UP TO 300 COMMUNITY MEDIATORS TO BE TRAINED THIS YEAR

PUTRAJAYA, Jan 17 (Bernama) -- The government plans to train another 250 to 300
community mediators this year to assist in resolving community problems across
the country, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Dr Koh Tsu Koon said.

He said currently, the community mediators programme was open only to leaders of
Rukun Tetangga (Neighbourhood Watch) and community leaders who had to undergo 25
days of training to complete five modules.

"They are currently 400 community mediators in the country mostly in 50 hotspots
which have problems related to ethnic relations, crime or social," he told a
news conference after delivering a New Year message to the National Unity and
Integration Department here Monday.

The community mediators programme was introduced in 2009 to provide
constructive process for resolving differences and conflicts between individuals to
avoid destructive confrontation, prolonged litigation or violence.

The National Unity and Integration Department reported that it had managed to
solve more than 200 cases last year, including quarrels among neighbours.

Koh said they would monitor the programme to see its effectiveness.

On another note, the minister hoped Malaysia could place itself in the top 20
countries in the Global Peace Index this year as compared to 22nd among 144
countries last year.

Nevertheless, he said last year's achievement was better compared with the 26th
place in 2009 and 38th place in 2008.

"The ranking showed that despite having several issues which are widely debated
in the country, we are still able to solve it peacefully, thanks to the high
spirit of unity among our people," he said.

Meanwhile, Koh said the National Unity and Integration Department had created
many success stories last year, including in setting up 550 new neighbourhood
watch areas nationwide, bringing the total to 5,008.

Besides, a total of 466 voluntary patrol schemes had also been carried out in
the areas last year as compared to the initial target of 300, he said.
-- BERNAMA