Mediation and Reconciliation Services(MARS)

The Mediation and Reconciliation Services or MARS program is located within the REPUSM. It is part of the Unit’s commitment to be more involved in community level.This program draws on two important levels in conflict resolution: Mediation and Reconciliation.

Mediation is a special type of negotiation where a third party assists the conflicting parties to find a suitable and long lasting resolution to the conflict. On the other hand, reconciliation, which implies long-term conflict resolution, brings people together, enabling them to grow beyond the past to re-establish a normalized, peaceful and trusting relationship in the present.

The main objectives of the program are to promote awareness of the need to resolve conflict at the early stage using proactive prevention techniques that promote peaceful resolution of conflict through a problem solving approach. The MARS Program offers short courses, customized training, seminar workshops, facilitation and mediation, and counseling services to communities within and outside the university. 

An example of this initiative is the mediation process conducted by REPUSM between the residents of local community (“kampong”) in Bukit Jambul area in Penang and the Acehnese refugees residing in the same location. It was important that the local residents are made to understand that the Acehnese refugees are not solely “economic migrants” like any other illegal Indonesians coming to Malaysia.