The Strata Management Tribunal is statutorily
entitled to draw on its own knowledge and expertise. Section 114(2)(e) of
the Strata Management Act 2013 provides that:
“(2) The powers
conferred upon the Tribunal under subsection (1) shall include the following:
to draw on its own knowledge and expertise;...”
The words “... to
draw on its own knowledge and expertise ...” which also appear in Section
21(3)(b) of the Arbitration Act 2005, have been interpreted by the Court of
Appeal in Kasugi Prima Sdn Bhd v Cobrain Holdings Sdn Bhd and another
appeal [2025] MLJU 676 to include determination of matters of procedure, facts,
substance, and merits, as follows:
“[35] ... An arbitrator’s authority
under section 21(3)(b) of the AA is NOT LIMITED to only determine matters of
procedures (and can be invoked to determine matters of facts, substance, and
merit).”