SEMANTAN ESTATE (1952) SDN. BHD. v 1. ) KERAJAAN MALAYSIA 2. ) PESURUHJAYA TANAH PERSEKUTUAN 3. ) MENTERI YANG BERTANGGUNGJAWAB BAGI TANAH DI WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN 4. ) MENTERI SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM SEKITAR 5. ) KETUA PENGARAH TANAH DAN GALIAN 6. ) PENGARAH TANAH DAN GALIAN (WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN) 7. ) PENDAFTAR HAKMILIK (WILAYAH PERSEKUTUTUAN)

w-01a-668-11-2021 Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) 23 June 2025 • W-01(A)-668-11/2021 • 64 min read
31 cases cited (0 SG, 31 foreign)

Catchwords

Mandamus – whether the Court can compel the Government to transfer the subject land to Semantan Estate based on a 2009 High Court Declaration Order — whether s 29(1)(b) of the Government Proceedings Act 1956 (“GPA”) bars recovery orders against the Government – whether the High Court Declaration Order 2009 is amenable to a subsequent mandamus. Section 29(1)(b) GPA – whether it must be read in tandem with Article 13 of the Federal Constitution — whether the Court can order an assessment of adequate compensation under O 53 r 2(3) Rules of Court 2012 - whether alternatively s 69(4) Courts of Judicature Act 1964 may be invoked. Adequacy of compensation – whether the sum paid was adequate for the purposes of Article 13 of the Federal Constitution having regard to the sum paid by the Government pursuant to the Collector’s Award under the Land Acquisition Enactment — whether Semantan Estate had lost the opportunity to make a land reference — whether Semantan Estate may not seek the return of the subject land but must be confined to monetary relief. Assessment of compensation – whether compensation should be calculated at the current market value or at the market value on the date 3.12.1956 when the Government took possession of the subject land — interest at the rate of 6% per annum under the Land Acquisition Enactment on amount assessed after deducting sums already paid from 3.12.1956 to date of payment — Whether upon payment of the compensation sum as may be assessed the mesne profits will cease to be payable. Section 417 of the National Land Code (“NLC”) – whether the Court can order the transfer of the subject land to Semantan Estate on the basis of the High Court Declaration Order 2009 – whether the High Court Declaration Order 2009 had stopped short of ordering a transfer of the subject land to Semantan Estate — whether the order made for transfer of the subject land under s 417 of NLC should be set aside.

Practice Areas

Mandamus

Judges (3)

Azimah binti Omar Coram Lee Swee Seng Delivered Utama Wan Ahmad Farid bin Wan Salleh Delivered

Parties (9)

KETUA PENGARAH TANAH DAN GALIAN Respondent Kerajaan Malaysia Respondent MENTERI SUMBER ASLI DAN ALAM SEKITAR Respondent MENTERI YANG BERTANGGUNGJAWAB BAGI TANAH DI WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN Respondent PENDAFTAR HAKMILIK (WILAYAH PERSEKUTUTUAN) Respondent PENGARAH TANAH DAN GALIAN (WILAYAH PERSEKUTUAN) Respondent PESURUHJAYA TANAH PERSEKUTUAN Respondent Sdn Bhd Appellant Semantan Estate Appellant

Case Significance

SEMANTAN ESTATE (1952) SDN. BHD. v 1. ) KERAJAAN MALAYSIA 2. ) PESURUHJAYA TA... is a Court of Appeal (Mahkamah Rayuan) decision dated June 23, 2025 (citation: w-01a-668-11-2021). <p>Semantan Estate sought a mandamus order to compel the Government to transfer 263 acres of land based on a 2009 High Court Declaration that the company retained beneficial interest in land acquired by the Government in 1956. The Court of Appeal set aside the transfer order, finding s.29(1)(b) of the Government Proceedings Act bars recovery orders against the Government and the 2009 Declaration stopped short of ordering transfer.</p> The panel comprised Azimah binti Omar, Lee Swee Seng and Utama Wan Ahmad Farid bin Wan Salleh, with Lee Swee Seng delivering the judgment.

Summary

Semantan Estate sought a mandamus order to compel the Government to transfer 263 acres of land based on a 2009 High Court Declaration that the company retained beneficial interest in land acquired by the Government in 1956. The Court of Appeal set aside the transfer order, finding s.29(1)(b) of the Government Proceedings Act bars recovery orders against the Government and the 2009 Declaration stopped short of ordering transfer.

What was the outcome of SEMANTAN ESTATE (1952) SDN. BHD. v 1. ) KERAJAAN MALAYSIA 2. ) PESURUHJAYA TA...?

<p>Semantan Estate sought a mandamus order to compel the Government to transfer 263 acres of land based on a 2009 High Court Declaration that the comp...

Statutes Cited

Courts of Judicature Act 1964 (Cap 91)
s 69(4) s 69(5)
Crown Proceedings Act
s 21
Federal Constitution
Art 12 Art 13 Art 13(2) Art 162(6)
Government Proceedings Ordinance
s 29
Government Proceedings Act 1956
s 29 s 29(1)(b)
Government Proceedings Ordinance
s 29 s 29(1)(b)
Industrial Relations Act 1967 (Cap 177)
Land Acquisition Enactment
s 44
Land Acquisition Act 1960 (Cap 486)
Land Acquisition Enactment
s 3(1)
National Land Code 1965
s 417
National Land Code (Cap 828)
National Land Code 1965 (Cap 828)
s 417
Public Authority Protection Act 1948
s 2(a)
Rules of Court 2012
Specific Relief Act 1950
s 8
Specific Relief Act 1950 (Cap 137)
s 18(2) s 44

Cases Cited (31)

UK (1)
[1950] 1 All ER 591
MY (29)
[1962] MLJ 169 [1969] 2 MLJ 30 [1971] 1 MLJ 187 [1982] 2 MLJ 156 [1983] 2 MLJ 390 [1986] 1 MLJ 362 [1996] 3 MLJ 489 [1997] 1 CLJ 147 [1997] 1 MLJ 789 [1997] 1 MLJ 94 [2004] 3 MLJ 301 [2005] 6 MLJ 289 [2008] 4 MLJ 641 [2009] 5 MLJ 607 [2010] 1 CLJ 429 [2010] 2 MLJ 141 [2011] 2 CLJ 257 [2012] MLJU 1747 [2015] 8 CLJ 921 [2016] 8 CLJ 804 [2018] 7 MLJ 768 [2019] 2 CLJ 145 [2020] 12 MLJ 237 [2020] 2 MLJ 553 [2021] 1 MLJ 180 [2021] 1 MLJ 322 [2022] 1 MLJ 701 [2022] 5 CLJ 446 [2024] 12 MLJ 807
IN (1)
AIR 1997 SC 1511