Section 18A
Settlement of disputes
of Fishermen'S Associations Act 1971
(a) If any dispute touching the business of an Area
Fishermen’s Association arises—
(i)
among members, past members and persons claiming through members, past members and deceased members; or
(ii)
between a member, past member or person claiming through a member, past member or deceased member, and such association or its
Board of Directors; or
(iii)
between such association and any other Area
Fishermen’s Association, such dispute shall be referred to the Registrar for decision.
(b)
A claim by an Area Fishermen’s Association for any debt or demand due to it from a member, past member or the nominee, heir or legal representative of a deceased member, shall be deemed to be a dispute touching the business of such association.
(2)
The Registrar may, on receipt of a reference under subsection (1)—
20 Laws of Malaysia ACT 44
(a)
decide the dispute himself; or
(b)
refer it for disposal to an arbitrator or arbitrators.
(3)
An appeal against the decision of the Registrar or the arbitrator or arbitrators under subsection (2) shall lie to the Minister and shall be made within two months from the date of the decision.
(4)
A decision of the Minister in an appeal under subsection (3)
shall be final and shall not be called in question in any court.
(5)
Any decision of the Registrar or the arbitrator or arbitrators under subsection (2) or, if there be an appeal therefrom, the decision as confirmed or varied by the Minister, shall be enforced in the same manner as if the decision had been a judgment of a Sessions Court.
(6)
Any dispute touching the business of a State or National
Fishermen’s Association arising between an Area Fishermen’s
Association and the State Fishermen’s Association or between a State
Fishermen’s Association and the National Fishermen’s Association, shall be referred to the Registrar for decision.
(b)
A claim by a State or National Fishermen’s Association for any debt or demand due to it from an Area or State Fishermen’s
Association, as the case may be, shall be deemed to be a dispute touching the business of such association.
(c)
Subsections (2), (3), (4) and (5) shall apply to such dispute as they apply to a dispute under subsection (1).