(4) Except as provided in subsection (2), no party to any proceedings before the Registrar or a tribunal may be represented by an agent, whether paid or otherwise.
(5) Despite subsection (2), the Registrar or tribunal must, before approving any person referred to in that subsection to represent a party, satisfy himself or itself that the person has sufficient knowledge of the case and sufficient authority to bind that party whom the person represents.
Referral of cases to Community Mediation Centre, etc.
30.—(1) Despite any written law, the Registrar or a tribunal judge may refer a claim commenced in a tribunal to a Community Mediation Centre or to any other person for mediation, with or without the consent of the parties to the claim.
(2) The Registrar or tribunal judge may, in making a referral under subsection (1), order all or any of the parties to the claim to attend personally before a mediator of a Community Mediation Centre or any other person at a time and place to be specified in the Registrar’s or tribunal judge’s order.
(3) Any person who fails to comply with the Registrar’s or tribunal judge’s order made under subsection (2) commits contempt of court and action may be taken against that person under section 8 of the State Courts Act (Cap. 321).
Person not precluded from filing claim in court
31. Subject to section 18, nothing in this Act is to be construed as precluding a person from commencing proceedings for a claim that is within the jurisdiction of a tribunal in any other court if that person elects to institute proceedings in that other court to hear and determine that claim.
