Govt overpaid Semantan Estate up to RM500,000 for Duta Enclave land, property valuer tells court

The Malaysian High Court heard that the government overpaid Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd between RM400,000 and RM500,000 for the acquisition of the Duta Enclave land in 1956, according to Finance Ministry Valuation and Property Services Department assistant director Tan Tat Khuan.

Tan's assessment valued the land at RM875,000, significantly less than the RM1.39 million paid, and if accepted by the court, no further compensation is warranted.

This case, stemming from a 2003 lawsuit alleging unlawful land acquisition by the government, has seen the Court of Appeal and Federal Court uphold the government's position against granting Semantan Estate ownership of the land.

The case continues with hearings scheduled.

KUALA LUMPUR, Oct 16 — The High Court was told today that the Malaysian Government had overpaid Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd (1952) between RM400,000 and RM500,000 in compensation for the acquisition of 263.272 acres of land known as the Duta Enclave in 1956.

Finance Ministry Valuation and Property Services Department (JPPH) assistant director Tan Tat Khuan said his assessment valued the land in Mukim Batu at RM875,000, compared with the RM1.39 million paid by the government.

“Deducting my valuation of RM875,000 from the RM1.39 million already paid shows that the government overpaid by between RM400,000 and RM500,000.

“If the court accepts my valuation, no additional compensation should be paid to the plaintiff (Semantan Estate),” he said.

Tan, the government’s sole witness, was testifying during the compensation assessment hearing before Judge Roslan Mat Nor.

Under further questioning by senior federal counsel Nurhafizza Azizan, Tan confirmed that his assessment showed the government had overpaid.

In earlier proceedings, Tan testified that the government paid Semantan Estate RM1.39 million in compensation in 1965, exceeding his recommended amount.

He said he had also assessed the land using a different acreage and arrived at a compensation value of RM985,000.

Asked by Judge Roslan whether additional compensation would be payable based on that valuation, Tan said none would be due. However, he clarified that his recommended compensation amounts excluded interest.

During questioning by Semantan Estate’s lawyer Ira Biswas, Tan rejected suggestions that information obtained from valuers A.A. Wragg and A.I.G. Harding, who assessed the land in 1956 and 1958 respectively, amounted to hearsay because they had not testified in court.

“In my view, both reports are consistent and reliable,” he said.

The hearing resumes on Nov 23.

On Nov 13, 2025, the Federal Court dismissed Semantan Estate’s application for leave to appeal against a Court of Appeal ruling that the Federal Territory Registrar of Titles was not required to register the 263.272-acre Duta Enclave land in the company’s name.

The decision upheld the government’s position, and the case was returned to the High Court for an assessment of compensation.

On June 24, 2025, the Court of Appeal ruled that Semantan Estate was not entitled to ownership of the land but was entitled to appropriate compensation based on its value in 1956, when it was acquired by the government.

The prime Jalan Duta site houses several landmarks, including the Inland Revenue Board complex, government buildings, the National Hockey Stadium, the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia and the Federal Territory Mosque.

Semantan Estate sued the government for trespass in 2003, alleging that the land had been unlawfully acquired.

In 2009, Judicial Commissioner Zura Yahya ruled that Semantan Estate retained beneficial interest in the 263.27-acre site, which the government had unlawfully acquired and occupied. — Bernama

* Editor’s note: The initials JPPH in Malay stands for Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta, or the Valuation and Property Services Department in English.

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据财政部估价和物业服务部助理主任陈达坤称，马来西亚高等法院获悉，政府在 1956 年收购 Duta Enclave 土地时，向 Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd 多支付了 40 万至 50 万令吉。

Tan 的评估结果显示，这块土地的价值为 875,000 令吉，远低于支付的 139 万令吉。如果法院接受这一评估，则无需再支付任何赔偿。

此案源于 2003 年的一起诉讼，该诉讼指控政府非法征用土地。上诉法院和联邦法院均支持政府的立场，拒绝授予 Semantan Estate 土地所有权。

案件仍在审理中，已安排听证会。

吉隆坡，10 月 16 日——高等法院今天获悉，马来西亚政府在 1956 年收购名为 Duta Enclave 的 263.272 英亩土地时，向 Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd (1952) 多支付了 40 万至 50 万令吉的补偿金。

财政部估价及物业服务局（JPPH）助理局长陈达坤表示，他评估的位于峇都村的这块土地价值为 87.5 万令吉，而政府支付的价格为 139 万令吉。

“从已支付的 139 万令吉中减去我评估的 87.5 万令吉，可以看出政府多付了 40 万至 50 万令吉。

“如果法院接受我的估价，则不应向原告（Semantan Estate）支付任何额外赔偿，”他说。

政府的唯一证人谭在罗斯兰·马特·诺法官主持的赔偿评估听证会上作证。

在联邦高级律师努尔哈菲扎·阿齐赞的进一步质询下，谭确认他的评估表明政府支付了过多的款项。

在之前的诉讼程序中，谭作证说，政府在 1965 年向 Semantan Estate 支付了 139 万令吉的赔偿金，超过了他建议的金额。

他说，他还使用不同的面积标准对土地进行了评估，得出的补偿金额为985,000令吉。

当罗斯兰法官询问谭先生是否需要根据该估值支付额外赔偿时，谭先生表示无需支付任何额外赔偿。但他澄清说，他建议的赔偿金额不包括利息。

在 Semantan Estate 的律师 Ira Biswas 的质询下，Tan 驳斥了这样一种说法：从估价师 AA Wragg 和 AIG Harding（分别于 1956 年和 1958 年对土地进行评估）那里获得的信息属于传闻，因为他们没有在法庭上作证。

“在我看来，这两份报告内容一致且可靠，”他说。

听证会将于11月23日继续进行。

2025 年 11 月 13 日，联邦法院驳回了 Semantan Estate 公司对上诉法院裁决的上诉许可申请。该裁决认为，联邦直辖区土地登记处无需将 263.272 英亩的 Duta Enclave 土地登记在该公司名下。

该决定支持政府的立场，案件被发回高等法院进行赔偿评估。

2025 年 6 月 24 日，上诉法院裁定，塞曼丹庄园无权拥有该土地的所有权，但有权根据该土地在 1956 年被政府征用时的价值获得适当的补偿。

Jalan Duta 黄金地段聚集了多个地标性建筑，包括内陆税收局大楼、政府大楼、国家曲棍球场、马来西亚伊斯兰教理解研究所和联邦直辖区清真寺。

2003 年，Semantan Estate 起诉政府侵占土地，声称该土地已被非法取得。

2009年，司法专员祖拉·亚赫亚裁定，塞曼丹地产公司保留对政府非法征用和占用的263.27英亩土地的权益。——马新社

*编者注：马来语缩写 JPPH 代表 Jabatan Penilaian dan Perkhidmatan Harta，或英语中的 Valuation and Property Services Department。

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