Minister in the Prime Minister's department Dr Koh Tsu Koon presented certificates and vests today to 120 newly appointed "community mediators" charged with the responsibility to resolve community conflicts.

Hailing these mediators as "grassroot champions", Koh said they would act as "key communicators" in seeking amicable solutions for disputing parties.

koh tsu koon 110310 press conference When asked if it was launched after last year's cow-head incident, Koh ( right) said: "No, no, no, no. We actually started the programme in the 1980s, with very rudimentary, elementary exposure."

But the programme was intensified last year to "further improve the package", he said, pointing out that police cases involving racia l disputes have dropped by 16 percent since 2007.

"In 2007, there were 1,315 cases. There were 1,244 cases and 1,104 cases in 2008 and 2009 respectively.

"It shows the proactive initiatives are bearing fruit," he said at a press conference after the event today.

Ninety-one Rukun Tetangga (neighbourhood patrol) leaders and 29 National Unity and Integration Department officers from "hotspots" - Selangor, Penang, Johor and Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur - attended the "intensive training".

In response to how much it cost the government to train the 120, a visibly upset Koh said: "Not much. It is not about the cost. The cost is very minimum for the training.

"It was held at a 3-star hotel but most importantly, it is about the skills and exposure necessary to handle such matters."

When pressed further, Koh said, "RM400,000 for 120 people for accommodation and food for 16 days. You ask about any training programme, it would cost much more than this.

"We are minimising the cost and it is not the main issue. What is important is the effectiveness. Harmony is actually priceless. I hope you understand that."

He added that the ministry targets to train 400 more mediators in its next batch of training that will be conducted within a month or so.