State acts to forfeit land from landowners

SHAH ALAM: The Selangor State Executive Councillors (EXCO) has instructed the Gombak District Office (DO) to issue Form 8, or Notice of Reversion to forfeit the site of an illegal landfill in Kampung Sungai Kertas, Gombak from the site’s four owners.

The illegal landfill had collapsed on Sept 23, 2009 and caused the destruction of two cattle farms nearby. Selangor Menteri Besar Tan Sri Khalid Ibrahim said the EXCO in a meeting today was told that on Jan 25, 2007, the Gombak DO had issued a Notice To Remedy a Breach of Condition under Section 128 of the National Land Code on the registered owners to take remedial action for the breach of land usage. Since no action has been taken to date by the landowners, the EXCO today decided to take further action to forfeit the land.

Khalid in a press statement said the EXCO was also informed that the 20-acre landfill has been operating illegally for at least five years and it has been declared a disaster area since Sept 4, 2009 and there has been an ongoing effort to extinguish fire in the 300-feet high mount of garbage.

Several compounds have been issued by the Selayang Municipal Council (MPS) over the years to stop the illegal activities on an individual who claimed that he was authorized by the owners to run the landfill.There were also efforts to take the matter to court to obtain an injunction to stop the landfill activities.

Once the land is forfeited, MPS will monitor and clean the area, says Khalid, adding that the council has also been advised to seek the expertise of Worldwide Holdings Sdn Bhd for the rehabilitation of the area.

As for the fate of the two cattle farms, the farming activities are not legal although some dues were paid to MPS for the structure on one of the farms.

“The State believes that it cannot allow anymore farming activities at the area due the contamination and pollution.

“We have also identified a 100-acre site in Hulu Selangor suitable for farming activities and these two farmers will be temporarily be relocated to the area following which they can apply to lease the land from the state permanently. The site will also be made available for lease to other cattle farmers operating throughout Selangor,” says Khalid.