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KUALA LUMPUR – Seputeh MP Teresa Kok has asked residents in Sri Petaling to remain calm while the government decides on the process of converting property ownership from leasehold to freehold.
Kok said that she and a delegation from the Seputeh Parliamentary Service Centre attended a meeting with the acting director of the Federal Territories Director of the Lands and Mines Office and several other officials to discuss the issue.
“This meeting was held following numerous inquiries from the residents in Sri Petaling regarding the change of ownership from leasehold to freehold under the National Land Code legislation involving the area.
“The acting director of the (Federal Territories Director of the Lands and Mines Office) informed that on January 26, 2023, the Kuala Lumpur High Court ordered (his office) to change the type of ownership of the lots located in Petaling district from leasehold to freehold,” said Kok.
She added that this follows the findings of the Kuala Lumpur High Court that the government exceeded its authority when it imposed a 99-year-lease condition on land arising from land divisions that were originally held as freehold.
“This order was issued after the court found the ownership rights actually come from seven land lots, namely Grant 5350 Lot 1131, Grant 6875 Lot 1602 and Lot 1612, Grant 8812 Lot 2638, Grant 8328 Lot 872, Grant 9146 Lot 2687, and Grant 9147 Lot 2683 in Petaling,” she said.
According to Kok, these lots that were previously owned by Petaling Garden Company Sdn Bhd were actually freehold and not leasehold.
She also said that the change in the type of holding occurred following the government’s decision around 1977 regarding the application for housing development by Petaling Garden Company.
“Based on the preliminary review of this administration, it was found that almost 7,000 lots originating from the seven lots have the potential to change their land holdings from leasehold to freehold holdings if they obtain a court order,” said Kok.
She stated that the scenario in Petaling is the same as in Taman Bukit Maluri, where there are currently more than a thousand court orders that have been registered.
“Therefore, I have written a letter to Chief Secretary (to the Government) Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali to ask for a meeting regarding the change in land status and find a solution to resolve the confusion that occurred.
“For now, I ask for the cooperation of residents and property owners in Petaling district, especially in Sri Petaling to remain calm and not take any action and give space to the government to provide a solution,” said the Seputeh MP.
She also urged the residents not to rush and hire a lawyer or an agent for the land status conversion process.
Kok also called upon the government to charge a reasonable fee for the conversion of the land status so as not to burden the residents. – The Vibes, March 4, 2023