KUALA LUMPUR: There are plans to amend the Land Acquisition Act 1960 following the disputed land issue involving the Duta Enclave, says Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
The Prime Minister said the amendment to the Act would ensure the protection of government assets and public interests.
“The draft to amend the Act is currently being prepared by the Attorney-General Chambers (AGC) before it is presented to the Cabinet to be finalised.
“The law must be tightened, and public interest cannot be compromised.
“If we compromise in this matter, then all lands, particularly Malay-owned land in urban areas, will be reopened for scrutiny,” he said during Prime Minister’s Question Time at the Dewan Rakyat here, on Tuesday (Oct 29).
Awnar also said that the amendment to the law cannot go against Article 13 of the Federal Constitution, and respect individual rights.
The Finance Minister was responding to a question from Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Bharu) on the government’s solution to address the prime Jalan Duta area known as the “Duta Enclave” dispute following the High Court’s decision, which ordered the return of 263.272 acres (106.54 hectares) of land on Jalan Duta to Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd (Semantan Estate).
On Oct 23, the High Court ruled that the disputed 106.542 hectares of land in Mukim Batu, should be returned to Semantan Estate, hence declaring the government’s 1956 acquisition of the land invalid.
In a 12-page judgment released on Monday (Oct 21), Justice Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh said that due to a botched acquisition, the government was and is still in unlawful occupation of the land.
The disputed land, houses government buildings, including the National Hockey Stadium, the Malaysian Institute of Integrity, the National Archives, the Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court, the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN) building and the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) Academy.
