News about Semantan Estate

KUALA LUMPUR (April 10): 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.

KUALA LUMPUR (April 1): The High Court on Wednesday has dismissed two separate discovery applications made by Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd on the federal government with regards to compensation for the 263.

KUALA LUMPUR (March 5): Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd has filed a discovery application to obtain survey and acquisition plans from before Merdeka for its compensation hearing over the “Duta Enclave” land, which the court ruled the government had trespassed on.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 22): The Seremban High Court has fixed May 19 to deliver its decision on mesne profit sought by Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd in its legal battle against the Malaysian government over the acquisition of the 'Duta Enclave'.

KUALA LUMPUR (Jan 20): The High Court has maintained the April 3 and April 10 hearing dates for the court to determine the rightful compensation to be paid to Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd based on the 1956 land acquisition of the prime “Duta enclave” which the court had deemed the government as having trespassed.

For mesne profits—compensation for loss of use of property—Semantan Estate values the damages at RM5 billion to RM12 billion, while government valuers have estimated it at RM290 million.

Liquidator Dr Jim Lai Chee Chuen, when met at the sidelines of the decision with counsel Datuk Dr Cyrus Das, Ira Biswas and Alexie Ng Ying Ching, said the 26 questions of law posed by the company are constitutionally important and should have been heard.

The court ruled the 26 questions of law posed by the company failed to meet the threshold for the merits of the appeal to be heard, according to Chief Judge of Malaya (CJM) Tan Sri Hasnah Mohammed Hashim.

Speaking on behalf of Semantan Estate (1052) Sdn Bhd during court proceedings on Thursday, senior counsel Datuk Dr Cyrus Das said the court must decide whether it can "regularise" an acquisition irregularity that has been declared illegal by the High Court, Court of Appeal (COA) and the Federal Court.

The company is appealing against a Court of Appeal ruling in June that overturned a High Court order to register the 263-acre Duta Enclave to Semantan Estate.