KUALA LUMPUR (Nov 16): The Cabinet has approved the appointment of former Federal Court judge Tan Sri Suriyadi Halim Omar as the new director of the Asian International Arbitration Centre (AIAC) for the period of 2020 to 2022.

This was announced by Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan in a statement today, and that Suriyadi's appointment was agreed to by the Cabinet on Nov 13. Suriyadi will replace Vinayak Pradhan, who passed away in March this year.

"Suriyadi's appointment will take effect on Dec 1, 2020. His appointment as AIAC director is also the result of the government's consultation with the Asian-African Legal Consultative Organization (AALCO). This is in line with AIAC being an independent institution under AALCO," he said.

Suriyadi, 69, a law graduate from the Warwick University in the United Kingdom and also a Barrister-at-Law, Lincoln's Inn, London, also previously served at the Attorney General's Chambers.

Takiyuddin hopes Suriyadi's appointment will continue to make AIAC a superior arbitration centre in the Asian region.

Suriyadi is known, among others, to have written the judgment in the Altantuya Shaariibuu murder case during his time in the Federal Court, and presided in the contempt proceedings in the Kian Joo Can Factory Bhd case.