in the court, before litigation commences, parties with their lawyers collectively decide, 'let's mediate'.' Mr See Chern Yang, director of dispute resolution at Drew & Napier, said that they are starting to see more commercial disputes, especially now. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Parties from around the world have chosen Singapore as the dispute resolution forum , even when the dispute has no direct connection with Singapore. In the latest Queen Mary University of London and White & Case's International Arbitration Survey, Singapore continues to rank amongst the top four most preferred seats of arbitration across all regions, including Africa and Latin America. The Singapore International Arbitration Centre has received cases from parties from 110 jurisdictions. Mr Shyam Divan, president of LawAsia, said ADR can bring cost-savings and be more efficient to feuding parties. In international trade disruptions, such as the Covid-19 pandemic, parties may find themselves having a problem which needs to be solved quickly. Mr Divan told ST: 'So in situations like that, I think ADR, without having to go through the court system, is much more efficient – either through the arbitration or the mediation route – in trying to have a solution which is acceptable to two sides.' He added that he sees mediated settlements gaining popularity. Mr Shyam Divan, president of LawAsia, said ADR can bring cost-savings and be more efficient to feuding parties. ST PHOTO: NG SOR LUAN Mr Murali, who will be appointed Senior Minister of State for both portfolios from May 23 , told ST about his new role as 'being a team player in the team captained by Prime Minister Lawrence Wong'. He said: 'The goal is simple but difficult – to win the match to secure our country's future at local, national and international levels.' Zaihan Mohamed Yusof is senior crime correspondent at The Straits Times. Join ST's WhatsApp Channel and get the latest news and must-reads.
Yahoo
19-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Malaysian drug mule gets stay of execution in Singapore
A Singapore court has granted a stay of execution to a Malaysian poet, just hours before he was set to be hanged for drug trafficking, after dozens of supporters held candlelight vigils in both countries to protest capital punishment. Pannir Selvam Pranthaman was arrested in 2014 for having 52 grams of heroin and sentenced to death three years later. He is due to be hanged on Thursday, making him the fourth person to be put to death in the Southeast Asian country this year after two others were executed for drug-related crimes and one for murder. Singapore anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han said the Appeals Court allowed the stay of execution on the grounds that there is an ongoing constitutional challenge by other death row prisoners to a section under the drug law. Although Pannir is not involved, he has said in his plea the case could potentially impact his conviction. Another factor for the stay is Pannir's complaint to the Law Society of Singapore against his former lawyer, where he is the main witness, Han said. The court in its judgement allowed his bid to mount another appeal against his conviction. "This is a huge relief and very good news, but a stay of execution is not a complete stop," said Han. "What Singapore needs now is an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with a view to full abolition. Pannir lives tomorrow, but as Singaporeans we must keep fighting to make sure no one is killed in our names ever again." On the 6th of February, Amnesty International Malaysia and @ADPANetwork held a press conference to call on the Msian gov't to take immediate & decisive action on behalf of Malaysian national Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, and others who are at risk of execution in Singapore. — Amnesty International Malaysia (@AmnestyMy) February 7, 2025 Singapore's strict laws mandate the death penalty for anyone caught carrying more than 15 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cannabis. However, critics say the law only targets low-level traffickers and couriers. Pannir's family, his lawyers and various rights groups noted that the Singapore court had found that he was merely a courier transporting the substance. The 36-year-old has said he didn't know he was carrying drugs. Still, the court had to hand down the death sentence after prosecutors refused to issue Pannir a certificate of substantive assistance, vouching that he helped their investigation, which would have spared him the noose, they said. Malaysian lawmakers called on their government to intervene to halt Pannir's execution and have him extradited to facilitate further investigation. The Malaysian government, which recently scrapped the mandatory death penalty, didn't respond to media queries. "We oppose the use of the death penalty on drug mules who are themselves victims in the million-dollar transactions by syndicates that are roaming free," Malaysian lawmaker Ram Karpal Singh was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper. MEDIA STATEMENTFOR IMMEDIATE RELEASEStay of Execution for Pannir Selvam: A Step Towards Compassion and JusticeWe welcome with immense relief the decision by the Singapore High Court to grant a stay of execution for Malaysian citizen Pannir Selvam Pranthaman, who was… — Yuneswaran Ramaraj (@r_yuneswaran) February 19, 2025 Pannir's last-minute reprieve was hailed by dozens of supporters attending a candlelight vigil at a park in Singapore. Holding placards and torchlights, they chanted "Justice for Pannir" and "Execution is not the solution." Dozens others gathered outside the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for a similar vigil, singing songs and reading excerpts of poems and letters written by Pannir. Pannir, the third of six children, is the son of a church pastor who worked as a lorry driver to make ends meet, said another Singapore activist Kokila Annamalai. He loves music and played in the church band growing up, she said. In prison, Pannir has penned letters, songs and poems about the anguish of being on death row and hopes of a second chance, she said. His family has shared some of his songs, which were sung by several Malaysian singers.
The Independent
19-02-2025
- The Independent
Alleged Malaysian drugs trafficker gets last-minute stay of execution in Singapore
A Singapore court on Wednesday granted a stay of execution to a Malaysian man, just hours before he was set to be hanged for drug trafficking, rights activists said, after dozens of supporters held candlelight vigils in both countries to protest capital punishment. Pannir Selvam Pranthaman was arrested in 2014 for having 52 grams (about 1.8 ounces) of heroin and sentenced to death in 2017. He is due to be hanged on Thursday, making him the fourth person to be put to death in the Southeast Asian country this year after two others were executed for drug-related crimes and one for murder. Singapore anti-death penalty activist Kirsten Han said the Appeals Court allowed the stay of execution on the grounds that there is an ongoing constitutional challenge by other death row prisoners to a section under the drug law. Although Pannir is not involved, he has said in his plea the case could potentially impact his conviction. Another factor for the stay is Pannir's complaint to the Law Society of Singapore against his former lawyer, where he is the main witness, Han said. The court in its judgement allowed his bid to mount another appeal against his conviction. 'This is a huge relief and very good news, but a stay of execution is not a complete stop,' said Han. "What Singapore needs now is an immediate moratorium on the use of the death penalty, with a view to full abolition. Pannir lives tomorrow, but as Singaporeans we must keep fighting to make sure no one is killed in our names ever again.' Singapore's strict laws mandate the death penalty for anyone caught carrying more than 15 grams of heroin and 500 grams of cannabis. However, critics say the law only targets low-level traffickers and couriers. Pannir's family, his lawyers and various rights groups noted that the Singapore court had found that he was merely a courier transporting the substance. The 36-year-old has said he didn't know he was carrying drugs. Still, the court had to hand down the death sentence after prosecutors refused to issue Pannir a certificate of substantive assistance, vouching that he helped their investigation, which would have spared him the noose, they said. Vigils, songs and poems Malaysian lawmakers called on their government to intervene to halt Pannir's execution and have him extradited to facilitate further investigation. The Malaysian government, which recently scrapped the mandatory death penalty, didn't respond to media queries. 'We oppose the use of the death penalty on drug mules who are themselves victims in the million-dollar transactions by syndicates that are roaming free,' Malaysian lawmaker Ram Karpal Singh was quoted as saying by The Star newspaper. Pannir's last-minute reprieve was hailed by dozens of supporters attending a candlelight vigil at a park in Singapore. Holding placards and torchlights, they chanted 'Justice for Pannir' and ' Execution is not the solution.' Dozens others gathered outside the Singapore High Commission in Kuala Lumpur for a similar vigil, singing songs and reading excerpts of poems and letters written by Pannir. Pannir, the third of six children, is the son of a church pastor who worked as a lorry driver to make ends meet, said another Singapore activist Kokila Annamalai. He loves music and played in the church band growing up, she said. In prison, Pannir has penned letters, songs and poems about the anguish of being on death row and hopes of a second chance, she said. His family has shared some of his songs, which were sung by several Malaysian singers.
