News by Hafiz Yatim

A certified valuer told the High Court on Friday that the Valuation and Property Services Department's assessment of the 263.272-acre ‘Duta enclave’ land — originally owned by Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd — was fundamentally flawed.

The four United Malayan Land Bhd (UMLand) subsidiaries who earlier this month filed a judicial review — to challenge the seizure of 192 Johor Bahru land lots linked to a dispute involving Tan Sri Syed Mokhtar Al-Bukhary’s companies over a 2021 demerger exercise — have withdrawn their application.

The Sessions Court on Friday ruled that the lawsuit filed by the neighbours of astronaut Datuk Dr Sheikh Muszaphar Shukor Al Masrie and his wife over alleged water seepage affecting their four-storey villa must go to a full trial.

The Court of Appeal has ruled that state governments have the authority to determine quit rent rates without obtaining approval from the National Land Council (NLC).

This comes after the appellate court ruled on Monday (July 20) that it was not proper for the High Court to enter a summary judgement against the Orang Asli without going for a full trial.

The seizure order was related to a 2021 demerger exercise.

The High Court hearing for Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd's compensation according to the 1956 market rate will proceed on Aug 1 and 14, and Sept 1.

The High Court has allowed Distinctive Acres Sdn Bhd, an investment unit of property developer UOA Development Bhd (KL:UOADEV), to challenge a RM165.66 million tax bill and penalty linked to the sale of an asset to a REIT in 2020.

The High Court still wants the federal government and the liquidator of Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd to explore the possibility of mediation before the court delivers its decision on mesne profit (trespass compensation) to the company following the occupation of the now prime "Duta enclave" land it had deemed to have trespassed on since it was acquired in December 1956.

The High Court has fixed Dec 16 to deliver its decision on the amount of compensation the Malaysian government must pay to Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd. The compensation will be assessed based on 1956 market rates, following a long-running dispute over the government’s acquisition of the prime “Duta enclave” land along Jalan Duta here.