IN Malaysia, a land title (or geran tanah) is an official document issued by the state government through a Lands and Mines Office. It serves as legally binding proof of ownership and rights to a specific piece of land or property.
Because it is such an important and valuable document, owners typically take every measure to protect and preserve it. A common method to safeguard a document is to laminate it, encasing it in two thin layers of plastic.
However, it has been claimed on social media that laminating a land title invalidates it because it is considered to be modified.
Is this true?
VERDICT:
TRUE
According to MyCheck, laminated land titles are classified as damaged and invalid by the Lands and Mines Office. This is because laminates can compromise the security features on the grant.
Based on information on the Selangor Lands and Mines Office website, a land title owner must go through various procedures, including paying at least RM400 to renew their document. It can also take weeks to complete.
Among the documents required to recover a land title are the original police report, a copy of the complainant's identity card, a stamped affidavit from the owner, affidavits from registered interested parties confirming ownership with a stamped copy of their ID, an official search certificate, and several other supporting documents.
So, instead of laminating your land title, it is recommended to keep the grant in its original condition and use a file or another suitable method to protect it from damage.
