News by Hafiz Yatim

The Federal Territory Land Registrar and the government told the Court of Appeal on Thursday that Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd is not entitled to the recovery of the 263.272 acres of prime Kuala Lumpur land known as the "Duta enclave", but it is entitled to receive compensation.

As there is no settlement in sight for the multibillion half-century dispute of 263.272 acres of prime land in Kuala Lumpur called the “Duta enclave”, appeals by Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd and the cross-appeal by the Federal Territory Land Registrar and the federal government will proceed for two days at the Court of Appeal on Thursday and Friday (Feb 20 and 21).

Wisma Majujaya Sdn Bhd has obtained a summary judgement from the High Court on Monday over its RM28.1 million suit filed against Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:BPURI), its subsidiary Bina Puri Properties Sdn Bhd, and its director Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng.

Bina Puri Holdings Bhd (KL:BPURI), its subsidiary Bina Puri Properties Sdn Bhd and its director Tan Sri Tee Hock Seng has been slapped with a RM28.1 million lawsuit by housing developer Wisma Majujaya Sdn Bhd for not abiding with a joint venture agreement (JVA) to develop a project in Johor Bahru, called “Puri Residence”.

Former Federal Land Development Authority (Felda) chairman Tan Sri Shahrir Samad has filed an application to disqualify the law firm of Messrs Lee Hishammuddin Allen & Gledhill (LHAG) from representing Felda and its subsidiary Felda Investment Corporation Sdn Bhd (FIC) in its RM2 billion suit against him and 28 others, in relation to the KL Vertical City (KLVC) project.

A three-member bench, led by Datuk Supang Lian, granted the stay, and for the case to remain status quo of the lands to be maintained, pending the determination of the judicial review application that was commenced by the R&M from Grant Thornton. 

The federal government on Thursday disputed Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd’s possession of the 263.72-acre (106.72-hectare) ‘Duta Enclave’ prime land, saying that the company, which is presently under liquidators’ control, is only entitled to monetary compensation based on the Government Proceedings Act 1956 (GPA) and the Specific Relief Act 1950 (SRA).

Following a case management last Friday, the appeal has been fixed for hearing on Thursday at the Court of Appeal (COA) with two other related appeals.

Even if it is against the state's interest, the land title for the Duta enclave — the 263.27-acre (106.54-hectare) land in Mukim Batu that currently hoses various government complexes and facilities — has to be transferred back to Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd as it is the right thing to do, according to the High Court judge who directed that the deed be done.

The Court of Appeal (COA) has allowed on Thursday for a joint hearing of the Federal Territory (FT) Land Registrar’s and Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd’s opposing appeals on the “Duta enclave” issue on Nov 7 this year.