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Malayan Law Journal Reports/2001/Volume 6/UNGKU SUL!MN "!N "#UL MJ!# $ N%R &
#!R'()%R %* LN#S N# M!N'S $ N%R + ,2001- 6 MLJ ./ + 11 pr0l 2001
1. pages
,2001- 6 MLJ ./
UNGKU SULAIMAN BIN ABDUL MAJID & ANOR v DIRECTOR OF LANDS
AND MINES & ANOR
HIGH COURT (JOHOR BAHRU)
ABDUL MALIK ISHAK J
NOTICE OF MOTION NO 25-31 OF 1998
11 A!"# 2$$1
Land Law -- Acquisition of land -- Redemption of land by state government -- No prior consent
from beneficiaries -- State government acquired land under wrong section of Land Enactment --
Whether redemption can be made by third party -- Whether law of limitation applied -- ohor Land
Enactment !No "# "$%& ss '() %' * +,!ii#
)2e appl03ants were t2e 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 )2e estate
was 0n relat0on to a property lo3ate4 0n Jo2or "a2ru 9:t2e property:;8 )2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at
t2ey were ma4e to un4erstan4 t2at t2e property was 32arge4 to a 32ett0ar 0n 1<=0 7y Ung6u
74ulla2 w2o later 40e4 0n 1<=>8 )2e property was later re4eeme4 7y t2e go&ernment 0n 1<=/8
)2e appl03ants 5urt2er 4epose4 t2at t2e property 2a4 7een a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment 0n 1=/0 w0t2out 0n5orm0ng an4 w0t2out pay0ng any
3ompensat0on an4/or 4amages to t2e reg0stere4 propr0etor o5 t2e property or to t2e sur&0&0ng
7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 !t was su7m0tte4 t2at t2e a3?u0s0t0on o5 t2e property 7y
t2e state go&ernment was w0t2out 7as0s an4 not &al04 0n law8 )2e appl03ants 3la0me4 5rom t2e
state go&ernment 5or t2e return o5 t2e property an4 0n t2e e&ent t2at t20s 3oul4 not 7e 4one@ 7ot2
t2e appl03ants 3la0me4 3ompensat0on an4/or 4amages to 7e a33or4e4 to t2em toget2er w0t2 t2e
ot2er 7ene5030ar0es w2ose r0g2ts 2a4 7een 4en0e48 )2e respon4ent su7m0tte4 t2at 7ase4 on t2e
m0nutes wr0tten 7y t2e t2en (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s an4 M0nes@ Jo2or 4ate4 2. #e3em7er 1=/>@
t2e property was a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment a5ter t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 2a4
re4eeme4 t2e property on t2e or4er o5 A0s Royal A0g2ness t2e Sultan an4 t2erea5ter t2e property
toget2er w0t2 t2e 7u0l40ng t2ereto were &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 )2e m0nutes
re&eale4 t2at t2e property 2a4 7e3ome state lan4 un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment w0t2out any 5ormal
en?u0ry 7e0ng 2el48 !t also re&eale4 t2at t2e )ele3oms 7u0l40ng was 7e0ng 7u0lt on t2e sa04
property at t2at t0me8 )2e 0ssues 7e5ore t2e 3ourt wereB 90; w2et2er t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment
3oul4 re4eem t2e property w0t2out t2e pr0or 3onsent an4 0nstru3t0ons o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e
late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 w2et2er su32 re4empt0on was 0n a33or4an3e w0t2 t2e law an4/or &al04 0n
lawC 900; w2et2er t2e a3?u0s0t0on o5 t2e property un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment was null an4 &o04C an4
9000; w2et2er t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 3oul4 7e appl0e4 0n t2e present 3ase8
H%#&B
1) )2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 2a4 40re3te4 an4/or 0nstru3te4 t2e0r agent to re4eem
t2e property 5rom t2e 32ett0ar w0t2out any pr0or
(&&" + -L .% at .+
Page >
3onsent an4 0nstru3t0ons 5rom t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 )2at
7e0ng t2e 3ase t2e re4empt0on eDer30se was null an4 &o04 0n so 5ar as 0t 3on3erne4
t2e legal r0g2ts o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 Se3t0on 6<900; o5 t2e
'na3ment 3learly suggests t2at a t20r4 party w2o 2as no 0nterest 0n t2e property
3oul4 not re4eem t2at property8 ny re4empt0on un4erta6en 7y t2e t20r4 party@ l06e
t2e present 3ase@ woul4 ren4er t2at re4empt0on 0n&al04 9see pp 102#+*@ 10>;8
1) Se3t0on /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment 0s ent0rely meant 5or t2e purpose o5 re3t0503at0on o5
t2e reg0sters8 Se3t0on /1 4oes not g0&e aut2or0ty nor power to t2e respon4ents to
a3?u0re t2e property8 *urt2er@ 7e5ore 0n&o60ng s /1@ t2e pro&0s0on o5 s 12 o5 t2e same
'na3tment must 50rst 7e 3ompl0e4 w0t28 S0n3e t2e property was a3?u0re4 un4er t2e
wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2e a3?u0s0t0on must 7e 4e3lare4 as null an4 &o04
an4 o5 no e55e3t at all 9see pp 106G@ 10<";8
1) S0n3e t2e property was a3?u0re4 un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2ere
was 0n 5a3t no a3?u0s0t0on at all un4erta6en 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment an4
3onse?uently@ t2e property was ne&er &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 )2e
owners20p o5 t2e property rema0ne4 t2roug2out an4 to t20s 4ay as t2e estate o5 t2e
late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 t2e estate 2a4 not 7een 40str07ute4 to t2e 7ene5030ar0es as
yet8 E2en t2e property was purporte4ly a3?u0re4 0n 1=/0@ t0me rema0ne4 st0ll an4
t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on was not a3t0&ate4 at all8 !n 5a3t t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on was not
appl03a7le to t2e 5a3ts o5 t2e present 3ase 9see p 111"+(;8
1) !n &0ew o5 t2e 5a3t t2at t2e )ele3ommun03at0ons #epartment are 3urrently s0te4 on
t2e property@ t2e 3ourt ma4e an or4er t2at t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 3ompensate
7y way o5 4amages to 7ot2 t2e appl03ants an4 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e estate o5
Ung6u 74ulla2 w2ose r0g2ts 2a&e 7een 0n5r0nge48 )2e 4amages must 7e
assesse4 7y t2e sen0or ass0stant reg0strar 9see p 121*+G;8
B'(')' M'#'*)"' )+,,'!*
Pemo2on+pemo2on merupa6an penta470r 7ersama 2arta pusa6a lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla28
Aarta pusa6a terse7ut a4ala2 7er6enaan 2arta yang terleta6 40 Jo2or "a2ru 9:2arta terse7ut:;8
Pemo2on+pemo2on mem7er06an 6eterangan 7ersumpa2 7a2awa mere6a 405a2am6an 7a2awa
2arta terse7ut tela2 40ga4a06an 6epa4a seorang 32ett0ar pa4a ta2un 1<=0 ole2 Ung6u 74ulla2
yang men0nggal 4un0a pa4a ta2un 1<=>8 Aarta terse7ut 6emu40annya 40te7us ole2 6eraFaan pa4a
ta2un 1<=/8 Pemo2on+pemo2on Fuga mem7er06an 6eterangan 7ersumpa2 7a2awa 2arta terse7ut
tela2 40perole20 ole2 KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or 40 7awa2 s /1 'na6men )ana2 9No 1; 1=/0 tanpa
mem7er0ta2u 4an tanpa mem7er0 pampasan atau gant0rug0 6epa4a
(&&" + -L .% at ..
pem0l06 7er4a5tar 2arta terse7ut atau 6epa4a war0s+war0s lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla28 !a
402uFa26an 7a2awa pemerole2an 2arta terse7ut ole2 6eraFaan neger0 t04a6 7erasas 4an t04a6 sa2
40 s0s0 un4ang+un4ang8 Pemo2on+pemo2on menuntut pemulangan 2arta terse7ut 4ar0pa4a
6eraFaan neger0@ 4an se60ranya 0n0 t04a6 4apat 40la6sana6an@ 6e4ua+4ua pemo2on menuntut
gant0rug0 atau pampasan 407er06an 6epa4a mere6a 7ersama 4engan war0s+war0s yang la0n yang
tela2 40na506an 2a6 mere6a8 Respon4en 7er2uFa2 7a2awa 7er4asar6an m0n0t+m0n0t yang 40tul0s
ole2 Pesuru2Faya )ana2 4an Lom7ong Jo2or pa4a 6et06a 0tu 7ertar062 2. #0sem7er 1=/>@ 2arta
terse7ut 40perole2 ole2 KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or@ 4an setela2 KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or tela2
mene7us 2arta terse7ut atas per0nta2 #ul0 Gang Ma2a Mul0a Sultan Neger0 Jo2or@ 2arta terse7ut
serta 7angunan pa4anya terleta62a6 pa4a KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or8 M0n0t+m0n0t men4e4a26an
7a2awa 2arta terse7ut tela2 menFa40 tana2 6eraFaan 40 7awa2 s /1 'na6men )ana2 9No 1; tanpa
perla6sanaan apa+apa peny0asatan rasm08 !a Fuga men4e4a26an 7a2awa 7angunan
tele6omun06as0 se4ang 4070na 40 atas 2arta terse7ut pa4a 6et06a 0tu8 Per6ara+per6ara 40 2a4apan
ma26ama2 a4ala2B 90; sama a4a KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or 7ole2 mene7us 2arta terse7ut tanpa
terle702 4a2ulu men4apat 6e7enaran 4an ara2an 4ar0pa4a war0s+war0s lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla2
4an sama a4a pene7usan terse7ut menurut un4ang+un4ang 4an sa2 40 s0s0 un4ang+un4angC 900;
Page 1
sama a4a pemerole2an 2arta 40 7awa2 s /1 'na6men )ana2 9No 1; a4ala2 7atal 4an t04a6 sa2C
4an 9000; sama a4a un4ang+un4ang pem7atasan 2a4 masa 4apat 40pa6a0 4alam 6es 0n08
D"+-+).'/B
2) KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or tela2 mengara26an agennya untu6 mene7us 2arta terse7ut
4ar0 32ett0ar terse7ut tanpa apa+apa 6e7enaran atau ara2an terle702 4a2ulu 4ar0
war0s+war0s lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla28 %le2 6erana 0n0@ 6eg0atan pene7usan
terse7ut 7atal 4an t04a6 sa2 40 mana 0a mel07at6an 2a6 war0s+war0s lmar2um
Ung6u 74ulla2 40 s0s0 un4ang+un4ang8 Se6syen 6<900; 'na6men )ana2 9No 1;
4engan Felas menunFu66an 7a2awa suatu p02a6 6et0ga yang t04a6 mempunya0 apa+
apa 6epent0ngan 4alam 2arta terse7ut t04a6 7ole2 mene7us 2arta terse7ut8 pa+apa
te7usan yang 40la6sana6an ole2 p02a6 6et0ga@ sepert0 4alam 6es 0n0@ a6an
menye7a76an te7usan terse7ut menFa40 t04a6 sa2 9l02at ms 102#+*@ 10>;8
2) Se6syen /1 'na6men )ana2 9No 1; 40wuFu46an 7ag0 tuFuan mem7etul6an 4a5tar8
Se6syen /1 t04a6 mem7er0 6uasa 6epa4a respon4en+respon4en untu6 memperole20
2arta terse7ut8 Lag0pun@ se7elum mengguna6an s /1@ peruntu6an s 12 'na6men
yang sama mest0la2 40turut0 terle702 4a2ulu8 %le2 6erana 2arta terse7ut 40perole20 40
7awa2 se6syen 'na6men )ana2 9No 1; yang sala2@ pemerole2an terse7ut mest0la2
400syt02ar6an 7atal
(&&" + -L .% at .,
4an t04a6 sa2 4an t04a6 mempunya0 6esan langsung 9l02at ms 106G@ 10<";8
2) %le2 6erana 2arta terse7ut 40perole20 40 7awa2 se6syen 'na6men )ana2 9No 1;
yang sala2@ 2a606atnya@ ter4apat langsung t0a4a pemerole2an yang 40la6u6an ole2
KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or 4an a607atnya@ 2arta terse7ut t04a6 perna2 terleta62a6 pa4a
KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or8 Pem0l06an 2arta terse7ut selama 0n0 4an 20ngga 6e 2ar0 0n0
6e6al se7aga0 2arta pusa6a lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla2 4an 2arta pusa6a terse7ut
7elum 40ag026an 6epa4a war0s+war0snya lag08 pa70la 2arta terse7ut 406ata6an
40perole2 pa4a ta2un 1=/0@ masa t04a6 7erFalan 4an un4ang+un4ang pem7atasan
t04a6 40guna6an langsung8 Un4ang+un4ang pem7atasan t04a6 7ole2 40guna pa6a0
ter2a4ap 5a6ta+5a6ta 6es 0n0 9l02at ms 111"+(;8
2) Meman4ang6an 7a2awa Ja7atan )ele6omun06as0 60n0 terleta6 40 2arta terse7ut@
ma26ama2 mem7er06an per0nta2 7a2awa KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or mest0la2 mem7er0
pampasan 7er7entu6 gant0rug0 6epa4a 6e4ua+4ua pemo2on 4an war0s+war0s 2arta
pusa6a Ung6u 74ulla2 yang tela2 40langgar0 2a6 mere6a8 Gant0rug0 mest0la2
40n0la06an ole2 penolong 6anan pen4a5tar 9l02at ms 121*+G;8-
N0-%)
*or 3ases on a3?u0s0t0on o5 lan4 generally@ see < -allal/s 0igest91t2 '4@ 1=== Re0ssue; paras
1>0/+11.28
C')%) !%1%!!%& -0
Abdul Ra1a2 Ahmad v -a3lis 4andaraya ohor 4ahru ,1==/- 2 MLJ 2<. 9re54;
4an2 4umiputra !-# 4hd v -ahmud bin 5a3i -ohamed 0in !0atin 5a33ah Salma bte -d amin)
6ntervener# ,1=<=- 1 MLJ ><1 9re54;
4an2 of America National 7rust Savings Association v 8heong 5oon 8hong ,1=<>- 1 MLJ 2</
9re54;
4arnard v National 0oc2 Labour 4oard ,1=/>- 1 ll 'R 111> 9re54;
Page /
4arnato) Re ,1=1=- (2 2/< 9re54;
4arrell v 9ordree ,1=>2- ( 6.6 9re54;
4ec2e v Smith 91<>6; 2 M $ E 1=1 9re54;
4lac2burn v Attorney :eneral ,1=.1- 1 ELR 10>. 9re54;
4ritish Railways 4oard v ;ic2in ,1=.1- ( .6/ 9re54;
8apper v 4aldwin ,1=6/- 2 H" /> 9re54;
8ommissioner of the 9ederal 8apital v 6nsurance 8ompany of North America ,1=6<- 2 MLJ 11>
9re54;
8o< v :reen ,1=66- 1 (2 216 9re54;
8redit 8orporation !-# 4hd v 9ong 7a2 Sin ,1==1- 1 MLJ 10= 9re54;
8respigny v Wittenoom 91.=2; 1 )R .=0 9re54;
(&&" + -L .% at .$
0ato -enteri =thman bin 4aginda v 0ato =mbi Syed Alwi bin Syed 6drus ,1=<1- 1 MLJ 2= 9re54;
0atu2 Amir >ahar bin 7un -ustapha v 7un -ohd Said bin >erua2 * =rs ,1==1- > MLJ .>. 9re54;
Elia3ar v 0ayanidhi !R 1=.1 %r0 1>> 9re54;
9ulcrum 8apital Sdn 4hd v 0ato/ Samsudin Abu 5assan !Raha1 Sdn 4hd * Anor) 6nterveners#
!and another application# ,2001- / (LJ .>C ,2001- 1 MR <./ 9re54;
:ouriet v ?nion of ;ost =ffice Wor2ers ,1=.<- ( 1>/ 9re54;
5anson v Radcliffe ?rban 0istrict 8ouncil ,1=22- 2 (2 1=0 9re54;
5arrison v 8roydon London 4orough 8ouncil ,1=6<- (2 1.= 9re54;
>ing) Re) deceased ,1=6>- (2 1/= 9re54;
>redin Sdn 4hd v @79 6nvestments Sdn 4hd ,1==<- 1 MLJ 16 9re54;
>rishna >umar v N 4han ./ (EN /.> 9re54;
Langrish v Watts ,1=0>- 1 K" 6>6 9re54;
Lee Lee 8heng v Seow ;eng >wang ,1=60- MLJ 1 9re54;
Leong 8hee >ong * Anor v 7an Leng >ee !No (# ,2001- / (LJ 10<CC ,2001- 1 MR 111. 9re54;
Lim 8ho 5oc2 v Spea2er) ;era2 State Legislative Assembly ,1=.=- 2 MLJ </ 9re54;
Lim Eng >ay v aafar bin -ohamed Said ,1=<2- 2 MLJ 1/6 9re54;
-enteri 5al Ehwal 0alam Negeri) -alaysia * =rs v >arpal Singh ,1==2- 1 MLJ 11. 9re54;
-erde2a ?niversity 4hd v :overnment of -alaysia ,1=<1- 2 MLJ >/6 9re54;
=versea-8hinese 4an2ing 8orp Ltd v ;hilip Wee >ee ;uan ,1=<1- 2 MLJ <> 9re54;
=versea-8hinese 4an2ing 8orp Ltd v ;hilip Wee >ee ;uan ,1=<1- 2 MLJ 1 9re54;
;andurang v -aruti 5ari !R 1=66 S( 1/> 9re54;
;engarah 7anah dan :alian) Wilayah ;erse2utuan v Sri Lempah Enterprise Sdn 4hd ,1=.=- 1
MLJ 1>/ 9re54;
;erwira 5abib 4an2 -alaysia 4hd v =on Seng 0evelopment Sdn 4hd ,1==0- 1 MLJ 11. 9re54;
;etaling 7in 4hd v Lee >ian 8han * =rs ,1==1- 1 MLJ 6/. 9re54;
Page 6
;owell v >empton ;ar2 Racecourse 8o) Ltd ,1<==- ( 11> 9re54;
R v 4anbury !6nhabitants# 91<>1; 1 4 $ 'l 1>6 9re54;
Ramlal -otilal v Rewa 8oal 9ields !R 1=61 S( >61C 91=61; 2 S(J //6 9re54;
Ridge v 4aldwin ,1=61- ( 10 9re54;
Russian 8ommercial and 6ndustrial 4an2 v 4ritish 4an2 for 9oreign 7rade Ltd ,1=21- 2 ( 1><
9re54;
Surrendra =verseas Ltd v :overnment of Sri Lan2a ,1=..- 1 ELR /6/ 9re54;
Susse< ;eerage 8laim 91<11; 2 (l $ * </ 9re54;
7an Sri 5a3i =thman Saat v -ohamed bin 6smail ,1=<2- 2 MLJ 1.. 9re54;
7urquand v 4oard of 7rade 91<<6; 11 pp (as 2<6 9re54;
(&&" + -L .% at ,&
Webster v Southwar2 L48 ,1=<>- H" 6=< 9re54;
Wee 7iang 7eng v =ng 8hong 5ooi * Anor ,1=.<- 2 MLJ /1 9re54;
@ew 4on 7ew * Anor v >enderaan 4as -ara ,1=<>- 1 MLJ 1 9re54;
L%2")#'-"0/ !%1%!!%& -0
Law o5 Property 3t 1=2/ ,'ng- s 1191;
L0m0tat0on 3t 1=>= ,'ng-
L0m0tat0on 3t 1=/> ss 21@ 2/@ 2691;@ 92;@ 2.@ 2<@ 2=@ Pt !!!
Rules o5 t2e A0g2 (ourt 1=<0 % 1/ r 16
Spe30503 Rel0e5 3t 1=/0 s 11
-ary esmal ;ereira 97eh ;oh 7ei2 * 8o; 5or t2e appl03ants8
Abdul Rasid bin Sudin 9ss0stant State Legal 4&0ser@ Jo2or "a2ru; 5or t2e respon4ents8
ABDUL MALIK ISHAK 34
Introduction
)20s Fu4gment eDam0nes t2e r0gors o5 t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on an4 0t a44s 3olor to an ot2erw0se 7or0ng
su7Fe3t8 33or40ng to t2e 3ase o5 ;andurang v -aruti 5ari !R 1=66 S( 1/>@ 0n approa320ng
?uest0ons o5 l0m0tat0on one must 7e prepare4 to 3ons04er 0t as m0De4 ?uest0ons o5 law an4 5a3t8
n4 any 4elay must 7e eDpla0ne4 5ort2w0t2 9Elia3ar v 0ayanidhi !R 1=.1 %r0 1>>C >rishna >umar
v N 4han ./ (EN /.>C an4 Ramlal -otilal v Rewa 8oal 9ields !R 1=61 S( >61C 91=61; 2 S(J
//6;8
Notice of motion in encl 3
"y way o5 a not03e o5 mot0on 0n en3l >@ as amen4e4 0n en3l 6@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants soug2t t2e
5ollow0ng or4ersB
9a; an e<tension of time to 50le t2e present appl03at0onC
Page .
97; a declaration t2at t2e property redeemed 7y t2e Go&ernment 0n 1<=/ an4 t2e
acquisition o5 t2e sa04 property 9referring to :eran "%,) Lot "($) 4andaran ohor 4ahru;
on 21 %3to7er 1=/0 was illegalC
93; a declaration t2at t2e acquisition7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment un4er s /1 o5 t2e
'na3ment &04e (L$M 1</1=<2 4ate4 21 %3to7er 1=/0@ (L$M 226/1=/0 was null and
void under the lawC
94; t2at t2e transfer o5 t2e sa04 lan4 9referring to the said property in question; 7y t2e
Jo2or State Go&ernment to t2e *e4eral Go&ernment was illegal and void under the lawC
9e; in the event the acquisition was valid@ t2e appl03ants apply t2at compensation an4/or
damages7e pa04 to t2em 0n regar4 to t2e a3?u0s0t0on o5 t2e sa04 lan4 9referring to the
said property in question;C an4
95; any other relief w2032 t2e 3ourt deemed fit and appropriate8 9'mp2as0s a44e48;
)2e not03e o5 mot0on was supporte4 7y an a5504a&0t a550rme4 7y 7ot2 t2e appl03ants on 21
Septem7er 1==<@ as seen 0n en3l 28 "y way o5 a response@
(&&" + -L .% at ,"
t2e respon4ents t2roug2 one S2u7ana2 7te Gusu5 ++ an ass0stant 40re3tor o5 Lan4s an4 M0nes@
State o5 Jo2or@ a550rme4 an a5504a&0t 0n reply on 6 Septem7er 1===@ as seen 0n en3l .8 "ot2 t2e
appl03ants respon4e4 7y 50l0ng an a5504a&0t 0n reply on 1 %3to7er 1===@ an4 t2at a5504a&0t 0n reply
3an 7e seen 0n en3l <8
RaFa Ilan S2a2@ a3t0ng (J 9Malaya; 9as 2e t2en was;@ a 7r0ll0ant Fu4ge o5 20s t0me an4 now A0s
Royal A0g2ness t2e Sultan o5 Pera6@ 0n t2e 3ase o5 ;engarah 7anah dan :alian) Wilayah
;erse2utuan v Sri Lempah Enterprise Sdn 4hd ,1=.=- 1 MLJ 1>/@ 7laIe4 a tra0l 5or ot2er Fu4ges
to 5ollow w2en A0s Royal A0g2ness@ 0n 50ne language@ sa04 at p 11< o5 t2e reportB
'&ery legal power must 2a&e legal l0m0ts@ ot2erw0se t2ere 0s 403tators20p8 !n part03ular@ 0t 0s a str0ngent
re?u0rement t2at 40s3ret0on s2oul4 7e eDer30se4 5or a proper purpose@ an4 t2at 0t s2oul4 not 7e eDer30se4
unreasona7ly8 !n ot2er wor4s@ e&ery 40s3ret0on 3annot 7e 5ree 5rom legal restra0ntC w2ere 0t 0s wrongly
eDer30se4@ 0t 7e3omes t2e 4uty o5 t2e 3ourts to 0nter&ene8 )2e 3ourts are t2e only 4e5en3e o5 t2e l07erty o5
t2e su7Fe3t aga0nst 4epartmental aggress0on8 !n t2ese 4ays w2en go&ernment 4epartments an4 pu7l03
aut2or0t0es 2a&e su32 great powers an4 0n5luen3e@ t20s 0s a most 0mportant sa5eguar4 5or t2e or40nary
30t0IenB so t2at t2e 3ourts 3an see t2at t2ese great powers an4 0n5luen3e are eDer30se4 0n a33or4an3e
w0t2 law8 ! woul4 on3e aga0n emp2as0Ie w2at 2as o5ten 7een sa04 7e5ore@ t2at :pu7l03 7o40es must 7e
3ompelle4 to o7ser&e t2e law an4 0t 0s essent0al t2at 7ureau3ra3y s2oul4 7e 6ept 0n 0ts pla3e:@ 9per
#an36werts LJ 0n 4radbury v London 4orough of Enfield ,1=6.- > ll 'R 1>1 at p 112;8
declaration 0s an all purpose reme4y an4 0t 0s appl0e4 to : a wide variety of cases in terms of
sub3ect matter: 9per RaFa Ilan S2a2 3t0ng LP 9as A0s MaFesty t2en was; 0n 0ato -enteri
=thman bin 4aginda v 0ato =mbi Syed Alwi bin Syed 6drus ,1=<1- 1 MLJ 2= at p >1;8 !t 0s a
reme4y 4e&elope4 7y t2e 3ourts o5 e?u0ty 0n 'nglan4 an4 0n 4ue 3ourse@ 0t was a4opte4@ re50ne4
an4 a4apte4 7y t2e 3ommon law 3ourts8 33or40ng to Eool5 an4 Jam0r@ 7he 0eclaratory
udgment92n4 '4;@ 4e3laratory Fu4gments play an 0mportant part 0n settl0ng 40sputes 7etween t2e
part0es 0n t2e 3onteDt o5 pr0&ate law8 !n essen3e@ declaratory 3udgments woul4 state t2e legal
r0g2ts o5 t2e part0es an4 0n su0ta7le 3ases t2e 3ourts woul4 supplement 0t w0t2 ot2er reme40es8 "ut
declaratory 3udgments merely state some eD0st0ng legal pos0t0onC 0t 4oes not re?u0re anyone to 4o
anyt20ng@ an4 05 anyone 0s to 40sregar4 0t@ it will not open that individual to contempt !Webster v
Southwar2 L48 ,1=<>- H" 6=<;8 %n3e t2e legal pos0t0on 2as 7een pronoun3e4 7y t2e 3ourt@ 0t
opens t2e 4oor to ot2er a&enues8 )2e su33ess5ul party to a 4e3laratory or4er woul4 see6 ot2er
reme40es 0n or4er to g0&e e55e3t to t2at 4e3laratory or4er8
!t 0s germane to ment0on t2at 4e3larat0on 0s a 40s3ret0onary reme4y an4 0t &ar0es 5rom 3ase to
3ase8 )2e 3ourts 2a&e 7een &0g0lant 0n t2e past an4 woul4 3ont0nue to 7e &0g0lant8 )2e 3ourts 2a&e
re5use4 to grant rel0e5 to spe3ulators an4 7usy7o40es an4 to t2ose people w2o merely as6
2ypot2et03al ?uest0ons 9Re 4arnato ,1=1=- (2 2/<C an4 5arrison v 8roydon London 4orough
Page <
8ouncil ,1=6<- (2 1.=;8 Part0es w2o are 0ntereste4 0n see60ng declarations must 2a&e su55030ent
0nterests to a4&an3e8 Lor4 #une40n
(&&" + -L .% at ,(
0n Russian 8ommercial and 6ndustrial 4an2 v 4ritish 4an2 for 9oreign 7rade Ltd ,1=21- 2 ( 1><
at p 11< aptly sa04 t2atB
)2e ?uest0on must 7e a real an4 not a t2eoret03al ?uest0onC t2e person ra0s0ng 0t must 2a&e a real 0nterest
to ra0se 0tC 2e must 7e a7le to se3ure a proper 3ontra403tor@ t2at 0s to say@ some one presently eD0st0ng
w2o 2as a true 0nterest to oppose t2e 4e3larat0on soug2t8
So long as t2e appl03ant 5or a 4e3larat0on 3an s2ow t2at 2e 2as some legal r0g2t o5 20s own to
a4&an3e@ t2e 3ourt 3an ma6e t2e ne3essary declaration w2032 t2e appl03ant see6s8 !n :ouriet v
?nion of ;ost =ffice Wor2ers ,1=.<- ( 1>/ at p /01@ Lor4 #0plo36 eDpla0ne4 t2e s0tuat0on 0n t20s
wayB
"ut t2e Fur0s403t0on o5 t2e 3ourt 0s not to 4e3lare t2e law generally or to g0&e a4&0sory op0n0onsC 0t 0s
3on50ne4 to 4e3lar0ng 3onteste4 legal r0g2ts@ su7s0st0ng or 5uture@ o5 t2e part0es represente4 0n t2e
l0t0gat0on 7e5ore 0t an4 not t2ose o5 any one else8
!n t2e 3onteDt o5 a4m0n0strat0&e law@ a declaration 0s t2e 7est &e203le to ut0l0Ie 0n or4er to o7ta0n a
reme4y aga0nst ultra &0res a3t0ons 7y go&ernment aut2or0t0es o5 e&ery 60n48 0eclarations 3an also
7e o7ta0ne4 aga0nst m0n0sters an4 go&ernment ser&ants an4 e&en t2e go&ernment 0tsel58 )2us@ 05
t2e 3ourt were to 4e3lare t2at t2e propose4 a3t0on or an a3t0on t2at 2as 7een ta6en 0s
unaut2or0Ie4 7y an4 un4er t2e law@ t2at woul4 7e t2e en4 o5 t2e matter8 !t 3on3lu4es t2e matter@
so to spea6@ 7etween t2e part0es t2ereto8 !5 an appl03ant 0s 40sm0sse4 5rom o5503e@ 2e 3an 7y way
o5 a declaration 0ns0st t2at 2e st0ll 2ol4s t2e Fo7 9Ridge v 4aldwin ,1=61- ( 10;8 !5 t2e appl03ant:s
property 0s ta6en@ 2e 2as 20s reme4y 7y see60ng a 4e3larat0on an4 t2en o7ta0n ot2er legal
reme40es t2at 5low 5rom 0t8 !n my Fu4gment@ a 4e3larat0on 0s t2e 7est way to settle 40sputes w0t2
go&ernment aut2or0t0es 7e3ause 0t 4oes not 3onst0tute a t2reat or a 3ompuls0on@ 7ut@ ne&ert2eless@
0t 0s an e55e3t0&e reme4y8
E2at are t2e &0rtues o5 a 4e3laratory a3t0onK !t g0&es rel0e5 7e5ore 4amage 0s 3ause4 an4 0t
3lar050es t2e legal pos0t0on o5 t2e part0es 9;etaling 7in 4hd v Lee >ian 8han * =rs ,1==1- 1 MLJ
6/. at p 6.>;8 pu7l03 aut2or0ty 0s 6nown to o7ey t2e law an4 0t 0s 0n t20s 3onteDt t2at a
declaration 7e3omes use5ul8 '&en t2oug2 a declaration 2as no 3oer30&e 5or3e@ 0t w0ll 4e50n0tely
un4erm0ne t2e en5or3ea70l0ty o5 an a4m0n0strat0&e a3t8 ! 404 say t2at a declaration 0s an all
en3ompass0ng reme4y an4 t20s 3an 7e seen 0n t2e 3ase o5 4arnard v National 0oc2 Labour
4oard ,1=/>- 1 ll 'R 111>8 )2at was a 3ase w2ere a 4o36 wor6er 2a4 7een suspen4e4 5or
40so7ey0ng an or4er an4 2e soug2t a declaration t2at 20s suspens0on was wrong5ul8 s t2e 3ase
progresse4@ 0t transp0re4 t2at t2e 4o36 wor6er:s suspens0on was null an4 &o04 7e3ause t2e 4o36
manager w2o 2a4 suspen4e4 20m 2a4 no statutory power at all to suspen4 20m8 )2e 3ourt o5 t2e
50rst 0nstan3e grante4 t2e declaration t2at was soug2t s0n3e t2e t0me l0m0t 5or see60ng an or4er o5
3ert0orar0 2a4 eDp0re4 t2roug2 no 5ault o5 t2e 4o36 wor6er8 %n appeal@ t2e (ourt o5 ppeal 2el4
t2at declaration m0g2t 7e awar4e4 aga0nst a statutory tr07unal as an alternat0&e reme4y to
3ert0orar08
(&&" + -L .% at ,A
!n t2e -alaysian conte<t@ t2ere 0s a statutory 5la&our 0n t2e 5orm o5 t2e Spe30503 Rel0e5 3t 1=/0
9:t2e SR:;8 Se3t0on 11 o5 t2e SR ena3ts as 5ollowsB
#0s3ret0on o5 3ourt as to 4e3larat0on o5 status or r0g2t
ny person ent0tle4 to any legal 32ara3ter@ or to any r0g2t as to any property@ may 0nst0tute a su0t aga0nst
any person 4eny0ng@ or 0ntereste4 to 4eny@ 20s t0tle to t2e 32ara3ter or r0g2t@ an4 t2e 3ourt may 0n 0ts
40s3ret0on ma6e t2ere0n a 4e3larat0on t2at 2e 0s so ent0tle4@ an4 t2e pla0nt055 nee4 not 0n t2at su0t as6 5or
any 5urt2er rel0e5B
Page =
Pro&04e4 t2at no 3ourt s2all ma6e any su32 4e3larat0on w2ere t2e pla0nt055@ 7e0ng a7le to see6 5urt2er
rel0e5 t2an a mere 4e3larat0on or t0tle@ om0ts to 4o so8
E<planation ++ trustee o5 property 0s a :person 0ntereste4 to 4eny: a t0tle a4&erse to t2e t0tle o5 some one
w2o 0s not 0n eD0sten3e@ an4 5or w2om@ 05 0n eD0sten3e@ 2e woul4 7e a trustee8
6LL?S7RA76=NS
9a; A 7e?ueat2s 20s property to 4@ 8an4 0@ :to 7e e?ually 40&04e4 amongst all an4 ea32
o5 t2em@ 05 l0&0ng at t2e t0me o5 my 4eat2@ t2en amongst t2e0r sur&0&0ng 320l4ren8: No su32
320l4ren are 0n eD0sten3e8 !n a su0t aga0nst A:s eDe3utor@ t2e 3ourt may 4e3lare w2et2er
4@ 8 an4 0 too6 t2e property a7solutely@ or only 5or t2e0r l0&es@ an4 0t may also 4e3lare
t2e 0nterests o5 t2e 320l4ren 7e5ore t2e0r r0g2ts are &este48
97; A 3o&enants t2at@ 05 2e s2oul4 at any t0me 7e ent0tle4 to property eD3ee40ng
L100@000@ 2e w0ll settle 0t upon 3erta0n trusts8 "e5ore any su32 property a33rues@ or any
persons ent0tle4 un4er t2e trusts are as3erta0ne4@ 2e 0nst0tutes a su0t to o7ta0n a
4e3larat0on t2at t2e 3o&enant 0s &o04 5or un3erta0nty8 )2e 3ourt may ma6e t2e
4e3larat0on8
93; A 0s 0n possess0on o5 3erta0n property8 4@ alleg0ng t2at 2e 0s t2e owner o5 t2e property@
re?u0res A to 4el0&er 0t to 20m8 A may o7ta0n a 4e3larat0on o5 20s r0g2t to 2ol4 t2e
property8
94; A 7e?ueat2s property to 4 5or 20s l05e@ w0t2 rema0n4er to 4/s w05e an4 2er 320l4ren@ 05
any@ 7y 4@ 7ut@ 05 440e w0t2out any w05e or 320l4ren to 8@ 4 2as a putat0&e w05e@ 0@ an4
320l4ren@ 7ut 8 4en0es t2at 4an4 0 were e&er law5ully marr0e4C 0 an4 2er 320l4ren may@
0n 4:s l05et0me@ 0nst0tute a su0t aga0nst 8 an4 o7ta0n t2ere0n a 4e3larat0on t2at t2ey are
truly t2e w05e an4 320l4ren o5 48:
an4 0t 3erta0nly g0&es t2e 3ourt a 40s3ret0onary power to grant a 4e3larat0on8 !t woul4 7e apparent
t2at un4er s 11 o5 t2e SR@ t2e 3ourt w0ll only ma6e a declaration w2en t2e pla0nt055 2as some
legal r0g2t or legal pos0t0on to a4&an3e8 declaration too 3an 7e soug2t un4er s 11 o5 t2e SR 0n
regar4 to t2e pla0nt055:s ent0tlement to a legal 32ara3ter or status or r0g2t to property8 %n t2e ot2er
en4 o5 t2e 5en3e@ t2ere 0s % 1/ r 16 o5 t2e Rules o5 t2e A0g2 (ourt 1=<0 9:t2e RA(:; w2032 g0&es
a w04er power to t2e 3ourt to 0ssue a 4e3larat0on an4 t2at or4er rea4s as 5ollowsB
No a3t0on or ot2er pro3ee40ng s2all 7e open to o7Fe3t0on on t2e groun4 t2at a merely 4e3laratory
Fu4gment or or4er 0s soug2t t2ere7y@ an4 t2e 3ourt may ma6e 70n40ng 4e3larat0ons o5 r0g2t w2et2er or not
3onse?uent0al rel0e5 0s or 3oul4 7e 3la0me48
(&&" + -L .% at ,'
33or40ng to 7an Sri 5a3i =thman Saat v -ohamed bin 6smail ,1=<2- 2 MLJ 1..C an4 Lim 8ho
5oc2 v Spea2er) ;era2 State Legislative Assembly ,1=.=- 2 MLJ </@ t2e pla0nt055s nee4 only
esta7l0s2 t2at t2e0r legal 0nterests are pe3ul0arly a55e3te4 0n t2e 3onteDt o5 % 1/ r 16 o5 t2e RA(8
So mu32 5or t2e law an4 ! w0ll allu4e to t2e law on3e aga0n 0n t2e later part o5 t20s Fu4gment8 !
must now narrate t2e 5a3ts 7e20n4 t2e not03e o5 mot0on 0n en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 68
Facts of the case
)o gal&an0Ie t2e 5a3ts@ ! must re5er to en3ll 2@ . an4 <8
!n en3l 2@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at all t2e 5a3ts state4 0n t2e a5504a&0t were true an4 0t
3ame 5rom t2e0r own 6nowle4ge as well as 5rom t2e letters or 4o3uments t2at were 0n t2e0r
possess0on an4/or g0&en to t2em sa&e as ot2erw0se state4 t2ere0n8 "ot2 t2e appl03ants were t2e
3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 w2o was also 6nown as Ung6u
74ulla2 )emenggong #a0ng !7ra20m an4 t2at estate was 0n relat0on to a property lo3ate4 0n
Jo2or "a2ru measur0ng 6 a3res@ >0 poles 2el4 un4er Geran 1/<@ Lot 12=@ "an4aran Jo2or "a2ru
9:t2e property:;8 !t was 4epose4 t2at Ung6u 74ulla2 40e4 on 2> Mar32 1<=> lea&0ng t2e sa04
Page 10
property 0n ?uest0on8 "y way o5 pet0t0on 5or a letter o5 a4m0n0strat0on 4ate4 26 June 1==6@ w2032
was eDtra3te4 on 1> January 1==<@ t2e Jo2or "a2ru A0g2 (ourt &04e Pet0t0on No >1+112+1==/
appo0nte4 7ot2 t2e appl03ants@ w2o were t2e law5ul great gran4320l4ren o5 t2e late Ung6u
74ulla2@ as 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 )2e pet0t0on 5or t2e letter
o5 a4m0n0strat0on was eD2070te4 as eD2 :+1: to en3l 2 an4 ! 4o not propose to repro4u3e 0t 0n t20s
Fu4gment8 Su5503e 5or me to say t2at t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 un4er t2e :S32e4ule o5
t2e property o5 t2e a7o&ename4 4e3ease4: was t2e property 0n ?uest0on8 )2e /faraid/ 3ert0503ate
0ssue4 7y t2e 6a40:s o5503e at Jo2or s2owe4 t2at t2ere were 621 7ene5030ar0es to t2e estate o5
Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 t2at 5ara04 3ert0503ate was eD2070te4 as eD2 :+2: o5 en3l 28 !t was 4epose4
t2at a33or40ng to t2e en4orsements on t2e t0tle o5 t2e sa04 property@ t2e reg0stere4 propr0etor was@
at all mater0al t0mes@ none ot2er t2an Ung6u 74ulla28 "ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2ey were
ma4e to un4erstan4 t2at t2e property 0n ?uest0on was 32arge4 to a 32ett0ar 0n 1<=0 7y Ung6u
74ulla2 w2o later 40e4 on 2> Mar32 1<=>C an4 t2e sa04 property was re4eeme4 7y t2e
go&ernment 0n 1<=/8 3opy o5 t2e letter 4ate4 2. ugust 1=.2 emanat0ng 5rom t2e State Legal
4&0ser o5 Jo2or eDpla0ne4 t2e status o5 t2e sa04 property an4 t2at &ery letter was eD2070te4 as
eD2 :+>: o5 en3l 2 an4 0t was wor4e4 0n t2e Malay language as 5ollowsB
GM Ung6u !7ra20m 70n U 2ma4@
MM >1112
"ala0 Pol0s #0 RaFa@
Kluang@ Jo2or8
Ung6u@
;erB -enuntut bayaran ganti rugi atas :eran -elayu No "%, 4andar ohor 4ahru
(&&" + -L .% at ,%
Surat Ung6u 7ertar062 22 %gos 1=.2 tela2 pat06 ter0ma8
28 Pat06 4u6a30ta menyata6an 7a2awa setela2 pat06 s0asat per6ara 0n0@ pat06 4apat0
tana2 terse7ut tela2 menFa40 2a6 6eraFaan8 lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla2 tela2
mengga4a06an tana2 0tu 6epa4a seorang 32ett0 4alam ta2un 1<=0@ 4an pa4a 2> Ma3
1<=> tela2 mang6at8 #alam ta2un 1<=/ 6eraFaan tela2 mene7us ga4a0an 0tu8 KeraFaan
tela2 mengam70l al02 tana2 0tu menFa40 2a6 6eraFaan 4an semenFa6 4ar0 0tu t04a6 a4a
apa+apa t0n4a6an 40 am70l untu6 mem0nta 7al06 tana2 0tu 4ar0pa4a 6eraFaan8
>8 #0 masa 0n0 t0n4a6an ma26ama2 6e atas 6eraFaan t04a6 7ole2 40 am70l ole2 6erana
t0n4a6an+t0n4a6an 0tu a6an 402alang ole2 un4ang+un4ang 7atasan guaman 9l0m0tat0on;8
Gang 062las@
tt
9Mo24 'uso55 70n (20n;
Penas02at Un4ang+Un4ang Neger0@ Jo2or
!t appeare4 5rom t2e tenor o5 t2e letter 5rom t2e State Legal 4&0ser o5 Jo2or t2at t2e 5ate o5 t2e
7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e estate o5 Ung6u 74ulla2 2a4 7een 4eterm0ne4 7y t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on8 "ut
was t20s really soK ! s2all re&ert to t20s nagg0ng ?uest0on 0n t2e later part o5 t20s Fu4gment8 !n t2e
meant0me@ ! w0ll 3ont0nue to narrate t2e 5a3ts o5 t2e present 3ase8 "ot2 t2e appl03ants 5urt2er
4epose4 t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment un4er s /1 o5
t2e 'na3ment 9:t2e 'na3tment:; &04e (L$M 1</1=>2 4ate4 21 %3to7er 1=/0@ (L$M 226/1=/08
)2e letter 5rom t2e State Legal 4&0ser o5 Jo2or 4ate4 2= June 1==< en3los0ng t2e 4eta0ls o5 t2e
sear32 at t2e lan4 o5503e was ?u0te 0nterest0ng an4 0t was eD2070te4 as eD2 :+1: o5 en3l 28 )2at
letter 5rom t2e State Legal 4&0ser o5 Jo2or on3e aga0n allu4e4 to t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on an4 5or t2e
&ery 50rst t0me t2e lan4 o5503e sear32 s2owe4 t2at t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4 un4er s /1 o5
Page 11
t2e 'na3ment8 )2e letter 5rom t2e State Legal 4&0ser o5 Jo2or 4ate4 2= June 1==< was wor4e4
0n t2e Malay language an4 0t rea4s as 5ollowsB
)etuan L0m $ Aoo0@
)20r4 *loor@ UMN% "u0l40ng@
Jalan Segget@
<0000 Jo2or "a2ru8
)uan@
7untutan 4ayaran ;ampasan 0anCAtau :antirugi Atas :eran -elayu No "%, Lot "($ 4andar ohor
4ahru
1 Kam0 meruFu6 6epa4a surat tuan 7ertar062 1/ Me0 1==< mengena0 per6ara terse7ut 40
atas8
2 4ala2 40ma6lum6an 7a2awa 7er4asar6an 6epa4a re6o4 6am0@ lmar2um Ung6u
74ulla2 tela2 mengga4a06an tana2 terse7ut 40 atas 6epa4a seorang (2ett0 4alam
ta2un 1<=0 4an lmar2um tela2 mang6at pa4a 2> Ma3 1<=>8 )ana2 terse7ut tela2
ditebus oleh 2era3aan 4alam ta2un 1<=/ 4an seterusnya 6eraFaan tela2 mengam70lal02
tana2 terse7ut menFa40 2a6 6eraFaan pa4a 21 %6to7er 1==08
(&&" + -L .% at ,+
> Melalu0 Earta GN ><6 7ertar062 10 Me0 1=/1@ tana2 terse7ut tela2 40Fa406an r0Ia7
untu6 :)ele3om 'D32ange "u0l40ng ma0nta0ne4 7y t2e (ontroller o5 )ele3oms Jo2or8:
1 !ng0n 6am0 ma6lum6an Fuga 7a2awa t0n4a6an ter2a4ap 6eraFaan t04a6 7ole2 40am70l
60n0 6erana 402alang ole2 6ta Se6atan Masa 9L0m0tat0on 3t;8
Se60an@ ter0ma 6as028
:"'RKA!#M) UN)UK N'GR:
Saya yang menurut per0nta2@
tt
974ul Ras04 70n Su40n;
7p Penas02at Un4ang+Un4ang Neger0@ Jo2or
w20le t2e sear32 at t2e lan4 o5503e re&eale4 t2e 5ollow0ng 4eta0ls 9see eD2 :1: o5 en3l 2;B
PeFa7at )ana2 4an Gal0an Neger0 Jo2or
)ar062 (ar0anB 2< Me0 1==< No S0r0B 102<
)/t Penyel0aB )t 9)04a6 Jelas;
Ma6lumat (ar0an Aa6m0l06 Mu6aB 1
"ut0ran Aa6m0l06B
Page 12
1 #aera2B Jo2or "a2ru
2 Mu60mB "an4ar Jo2or "a2ru
> No Aa6m0l06B Geran Melayu No 1/<
1 No LotB 12=
/ Kategor0 )ana2B Perseorangan
6 PaFa6anB )04a6 Aa70s )empo2 )04a6
. Keluasan )ana2B 6e or >0 Polesmeter Perseg0
< (u6a0 )a2unanB )0a4a
= Status )ana2B Geran Melayu
10 Jen0s Guna )ana2B "angunan
11 Syarat NyataB )0a4a
12 Se6atan Kepent0nganB )0a4a
1> )ar062 Aa6m0l06 #04a5tar6anB 1 Aar07ulan Ra70:ela620r 12=. 91<..;
11 )ar062 Mula+mula #07er0 M0l06B Sepert0 40 atas
1/ No Aa6m0l06 salB Gang Mul0a Ung6u 74ulla2 406enal0 Fuga se7aga0 Ung6u 74ulla2
70n )emenggong #a0ng !7ra20m8
16 No Aa6m0l06 620r Se6al0B
)ana2 0n0 tela2 40am70lal02 ole2 KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or 40 7awa2 s /1 6epa4a Lan4
'na3tment melalu0 (L$M 1</1=>2 7ertar062 21 %6to7er 1=/0 (L$M 226/1=/08
"y way o5 a ga1ette not0503at0on 4ate4 10 May 1=/1@ t2e property 0n ?uest0on was reser&e4 5or a
pu7l03 purpose an4 t2at ga1ette not0503at0on@ as seen 0n eD2 :+/: o5 en3l 2@ eDpla0ne4 t2e s0tuat0on
0n t20s wayB
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a3?u0re4 t2e sa04 property w0t2out 0n5orm0ng an4 w0t2out pay0ng any 3ompensat0on an4/or
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late Ung6u 74ulla28 !t was 5urt2er 4epose4 t2at t2e state go&ernment 2a4 a3?u0re4 t2e sa04
property an4 2a4 trans5erre4 3erta0n port0ons o5 t2e sa04 property to t2e *e4eral Go&ernment to
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Page 1>
4epartment 0n regar4 to t2e ta6e o&er o5 t2e sa04 property 7y way o5 a letter 4ate4 26 ugust 1==<
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Page 11
Aarta Pesa6a
Ung6u 74ulla2 )emenggong #a0ng !7ra20m8
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terma6tu7 4alam Perlem7agaan8
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Pengurus
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"ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2ey were a4&0se4 7y t2e0r 3ounsel 7y t2e name o5 Mr )e2 Po2
)e06 an4 t2ey &er0ly 7el0e&e4 t2at t2e a3?u0s0t0on o5 t2e sa04 property 7y t2e state go&ernment
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property w0t2out t2e 6nowle4ge o5 t2e reg0stere4 propr0etor an4 t2e 7ene5030ar0es t2ereto8 "ot2 t2e
appl03ants t2en 4epose4 t2at t2ey now 3la0me4 5rom t2e State Go&ernment o5 Jo2or 5or t2e return
o5 t2e sa04 propertyC an4 0n t2e e&ent t2at t20s 3oul4 not 7e 4one@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 3la0me4 5rom
t2e State Go&ernment o5 Jo2or 3ompensat0on an4/or 4amages to 7e a33or4e4 to t2em toget2er
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s0n3e t2e Go&ernment 2a4 a3?u0re4 t2e sa04 property@ no a3t0on was 0n0t0ate4 5or t2e return o5 t2e
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relu3tant to o7ta0n pro7ate on Ung6u 74ulla2:s assets8 %5 3ru30al 0mportan3e@ 0t was 4epose4
t2at at t2at t0me almost e&eryone was a5ra04 o5 A0s Royal A0g2ness Sultan !7ra20m !7n0 Sultan 7u
Page 1/
"a6ar8 Mem7ers o5 t2e royal 5am0ly w2o 2a4 re3e0&e4 pens0ons 5rom t2e royal 3o55ers were a5ra04
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Page 16
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Page 1.
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untu6 ruFu6an tuan8
Meng06ut 7u6t0 yang ter3at0t 4alam Geran 1/<@ tuanpunya tana2 yang 7er4a5tar a4ala2 Gang Mul0a
Ung6u 74ulla28 )etap0 pa4a 21 No&em7er 1=/0 melalu0 (L$M 226/1=/0@ 6eraFaan tela2 mengam70l al02
tana2 terse7ut 4an tela2 40p0n4a2m0l06 ole2 6eraFaan Neger0 Jo2or 6epa4a KeraFaan Perse6utuan untu6
mem70na Ja7atan )ele6om8
(&&" + -L .% at $A
Kam0 tela2 40ma6lum6an ole2 ana6guam 6am0 7a2awa 6eraFaan t04a6 mem7ayar apa+apa pampasan
4an/atau gant0rug0 6epa4a war0s+war0s Ung6u 74ulla2 apa70la mengam70l al02 tana2 terse7ut8
Kam0 Fuga tela2 40ara26an ole2 ana6guam 6am0 untu6 menuntut pampasan 4an/atau gant0rug0 ter2a4ap
pengam70lan tana2 terse7ut ole2 6eraFaan8
%le2 yang 4em060an@ 6am0 7er2arap p02a6 tuan 4apat mem7antu 6am0 untu6 meny0asat tuntutan
ana6guam 6am08
Se60an ter0ma 6as028
Page 1<
Gang 7enar@
tt
s6 pelanggan
*0nally@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2ey s0n3erely 7el0e&e4 t2at t2ey@ toget2er w0t2 t2e ot2er
7ene5030ar0es@ were ent0tle4 to re3e0&e 3ompensat0on an4/or 4amages 0n regar4 to t2e sa04
property an4 5or t2ese reasons 7ot2 o5 t2em 3ra&e4 5or or4er 0n terms o5 t2e0r appl03at0on 0n en3l >
as amen4e4 0n en3l 68
S2u7ana2 7te Gusu5 9:S2u7ana2:;@ an ass0stant 40re3tor o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes@ State o5 Jo2or
respon4e4 7y way o5 an a5504a&0t 0n en3l . an4 t2ere 9at paras 1 an4 / o5 en3l .; s2e 3ategor03ally
state4 an4 s2e &er0ly 7el0e&e4 t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een 32arge4 7y t2e late Ung6u
74ulla2 to a 32ett0ar 0n 1<=0 an4 t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een re4eeme4 7y Messrs Peterson
S0mmon $ (o on 7e2al5 o5 t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 5or t2e sum o5 L<@000 0n 1<=/ a5ter t2e
4eat2 o5 Ung6u 74ulla28 S2u7ana2 4epose4 t2at s0n3e 1<=/@ t2e lan4 t0tle to t2e sa04 property
was 6ept 7y t2e State Go&ernment o5 Jo2or unt0l a lawyer 5rom Messrs Ro4y6 an4 #a&04son
allu4e4 to t2e 5a3t t2at 0n 1=0< t2e sa04 property 2a4 7e3ome t2e owners20p o5 t2e go&ernment
s0n3e more t2an 12 years 2a4 lapse4 w2ere0n t2e sa04 property was 2el4 7y t2e go&ernment
w0t2out any 3la0m 7y anyone8 S2u7ana2 re5erre4 to t2e m0nutes wr0tten 7y one Glen3ross@ t2e
t2en (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes@ Jo2or 4ate4 2. #e3em7er 1=/> w2032 was eD2070te4 as
eD2 :SG+1: o5 en3l . to support 2er a&erments an4 t2at m0nutes were wor4e4 0n t20s wayB
Re5B (LM 1</>2 9(on5;
-alay :rant No "%,
)20s 0s a &ery ol4 matter 0n4ee48 )2e lan4 9Malay Grant 1/<; was al0enate4 to Ung6u 74ulla2 70n
!7ra20m 0n 1<..8 !t 2as 7een 0n t2e possess0on o5 9t2e; go&ernment s0n3e 1<=/8 Aow 0t 3ame 0nto t2e
possess0on o5 9t2e; go&ernment 0s set out 0n t2e 5ollow0ng m0nutes 0n SS><=</>1B
#ato Pr0&ate Se3retary@
Saya 7aru 4apat 4ar0 PeFa7at )ana2 Grant )ana2 0tu No 1/< 4an la0n+la0n 6ertas yang
7er6enaan ters0mpan 4alam se7ua2 pet0 7es0 lama 40 peFa7at 0tu@ 7ersama 0n0 saya
60r0m6an 6ertas+6ertas 0tu 4alam suatu sampul 7ag0 l02atan #ato: Grant yang terse7ut 0tu
nampa6nya su4a2 terga4a0 ole2 lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla2 6epa4a seorang (2et0
4alam ta2un 1<=0 4an 40te7us ole2 Peterson S0mmon $ (o 7ag0 p02a6 KeraFaan
(&&" + -L .% at $'
Jo2or 4engan mem7ayar L<@000 4alam ta2un 1<=/ 6emu40an 4ar0pa4a tela2 mang6at
lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla2 0tu8
SemenFa6 4ar0 0tu tert0nggalla2 grant 0tu 4alam s0mpanan 6eraFaan 4an 4alam ta2un
1=0< 7arang 6al0 4engan se7a7 a4a se7arang tuntutan lawyer Ro4y6 4an #a&04son
menyata6an yang tana2 0tu tersera2 Fa40 2a6 4an m0l06 6eraFaan 6erana tela2 le702
4ar0pa4a 12 ta2un 4alam pegangannya 4an t0a4a 7ole2 40tuntut ole2 s0apa+s0apa lag08
Pa4a masa 0n0 se6arang su4a2 Fa40 >. ta2un lama8
Sunggu2pun 4em060an 0tu 7arang 6al0 Fuga #ato su6a 2en4a6 7er4atang sum7a2 6alau+
6alau a4a lempa2 a2san 6e 7awa2 #ul0 Gang Ma2a Mul0a 40 atas ana6+ana6 lmar2um
Ung6u 74ulla2 yang 7ermo2on 0n08
!n4/+MS
State Se3retary
12 January >28
2 )2e Legal 4&0ser at t2at t0me was 3onsulte4 an4 on 21 January 1=>2 ga&e 20s
op0n0on t2at :t2e 2e0rs 2a&e no 3la0m 0n law or e?u0ty an4 3an only 7e grante4 anyt20ng
Page 1=
as an a3t o5 gra3e8: )2e matter went 7e5ore 'De3ut0&e (oun30l an4 t2e 3la0m was
reFe3te48
> )2e matter was 7roug2t up aga0n 0n 1=>> an4 aga0n went to 'De3ut0&e (oun30l8 )2e
3la0m was aga0n reFe3te48
1 !n 1=1= t2e 3la0m was 7roug2t up aga0n 7y &ar0ous gran4320l4ren o5 Ung6u 74ulla2
an4 you repl0e4 t2at t20s matter 2a4 7een settle4 long ago an4 not20ng 3oul4 now 7e
4one a7out 0t8
/ !n 1=/0 w2en 0t was 4e304e4 t2at t2e )ele3oms 7u0l40ng 2ere 7e s0te4@ Mr
(unyng2am+"rown en4orse4 on t2e Malay Grant as 5ollowsB :)20s 0s now state lan4
un4er s /1 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment &04e (LM 1</1=>2:8 No 5ormal en?u0ry appears to
2a&e 7een 2el4 w2en t20s was 4one8
6 )2e new )ele3oms 7u0l40ng 0s go0ng up on t20s s0te8
. ! t20n6 t2at t2e appl03ants s2oul4 7e tol4 t2at t20s matter was 4e304e4 more t2an >0
years ago an4 3annot now 7e reopene4 7ut ! suggest you 3onsult t2e legal a4&0ser as
to t20s 7e5ore re5err0ng to 'De3ut0&e (oun30l8
< ! atta32 my paper (L$M (on5 1</>2 un4er 3on504ent0al 3o&er s2oul4 0t 7e wante4 5or
re5eren3e 7y t2e legal a4&0ser8
tt 9 Glen3ross;
(omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s $ M0nes@
Jo2or8
2. #e3em7er 1=/>8
)2e m0nutes o5 Glen3ross re&eale4 t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7e3ome state lan4 un4er s /1 o5
t2e 'na3ment w0t2out any 5ormal en?u0ry 7e0ng 2el48 !t also re&eale4 t2at t2e )ele3oms 7u0l40ng
was 7e0ng 7u0lt on t2e sa04 property at t2at t0me8 )2e t2en State Legal 4&0ser o5 Jo2or was
3onsulte4 an4 on 21 January 1=>2 ga&e 20s op0n0on t2at :t2e 2e0rs 2a&e no 3la0m 0n law or e?u0ty:
to t2e sa04 property8 E0t2out a 4ou7t@ t2e m0nutes o5 Glen3ross were a 4amper to t2e
appl03ants8 '&eryt20ng seeme4 to 7e a 5orgone 3on3lus0on8 "ut was t20s soK ! w0ll not &enture an
answer at t20s po0nt o5 t0me an4 ! s2all 3ont0nue narrat0ng t2e 5a3ts t2roug2 t2e a5504a&0t 0n reply o5
(&&" + -L .% at $%
S2u7ana28 S2e re0terate4 an4 la04 stress on t2e m0nutes o5 Glen3ross an4 0t was 2er stan4 t2at
t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 0n 1=>2 a5ter t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment 2a4 re4eeme4 t2e property on t2e or4er o5 A0s Royal A0g2ness t2e Sultan@ an4
t2erea5ter t2e property toget2er w0t2 t2e 7u0l40ng t2ereto were &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment8 S2e 5o3usse4 2er attent0on to an4 re5erre4 to t2e m0nutes 5oun4 0n eD2 :SG+2: o5 en3l
.8 )2e m0nutes were wr0tten 7y se&eral personal0t0es an4 0t woul4 7e 04eal to repro4u3e t2em
&er7at0m 0n t20s Fu4gment@ an4 ! w0ll now 4o soB
SS !lleg07leB
Please note
Sg4 5or 9!lleg07le;
(%MM!SS!%N'R %* LN#S $ M!N'S
> January /1
Re34B > January /1
Sg4 9!lleg07le;
! re3ommen4 at en3l 2/ $ atta32 (L$M
a surepr0nt o5 t2e area 0n ?uest0on8 Note4 t2an6 you8
28 !t 3ompr0ses t2e w2ole o5 Malay Sg4 5or 9(%LL'()%R
Gt 1/< Jo2or "a2ru )own@ w2032 %* LN# R'V'NU';
was a3?u0re4 7y Go&t 0n 1=>2@ 1 January /1
t2e or0g0nal owner Ung6u 74ulla2 Ltr 5rom (LR J"
2a&0ng 40e4 w20lst t2e lan4 rema0ne4 (LR J" + Re + 9<; Ges8
Page 20
32arge4 to a 32ett0ar8 Go&t re4eeme4 Please pro3ee4 un4er
t2e 32arge on AA:s or4er an4 7ot2 lan4 s 10 o5 L'
an4 7u0l40ngs now &est 0n t2e state8 Sg4 5or
S4 SSA 9(unyng2am+"rown; (%MM!SS!%N'R %*
(L$M > No&em7er LN#S $ M!N'S
R(S 102/16 returne4 on 888 1+M1+/0 1/ January /1
2= No&em7er (LMB
20 #e3em7er Seen t2an6 you8
>1 #e3em7er 28 ! s2all ta6e t2e
(op0e4 5rom R(S 102/16 ne3essary a3t0on8
91/; 'M'(U)!V' (%UN(!L Sg4 74ulla2
20 #e3em7er 1=/0 5or (LM 1/ January /1
!n0t0al RaFa A %mar 2> #e3em7er /0 9=; *rom (LR J" 1.+>//1
9=; #/'8N/
(L$MB (SB
Please Note 9>1; Please 32e36 t2e
SS8 part03ulars8
Note48 )2an6 you8 Sg4 (L$M Jo2or
Sg4 M Guso5 10/1
5or (L$M > January /1
R(S 102/16$ //86/1/1= att32
'n3l4 > January /1
(&&" + -L .% at $+
an4 t2e m0nutes allu4e4 to s 10 o5 t2e 'na3ment an4 t2at se3t0on ena3ts as 5ollowsB
)2e (omm0ss0oner may 5rom t0me to t0me reser&e@ 7y not0503at0on 0n t2e :a1ette@ any State lan4s w2032 0n
20s op0n0on are re?u0re4 5or any pu7l03 purpose or 5or a res04ent0al reser&e8 Su32 not0503at0on s2all 5ully
4es3r07e t2e lan4@ t2e pu7l03 or ot2er purpose@ an4 t2e terms on w2032 0t 0s reser&e4@ an4 s2all 7e
pu7l0s2e4 0n two 3onse3ut0&e 0ssues o5 t2e :a1ette8
an4 0t relates to a reser&at0on o5 a state lan4 7y way o5 a not0503at0on 0n t2e :a1etteC an4 0t re5ers
to t2e sa04 property as a state lan48 Eas t20s really soK
S2e &er0ly 7el0e&e4 an4 0t was part an4 par3el o5 2er 3ase t2at on t2e strengt2 o5 t2e rele&ant law
at t2at mater0al t0me ++ re5err0ng to t2e 1<=0 legal pos0t0on@ t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property 7y
t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 5or t2e sum o5 L<@000 to t2e 32ett0ar on t2e or4er o5 A0s Royal
A0g2ness 3oul4 result 0n t2e sa04 property 7e0ng &este4 0n t2e name o5 t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment8 "y way o5 an eDample s2e eD2070te4 an en4orsement 5oun4 0n :Grant No . "an4ar
Jo2or "a2ru: as seen 0n en3l .@ eD2 :SG+2: w2032 was wor4e4 as 5ollowsB
V04e Manus3r0pt #o3ument 4ate4 10 o5 June 1<=> Reg0stere4 No 1<> on t2e 6 o5 Mu2arram A 1>11 0n
w2032 t2ere 0s a 4e3larat0on 7y #ato n4a6 70n Aeng t2at t2e lan4 2a4 7e3ome &este4 0n AA Sultan
7u7a6ar 0n 3ons04erat0on o5 t2e latter pay0ng 20s 4e7t o5 w2032 t2e sa04 lan4 5orme4 part o5 t2e se3ur0ty
an4 t2at 2e 2a4 no more 3la0m w2ate&er to t2e sa04 lan48
an4 s2e use4 t2at eDample as a le&erage to emp2as0Ie 2er po0nt t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een
&este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment on t2e or4er o5 A0s Royal A0g2ness t2e Sultan o5 Jo2or8 !
must at on3e respon4 an4 say t2at t2at eDample merely ser&e4 as a mere eDample an4 not20ng
else 7e3ause 0t relate4 to a 4055erent property ent0rely8 S2u7ana2 4epose4 5urt2er at para 6 o5 en3l
. an4 s2e &er0ly 7el0e&e4 t2at t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment as a party 2a&0ng an 0nterest on t2e
sa04 property 2a4 ut0l0Ie4 s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment 7y apply0ng to t2e (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4
M0nes@ Jo2or 5or an or4er t2at t2e reg0ster 7e re3t050e4 an4 an en4orsement 7e ma4e 5or t2e sa04
property to 7e a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 !n pursuan3e o5 t2at appl03at0on@ s2e
4epose4 5urt2er at para . o5 en3l . to t2e e55e3t t2at t2e (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes Jo2or
Page 21
2a4 ma4e an en4orsement on t2e reg0ster 4o3ument o5 t0tle on 21 %3to7er 1=/0 w2032 s2owe4
t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7e3ome state lan4 un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment as re5le3te4 0n 50le
num7er (LM 1</>28 )2e reg0ster 4o3ument o5 t0tle o5 t2e sa04 property 0n t2e Faw0 s3r0pt was
eD2070te4 as eD2 :SG+>: o5 en3l .@ w20le t2e 50le sear32 as per eD2 :SG+1: o5 en3l . re&eale4 t2e
5ollow0ng sal0ent part03ularsB
9Sal0nan;
)!)L'+Malay Grant No 1/<
Plan+ No 1
L%) No+ Kep0ng yang 6e+22
R'+ 6 %R >0 Poles
L%(L!)G+ )owns20p o5 Jo2or "a2ru
#!S)R!()+ Jo2or "a2ru
(&&" + -L .% at $.
Reg0stere4 %wner + Gang Mul0a Ung6u 74ulla2@ Jo2or
#ate %wners20p + S0n4e 1 Ra70l:a620r@ 12=.
'n3um7ran3es +91; N0l
92; )20s t0tle 2as 7een 3an3elle4
'N#%RS'M'N)+ 9)20s 0s now State Lan4 un4er s /1
o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment@ &04e (L$M
1</1=>2
#ate4 t20s 21 %3to7er 1=/08
(L$M 226/1=/0;
SealB (L$M
21 %3to7er
!ssue 3opy not pro4u3e48
Peta No 1
"an4ar Jo2or "a2ru
Kep0ng yang 6a+22
"a6al Jalan )rus8
ARP 6030
S2u7ana2 5urt2er 4epose4 at para < o5 en3l . an4 s2e &er0ly 7el0e&e4 t2at t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e
sa04 property to t2e tune o5 RM<@000 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment to t2e 32ett0ar was at par
w0t2 t2e &alue o5 t2e 32arge t2at was pla3e4 on t2e sa04 property at t2at mater0al t0me@ an4 now 0t
was sa04 t2at 0t was unw0se 5or t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment to pay any 3ompensat0on or
4amages to t2e appl03ants or to t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 S2e 5urt2er 4epose4
at para = o5 en3l . t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een reser&e4 7y way o5 a ga1ette not0503at0on &04e
GN ><6 4ate4 10 May 1=/1 as a : 7elecom E<change 4uilding -aintained 4y 7he 8ontroller =f
7elecoms ohor: an4 su32 ga1ette not0503at0on was sa04 to 7e &al04 0n law an4 t2at t2e reser&at0on
o5 t2e sa04 property 5or t2at spe30503 purpose 3oul4 not 7e stoppe4 as pro&04e4 5or un4er t2e
*e4eral (onst0tut0on8 !t was 4epose4 5urt2er 7y 2er at para 10 o5 en3l . to t2e e55e3t t2at s2e
&er0ly 7el0e&e4 t2at t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 6new t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4
7een re4eeme4 an4 a3?u0re4 7y t2e Go&ernment an4 t2at t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u
74ulla2 2a4 ma4e a 3la0m on t2e sa04 property as early as 1=0< an4 all t2e0r 3la0ms were
Page 22
unsu33ess5ul8 S2e 4epose4 t2at legal pro3ee40ngs s2oul4 2a&e 7een 0nst0tute4 as early as 1=0<8
!nterest0ngly@ s2e en3lose4 a letter 5rom t2e #0re3tor o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes Jo2or w2032 was
a44resse4 to Ung6u !7ra20m 70n Ung6u 2ma4 an4 t2at letter mar6e4 as eD2 :SG+/: o5 en3l .@ 0n
0ts or0g0nal teDt@ was wor4e4 0n t20s 5as20onB
P'J")
P'NGRA )NA #N GL!N
J%A%R
Pet0 Surat .1<
Jo2or "a2ru@ 1< Jula0 1=./
"0l 91/;4lm P)G 2///.1
(&&" + -L .% at $,
Gang Mul0a@
Ung6u !7ra20m 70n Ung6u 2ma4@
MM >1112@ "ala0 Pol0s@
Kluang8
GM Ung6u@
Per6araB Pem7a2ag0an Aarta Pesa6a8
1 MeruFu6 6epa4a surat Ung6u 7ertar062 = pr0l 1=./ yang 40alamat6an 6epa4a G"
#atu6 Menter0 "esar@ Jo2or@ a4ala2 2am7a Ung6u 4engan 2ormat taa4I0m 40ara2
mema6lum6an 7a2awa satela2 40s0asat 4engan tel0t0nya@ 404apat0 t04a6 a4a apa+apa lag0
t0n4a6an yang 7ole2 40am70l 404alam per6ara yang Ung6u 6emu6a6an 0tu8
2 Meng06ut re6o4 40 peFa7at 0n0@ 4alam ta2un 1<=0 S0la2 Ung6u 74ulla2 tela2
mengga4a06an tana2 yang 7erpegang 4engan MG 1/< 6epa4a seorang 3et0 4an pa4a
2> Ma3 1<=> 7el0au tela2 mang6at8 #alam ta2un 1<=/ 6eraFaan tela2 mene7us ga4a0an
0tu 4an mengam70l al02 2a6m0l06 tana2 terse7ut8
> #alam ta2un 1=0<@ satu tuntutan tela2 406emu6a6an 6epa4a 6eraFaan 40atas tana2
terse7ut 4an 40tola6 4engan se7a7 tela2 mele7020 2a4 12 ta2un yang 407enar6an 40
7awa2 Un4ang+Un4ang "atasan Guaman 9L0m0tat0on %r40nan3e;8 )untutan+tuntutan
yang serupa tela2 407ang60t6an lag0 4alam ta2un 1=>2@ 1=>>@ 1=1= 4an 1=/0 4engan
men4apat 6eputusan yang sama 0a0tu 40tola68
18 Gang 4em060an terpulangla2 6epa4a p02a6 Ung6u 4an war0s+war0s untu6 mengam70l
apa+apa t0n4a6an yang 405060r6an 4apat menyelesa06an per6ara terse7ut8
4ala2 2am7a Ung6u 4engan 2ormat
taa4I0m yang menurut per0nta2@
tt
9*a4I0l 7 Mo24 Noor;
7p P'NGRA )NA #N GL!N@
J%A%R8
s6B
G" Set0a Usa2a KeraFaan@
Jo2or8
9"0l tuanB 91;4lm SUKJ 61=/1+16;
Set0ausa2a 6epa4a
G" #atu6 M" Jo2or8
Page 2>
9"0l M"J9";/12/.1;8
/Jama
!n ser0ous &e0n@ S2u7ana2 4epose4 at para 11 o5 en3l . t2at s2e &er0ly 7el0e&e4 t2at t2e w2ole
ep0so4e too6 pla3e more t2an 100 years ago an4 t2at 0t was 20g2ly 0mproper t2at t2e pet0t0on 5or a
letter o5 a4m0n0strat0on 4ate4 26 June 1==6@ w2ere0n t2e Jo2or "a2ru A0g2 (ourt 2a4 appo0nte4
7ot2 t2e appl03ants as t2e 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 3oul4 7e
use4 as a 7as0s to a4&an3e t2e 3la0m 5or t2e return o5 t2e sa04 property w2032 2a4 pre&0ously
32ange4 owners20p a33or40ng to t2e law an4 t2e rule t2at were 0n eD0sten3e t2en8 *or t2ese
reasons@ S2u7ana2 4epose4 t2at t2e 3la0ms o5 7ot2 t2e appl03ants were unFust050a7le an4 0t woul4
3ause
(&&" + -L .% at $$
an 0nFust03e to t2e respon4ents s0n3e t2e latter 2a4 lost w2ate&er proo5 an4 e&04en3e to re7ut t2e
3la0ms o5 7ot2 t2e appl03antsC an4 t2at w2ate&er 3ause o5 a3t0on t2at m0g2t 2a&e eD0ste4@ 05 any@
s2oul4 2a&e 7een ta6en w0t20n a reasona7le per0o4 o5 t0me8 *or t2ese reasons@ S2u7ana2 praye4
t2at t2e not03e o5 mot0on 0n en3l > as amen4e4 0n en3l 6 7e 40sm0sse4 w0t2 3osts8
! must now pro3ee4 to eDam0ne t2e a5504a&0t 0n re7uttal o5 7ot2 t2e appl03ants as seen 0n en3l <8
"y way o5 an 0ntro4u3t0on@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2e 5a3ts allu4e4 to 0n en3l < were t2e
trut2 7ase4 on t2e 4o3uments or t2e re3or4s t2at were g0&en or o7ta0ne4 7y t2em unless
ot2erw0se state48 )2ey 4epose4 on3e aga0n t2at t2ey were t2e 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5
t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 )2ey t2en 5o3usse4 t2e0r attent0on to S2u7ana2:s a5504a&0t as seen 0n
en3l .8 )2ey 4epose4 t2at 0n relat0on to S2u7ana2:s a&erments 0n paras 1 an4 / o5 en3l .@ t2ey
sa04 t2at t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment at t2at t0me 2a4 no power to re4eem t2e sa04 property
w0t2out t2e 3onsent o5 t2e reg0stere4 propr0etor an4/or t2e 3onsent o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es8 )2ey
4epose4 t2at w0t2out any 0nstru3t0on an4/or 3onsent@ t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property was
wrong an4 0n&al04 7e3ause t2e sa04 property was owne4 7y an 0n40&04ual8 )2ey also 4epose4 t2at
s0n3e t2e sa04 property was ta6en or re4eeme4 0n an unlaw5ul manner@ 0t 5ollowe4 t2at owners20p
o5 t2e sa04 property 3oul4 not 7e &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment notw0t2stan40ng t2at 0t
was 7y or4er o5 A0s MaFesty t2e Sultan8 !n relat0on to S2u7ana2:s a&erments 0n paras 6 an4 . o5
en3l .@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2e respon4ents wrongly rel0e4 on t2e pro&0s0ons o5 s /1
o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment 1=>/ 9'na3tment No 1; 7e3ause t2at se3t0on was 0n relat0on to
re3t0503at0on o5 an entry 0n t2e reg0ster an4 not 0n relat0on to reg0strat0on o5 owners20p8 !n regar4 to
para < o5 en3l . o5 S2u7ana2:s a5504a&0t@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2ere was no 3onsent o5
t2e reg0stere4 propr0etor an4/or t2e 7ene5030ar0es to re4eem t2e sa04 property at t2e pr03e o5
RM<@0008 !n regar4 to para = o5 en3l .@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants a&erre4 t2at t2e ga1ette not0503at0on
&04e GN ><6 4ate4 10 May 1=/1 w2032 s2owe4 t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een a3?u0re4 7y t2e
Jo2or State Go&ernment was 0n real0ty 0n&al04 un4er t2e law as t2e pro3e4ures enumerate4 0n t2e
'na3ment were not 3ompl0e4 w0t28 "ot2 t2e appl03ants 0n respon40ng to paras 10 an4 11 o5 en3l .@
3ategor03ally state4 t2at t2e0r 3la0ms as 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2
were not go&erne4 7y t2e l0m0tat0on per0o4 an4 su32 per0o4 2a4 not eDp0re4 at all8 *or t2e
a5oresa04 reasons@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants praye4 5or or4er 0n terms o5 t2e prayers 0n t2e not03e o5
mot0on 0n en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 68
)20s was 0n4ee4 an 0nterest0ng 3ase an4 ! 2a&e set out@ at great lengt2@ t2e 5a3ts 0n t2e rele&ant
a5504a&0ts 0n or4er to p0e3e toget2er as a 3o2erent w2ole t2e 5a3tual matr0D o5 t2e present 3ase8 !t
woul4 7e 3orre3t to say t2at e&eryt20ng re&ol&e4 on t2e sa04 property an4 t2at property playe4 a
p0&otal role 0n t20s 0nterest0ng ep0so4e8 )2e 5ollow0ng 5a3ts were not 40spute4 7y t2e part0esB
3) )2at 7ot2 t2e appl03ants were t2e 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u
74ulla2 7y way o5 a letter o5 a4m0n0strat0on t2at was eDtra3te4 on 1> January 1==<
e&en t2oug2 0t was 4ate4 26 June 1==68
1 (&&" + -L .% at "&&
Page 21
3) )2at t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 3ompr0se4 t2e property 0n ?uest0on an4
on t2at property stoo4 a 7u0l40ng 7elong0ng to t2e )ele3ommun03at0ons 4epartment8
3) 33or40ng to t2e m0nutes o5 one Glen3ross@ t2e t2en (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4
M0nes@ Jo2or as per eD2 :SG+1: o5 en3l .@ t2e sa04 property 2a4 a 32e?uere4 20story8
)2at property was 32arge4 to a 32ett0ar 0n 1<=0 7y t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 t2e
same property was re4eeme4 on 7e2al5 o5 t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 7y Messrs
Peterson S0mmon $ (o 0n 1<=/8
)2e (2ett0ar was a reg0stere4 32argee an4 20s pos0t0on@ on3e upon a t0me@ 0n relat0on to t2e sa04
property was 0n4ee4 strong8 "y way o5 an analogy@ re5eren3e s2oul4 7e ma4e to t2e 3ase o5 4an2
4umiputra !-# 4hd v -ahmud bin 5a3i -ohamed 0in !0atin 5a33ah Salma bte -d amin)
6ntervener# ,1=<=- 1 MLJ ><1@ w2ere t2e suprema3y o5 a reg0stere4 32argee was emp2as0Ie4 7y
Pe2 Swee (20n J 9as 2e t2en was; an4 at p ><2 o5 t2e report t20s was w2at 20s Lor4s20p sa04B
!t was only too o7&0ous to t2e 3ourt t2at t2e groun4 o5 t2e 0nter&ener:s 3la0m was one o5 pr0or0ty o&er t2e
32arge 0n ?uest0on as reg0stere4 on t2e t0tle w2032 s2e 2a4 agree4 to pur32ase 7y t2e sale agreement
7e3ause s2e 2a4 7oug2t t2e lan4 long 7e5ore t2e 32arge was reg0stere4@ 0n ot2er wor4s@ 5+" !"0! %)-
-%,0!% 0-"0! %)- 6+!%7 0e 2e w2o 0s earl0er 0n t0me 0s stronger 0n law8
Aere@ t2e 32argee@ 7e0ng a reg0stere4 32argee@ 2a4 atta0ne4@ as regar4s 0ts reg0stere4 0nterest@ an
0n4e5eas07le t0tle aga0nst t2e worl4 sa&e 5or a 5ew eD3ept0ons set out 0n s >10 o5 t2e Nat0onal Lan4 (o4e
su32 as 5rau4@ m0srepresentat0on et3 to w2032 t2e 32argee was a party or pr0&y@ an4 w2032 404 not apply
to t2e 5a3ts o5 t2e 0nstant 3ase8
E2en t2e eD3ept0ons 0n t2e sa04 s >10 4o not apply as t2ey 404 not apply to t2e 0nstant 3ase@ t2e
super&en0ng t0tle woul4 4e5eat a pr0or e?u0ta7le r0g2t or 0nterestB =ng 8hat ;ang v Galliappa 8hettiar
,1=.1- 1 MLJ 2218 )2e 32argee@ to ?uote a 5am0l0ar eDpress0on@ 2a4 t2ere5ore su33ee4e4 0n t2e s3ram7le
to get on t2e reg0ster an4 2a4 t2ere5ore emerge4 &03tor0ous8
ga0n 7y way o5 an analogy@ re5eren3e s2oul4 also 7e ma4e to t2e 3ase o5 ;erwira 5abib 4an2
!-# 4hd v =on Seng 0evelopment Sdn 4hd ,1==0- 1 MLJ 11.8 )2at was a 3ase w2ere t2e
pla0nt055 32argee su33ess5ully appl0e4 5or an or4er o5 sale o5 t2e 32arge4 lan48 )2ree o5 t2e
4e5en4ants soug2t to oppose t2e or4er on t2e 7as0s t2at as t2ey 2a4 pur32ase4 part o5 t2e lan4@
t2e or4er s2oul4 not apply to t2e0r lan4s8 Aowe&er@ Mo2ame4 #Ia0440n J 9now t2e (20e5 Just03e o5
t2e *e4eral (ourt o5 Malays0a; 2el4 t2at t2ere were no groun4s to 4eny t2e appl03at0on 5or an
or4er o5 sale an4 t20s was w2at 20s Lor4s20p sa04 9see p 11< o5 t2e report;B
*0rst@ as 7ona 504e pur32asers 5or &alue@ t2e0r 0nterest 3annot pre&a0l o&er t2at o5 t2e pla0nt055s@ t2e
reg0stere4 32argee8 Unless 5rau4 0s an 0ssue 9w2032 0t 0s not so 2ere; an4 3oul4 7e pro&e4@ t2e 32arge
w2032 2a4 7een legally reg0stere4 7e3omes 0n4e5eas07le 97ai Lee 9inance 8o Sdn 4hd v =fficial
Assignee * =rs ,1=<>- 1 MLJ <1;8 Se3on4ly@ as t2e pur32ase agreement@ 0n part03ular o5 t2e t20r4
4e5en4ant@ 3onta0ne4 an eDpress 3on40t0on t2at t2e lot was sol4 su7Fe3t
(&&" + -L .% at "&"
to an eD0st0ng 32arge 0n 5a&our o5 t2e pla0nt055s@ t2e 0nterest o5 t2e pur32aser w2o 2a4 eDpressly
3onsente4 to t2e 3reat0on o5 t2e sa04 32arge 3annot o&err04e t2e reg0stere4 0nterest o5 t2e pla0nt055s as
32argee8
(ont0nu0ng 0n a sympat2et03 moo4@ 20s Lor4s20p Mo2ame4 #Ia0440n J 9now (20e5 Just03e o5 t2e
*e4eral (ourt o5 Malays0a; sa04 at t2e same page 0n t2e last paragrap2B
!n t2e l0g2t o5 t2e a7o&e@ t2ere 0s not20ng t20s 3ourt 3an 4o eD3ept to sympat20Ie w0t2 t2e pre403ament
5a3e4 7y t2ese pur32asers8 Per2aps@ t2e reme4y a&a0la7le woul4 7e 5or t2ese 4e5en4ants to sue t2e 50rst
4e5en4ants 5or 4amages 5or 7rea32 o5 3ontra3t@ 0e t2e sale an4 pur32ase agreement8
"ut 0n t2e 3onteDt o5 t2e present 3ase@ t2e 32ett0ar as a reg0stere4 32argee no longer 2a4 an
0nterest on t2e sa04 property as re4empt0on was e55e3te4 0n 1<=/8
3) )2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 40e4 on 2> Mar32 1<=>8
Page 2/
1) )2e strong personality of 5is Royal 5ighness Sultan 6brahim 6bni Sultan Abu 4a2ar
as allu4e4 to 0n paras 11 an4 1/ o5 en3l 2 &0ewe4 5rom t2e perspe3t0&e o5 A0s Royal
A0g2ness:s su7Fe3ts8 )20s was ne&er 32allenge4 7y S2u7ana2 0n 2er a5504a&0t 0n
reply 0n en3l . an4 3onse?uently t2e r0gors o5 t2e law as allu4e4 to 0n Abdul Ra1a2
Ahmad v -a3lis 4andaraya ohor 4ahru ,1==/- 2 MLJ 2<. must 7e 7roug2t to 7ear
upon t2e respon4ents8
1) )2at t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment un4er s /1 o5
t2e 'na3ment an4 no 5ormal en?u0ry was 2el4 w2en t20s was 4one8
1) )2at t2e sa04 property 7y &0rtue o5 t2e ga1ette not0503at0on GN ><6 4ate4 10 May
1=/1 was reser&e4 5or : 7elecom E<change 4uilding -aintained by the 8ontroller of
7elecoms ohor8:
)2ree ma0n 0ssues were argue4 at great lengt2 7y t2e part0es8 ! must put on re3or4 my grat0tu4e
to 7ot2 learne4 3ounsel w2o 2a&e en4ea&oure4 to su7m0t on all t2e rele&ant an4 pert0nent po0nts
0n regar4 to t2e not03e o5 mot0on 0n en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 68 M0ss Mary Jesmal Pere0ra o5
3ounsel 5or 7ot2 t2e appl03ants an4 Mr 74ul Ras04 70n Su40n@ t2e ss0stant to t2e State Legal
4&0ser@ Jo2or@ 5or 7ot2 t2e respon4ents per5orme4 eDtremely well at t2e 7ar an4 t2ey 4eser&e4
to 7e 3ommen4e4 0n t20s Fu4gment8 )2e t2ree ma0n 0ssues t2at were &ent0late4 may
3ompen40ously 7e 5rame4 0n t2ese wor4sB
4) E2et2er t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 3oul4 re4eem t2e sa04 property t2roug2
Messrs Peterson S0mmon $ (o w0t2out t2e pr0or 3onsent an4 0nstru3t0ons o5 t2e
7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 w2et2er su32 re4empt0on was 0n
a33or4an3e w0t2 t2e law an4/or &al04 0n lawK
4) E2et2er t2e a3?u0s0t0on o5 t2e sa04 property un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment &04e (L$M
1</1=>2 4ate4 21 %3to7er 1=/0 an4 (L$M 22</1=/0 was null an4 &o04K
2 (&&" + -L .% at "&(
4) E2et2er t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 3oul4 7e appl0e4 0n t2e present 3ase w2en t2e sa04
property was a3?u0re4 un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3mentK
! w0ll now eDam0ne t2ese t2ree ma0n 0ssues 0n se?uen3e8
The first issue
*or t20s eDer30se@ ! must repeat t2e sal0ent 5a3ts o5 t2e w2ole 3ase8 ! 2a&e to re5er to t2e a5504a&0t
o5 S2u7ana2 0n en3l . w2ere at para 1 s2e 4epose4 t2at 0n 1<=0@ t2e sa04 property was 32arge4
to a 32ett0ar an4 later re4eeme4 7y Messrs Peterson S0mmon $ (o 5or t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment 7y pay0ng a sum o5 RM<@000 0n 1<=/ a5ter t2e 4eat2 o5 Ung6u 74ulla28 E2y must
t2e re4empt0on 7e 3arr0e4 out 7y a t20r4 party w2o was not e&en t2e reg0stere4 propr0etor o5 t2e
sa04 propertyK !t must 7e re3alle4 t2at t2e sa04 property 7elonge4 to an 0n40&04ual 0n t2e person o5
t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 t2at property was not owne4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 !t
woul4 7e apparent 5rom eD2 :SG+1: as eD2070te4 0n en3l . t2at t2e sa04 property ++ w2032 was
Malay grant 1/<@ was al0enate4 to t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 0n 1<..8 'D2070t :SG+1: o5 en3l . was a
runn0ng 3ommentary o5 t2e 5a3tual 7a36groun4 to t2e w2ole 3ase 7y one Glen3ross@ t2e t2en
(omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes@ Jo2or8 )2at runn0ng 3ommentary 0n 4o3umentary 5orm
s2owe4 t2at t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 2a4 40re3te4 an4/or 0nstru3te4 t2e0r agent@ Messrs
Peterson S0mmon $ (o@ to re4eem t2e sa04 property 5rom t2e 32ett0ar w0t2out any pr0or 3onsent
an4 0nstru3t0ons 5rom t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 )2at re4empt0on@ 0n my
Fu4gment@ was 3erta0nly 4one w0t2out t2e 3onsent an4/or 0nstru3t0ons 5rom t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e
late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 t2at 7e0ng t2e 3ase@ t2e re4empt0on eDer30se was null an4 &o04 0n so 5ar
as 0t 3on3erne4 t2e legal r0g2ts o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28 !n so 5ar as t2e
32ett0ar was 3on3erne4@ t2e re4empt0on 0n t2e sum o5 L<@000 was goo4 3ons04erat0on 5or t2e
release o5 t2e 32arge8 !t woul4 also 7e apparent 5rom eD2 :SG+1: o5 en3l .@ t2at 5rom t2e t0me t2at
Page 26
t2e sa04 property was re4eeme4 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment@ t2e lan4 t0tle was 6ept 0n t2e
possess0on o5 t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment w0t2out t2e 6nowle4ge o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late
Ung6u 74ulla28 )2us@ 0t was not surpr0s0ng t2at 7ot2 t2e appl03ants a&erre4 0n t2e0r a5504a&0t 0n
en3l 2 t2at t2ey 404 not 6now w2o 2a4 6ept t2e lan4 t0tle to t2e sa04 property upon t2e 4eat2 o5
Ung6u 74ulla28
t t20s Fun3ture@ 0t woul4 7e pert0nent to re5er to s 6<900; o5 t2e 'na3ment w2032 ena3ts as 5ollowsB
!n 3ase 4e5ault 7e ma4e 0n payment o5 t2e pr0n30pal sum@ 0nterest or per0o403al payment@ or any part
t2ereo5 t2ere7y se3ure4@ or 0n t2e o7ser&an3e o5 any agreement eDpresse4 0n any 32arge reg0stere4
un4er t20s Part@ an4 su32 4e5ault 7e 3ont0nue4 5or t2e spa3e o5 one mont2@ 0t s2all 7e law5ul 5or t2e
32argee@ 7y summons@ to 3all t2e propr0etor o5 t2e 32arge4 lan4 7e5ore t2e 3ourt to s2ow 3ause w2y t2e
lan4 su7Fe3t to t2e 32arge s2oul4 not 7e sol4 7y pu7l03 au3t0on un4er t2e 40re3t0on o5 t2e 3ourt8 !5 no
3ause 7e s2own to t2e sat0s5a3t0on o5 t2e 3ourt@ 0t s2all or4er a pu7l03 sale o5 t2e sa04 lan4 to ta6e pla3e@
un4er t2e
(&&" + -L .% at "&A
40re3t0on o5 an o5503er o5 t2e 3ourt at su32 pla3e an4 t0me as s2all appear most 3on&en0ent8
an4 w2032 3learly suggests t2at a t20r4 party w2o 2as no 0nterest 0n t2e sa04 property 3oul4 not
re4eem t2at property8 ny re4empt0on un4erta6en 7y t2e t20r4 party@ l06e t2e present 3ase@ woul4
ren4er t2at re4empt0on 0n&al04 0n so 5ar as 0t 3on3erne4 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u
74ulla28 )20s was my Fu4gment an4 ! so 2ol4 a33or40ngly8
)2e lawyer 5rom Messrs Ro4y6 an4 #a&04son 0n eD2 :SG+1: o5 en3l . 2a4 t2e au4a30ty to a4&0se
t2at s0n3e t2e lan4 t0tle to t2e sa04 property was 0n t2e possess0on o5 t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment
5or o&er 12 years@ t2e sa04 property was sa04 to 2a&e 7e3ome &este4 0n t2e sa04 go&ernment an4
t2at no ot2er person 3oul4 3la0m 5or t2e sa04 property8 )2at legal a4&03e was 3erta0nly o55 tangent
an4 0t 5a0le4 to ta6e 0nto a33ount t2e pro&0s0ons o5 t2e 'na3ment w2032 was s0lent as to w2et2er
t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 3oul4 possess t2e sa04 property a5ter a per0o4 o5 12 years8
"luntly put@ t2e stan4 o5 t2e respon4ents was ?u0te s0mple8 )20s was ma4e 6nown t2roug2 t2e
su7m0ss0ons o5 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n8 Ae emp2as0Ie4 t2at t2e matter relat0ng to t2e re4empt0on
o5 t2e sa04 property too6 pla3e 0n 1<=/8 Ae rel0e4 on t2e a5504a&0t o5 S2u7ana2 an4 2e su7m0tte4
t2at t2e sa04 property was 32arge4 7y t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 to t2e 32ett0ar 0n 1<=0 an4 t2e sa04
property was re4eeme4 7y Messrs Peterson S0mmon $ (o@ on 7e2al5 o5 t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment 7y pay0ng L<@000 0n 1<=/C an4 t2at re4empt0on eDer30se was un4erta6en a5ter t2e
4eat2 o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 on 2> Mar32 1<=>8 Ae 0ngen0ously argue4 t2at on t2ese 5a3ts
t2e pro&0s0ons o5 t2e 'na3ment was not appl03a7le an4 was not rele&ant s0mply 7e3ause t2at t2e
matter relat0ng to t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property too6 pla3e 0n 1<=/8 Ae su7m0tte4 t2at t2e
law w2032 was appl03a7le an4 w2032 go&erne4 t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property 0n 1<=/ was
totally un3lear8 Ae allu4e4 to eD2 :SG+2: o5 S2u7ana2:s a5504a&0t 0n en3l . an4 2e su7m0tte4 t2at
t2e sample o5 t2e en4orsement 5oun4 0n Grant No . )owns20p o5 Jo2or "a2ru ++ w2032 was a
4055erent p0e3e o5 lan4 5rom t2e sa04 property 7e5ore t20s 3ourt@ ser&e4 as a goo4 eDample o5 t2e
met2o4s t2at were a4opte4 at t2at t0me8 Ae emp2as0Ie4@ 7y way o5 an eDample@ t2at t2e
en4orsement 5oun4 0n :Grant No . )owns20p o5 Jo2or "a2ru s2owe4 t2at t2e lan4 2el4 un4er
Grant No . was &este4 0n A0s Royal A0g2ness Sultan 7u "a6ar on t2e payment o5 t2e lan4
owner:s 4e7t 7y A0s Royal A0g2ness Sultan 7u "a6ar 0n 1<=> an4 2e su7m0tte4 t2at t20s was
w2at 2a4 eDa3tly 2appene4 to t2e sa04 property 0n ?uest0on8 Ae t2en su7m0tte4 t2at t2e sa04
property was re4eeme4 0n 1<=/ 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment on t2e or4er o5 A0s Royal
A0g2ness t2e Sultan an4 t2e sa04 property 7e3ame &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 7ase4
on t2e met2o4 0n eD0sten3e t2en an4 t20s was@ a33or40ng to 20m@ t2e met2o4 a4opte4 0n t2e
1<=0s8 Ae roun4e4 up 7y say0ng t2at 0n t2e a7sen3e o5 any law 3learly appl03a7le 0n Jo2or t2en@
t2e met2o4s a4opte4 4ur0ng t2at t0me s2oul4 7e use4 as a gu04an3e 0n 4eterm0n0ng w2et2er t2e
a3t0ons ta6en 7y t2e respon4ents t2en were law5ul or ot2erw0se8 Ae &enture4 an answer to t20s
Page 2.
?uest0on an4 2e su7m0tte4 t2at t2e answer woul4 7e 0n t2e a550rmat0&e + mean0ng t2at t2e
respon4ents: a3t0ons were law5ul8
(&&" + -L .% at "&'
E0t2 respe3t@ to say t2at t2e 'na3ment was not t2e go&ern0ng law 0n respe3t o5 t2e sa04 property
0n 1<=/ w2en t2e sa04 property was re4eeme4@ was a su7m0ss0on t2at was ma4e w0t2out ta60ng
0nto a33ount t2e a&erment o5 S2u7ana2 0n 2er a5504a&0t 0n en3l . at para / t2ereo58 Aer a&erment
pro&04e4 t2e answer to t2e poser pose4 7y 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n8 )2ere s2e 4epose4 t2at t2e
m0nutes en4orse4 0n t2e 50le &04e re5eren3e num7er (LM 1</>2 s2owe4 t2at t2e sa04 property was
ta6en 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 0n 1=>2 a5ter t2e latter 2a4 re4eeme4 t2e sa04 property on
t2e or4er o5 A0s Royal A0g2ness t2e Sultan an4 3onse?uently t2e sa04 property 7e3ame@ toget2er
w0t2 t2e 7u0l40ng t2ereto@ &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 No won4er 0t was not surpr0s0ng
t2at M0ss Mary Jesmal Pere0ra 5or t2e appl03ants su7m0tte4 t2at t2e law appl03a7le to lan4
transa3t0ons 0n 1=>2 was 0n4ee4 go&erne4 7y t2e 'na3ment8
E0t2 regar4 to t2e su7m0ss0on o5 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n t2at 0t was not 3lear w2032 law was
appl03a7le 0n respe3t o5 t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property 0n 1<=/@ eD2 :SG+2: o5 en3l . w2032
eD2070te4 Grant No . )owns20p o5 Jo2or "a2ru an4 t2e en4orsements t2ere0n@ 3learly s2owe4 t2at
t2ere were rules go&ern0ng lan4 transa3t0ons at t2at per0o4 o5 t0me8 3ompar0son o5 eD2 :SG+>: o5
en3l . w0t2 t2at o5 eD2 :SG+2: o5 en3l . woul4 re&eal an 0nterest0ng 5a3t 0n relat0on to 0ts
en4orsements8 !n eD2 :SG+2: o5 en3l . o5 Grant No . )owns20p o5 Jo2or "a2ru t2e en4orsement
s2owe4 t2at t2ere was a 4e3larat0on t2at t2e sa04 lan4 7e &este4 0n A0s Royal A0g2ness Sultan
7u "a6ar as a 3ons04erat0on 5or t2e payment o5 t2e 4e7t@ w2ereas 0n eD2 :SG+>: o5 en3l . w2032
eD2070te4 t2e lan4 t0tle o5 t2e sa04 property@ no su32 en4orsement appeare4 t2ere0n8 !t 3an 7e
4e4u3e4 t2at at t2e t0me w2en t2e sa04 property was ta6en 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment@ no
set pro3e4ures were 5ollowe48 !n regar4 to t2e sa04 property 0n ?uest0on t2ere was no
en4orsement 0n eD2 :SG+>: o5 en3l . to s2ow t2at t2e sa04 property was &este4 0n A0s Royal
A0g2ness t2e Sultan at t2e mater0al t0me an4 ne0t2er was t2ere any en4orsement to s2ow t2at t2e
sa04 property was &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 !t 0s 0nterest0ng@ at t20s Fun3ture@ to re5er
to a 7oo6 ent0tle4 National Land 8ode) A 8ommentary 92n4 '4; 7y Ju40t2 S02om70ng w2ere t2e
learne4 aut2or pa0nsta60ngly tra3e4 t2e 7a36groun4 20story to t2e present 4ay lan4 law 0n
Pen0nsular Malays0a8 t p 1/@ s2e eDpla0ne4 t2atB
)2e Un5e4erate4 Malay States 3ons0ste4 o5 Ke4a2@ Kelantan@ Jo2or@ Perl0s an4 )erengganu8
t p 16@ t2e learne4 aut2or &enture4 to go 0nto some 4eta0l an4 s2e 2a4 t20s to sayB
:Lan4 tenure 0n t2ese Un5e4erate4 Malay States@ pr0or to "r0t0s2 0nter&ent0on@ was t2at o5 early Malay
tenure alt2oug2@ ot2er t2an 0n Jo2or@ 3erta0n 0n304ents may 2a&e 7een t2ose o5 )2a0 law8 )2e states
ena3te4 )orrens type leg0slat0on@ 5or eDample Jo2or 0n 1=10 an4 Ke4a2 0n 1=1>8 Some o5 t2ese statutes
were typ03ally )orrens@ ot2ers were not8
)2at o5 Jo2or was eDpressly atyp03al )orrens8 !n 0nterpret0ng t20s 1=10 'na3tment@ M0lls J 2a4 o7ser&e4B
(&&" + -L .% at "&%
:!t 4epen4s on t2e terms o5 t2e 'na3tment 2ow 5ar t2e Leg0slature 0nten4s t2at people
s2all 7e a7le to rely on t2e Reg0ster8 )2e Jo2or 'na3tment 0s not mo4elle4 3losely on
t2e ustral0an )orrens 3ts an4 su7stant0ally 4055ers 5rom t2em8 !n part03ular@ eD3ept 0n
t2e 3ase o5 3ourt sales un4er s <> an4 s =0A@ t2e 'na3tment 3onta0ns no pro&0s0on
3on5err0ng 0n4e5eas070l0ty o5 t0tle or State warranty o5 t0tle ,1=>6- MLJ 20>8:
!t 3an 7e surm0se4 t2at 0n t2e goo4 ol4 4ays@ Jo2or 2a4 an :early Malay tenure: an4 0n 1=10 0t 2a4
an 'na3tment8 "ut 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n 5or t2e respon4ents su7m0tte4 t2at t2e pro&0s0ons o5 t2e
Lan4 'na3tment 1=10 ++ re5err0ng to t2e 'na3ment@ was 0nappl03a7le an4 not rele&ant s0n3e t2e
sa04 property was re4eeme4 0n 1<=/8 part 5rom w2at ! 2a4 sa04 earl0er 0n response to w2at 'n
Page 2<
74ul Ras04 Su40n 2a4 su7m0tte4@ ! must say t2at s0n3e t2e lan4 t0tle to t2e sa04 property as per
eD2 :SG+>: o5 en3l . w2032 3onta0ne4 no en4orsement l06e t2e sample &ers0on o5 anot2er lan4 t0tle
as re5le3te4 0n eD2 :SG+2: o5 en3l . o5 Grant No . )owns20p o5 Jo2or "a2ru@ t2e 0n5eren3e woul4
7e t2at t2e :early Malay tenure: was so un3erta0n an4 ! repeat t2ere were no set pro3e4ures to 7e
5ollowe48 E0t2out a pos0t0&e set o5 pro3e4ures go&ern0ng lan4 matters 0n t2e goo4 ol4 4ays 0n
Jo2or@ 3an we sa5ely say t2at t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property 0n 1<=/ was 4one a7o&e 7oar4@
espe30ally w2en t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 were not alerte4K )2at re4empt0on
3erta0nly 7ene50te4 t2e 32ett0ar at t2at t0me w20le t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 were
le5t 0n t2e 4ar68
!n 1=>2 w2en t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment too6 o&er t2e sa04 property@ t2e 'na3ment was
alrea4y 0n eD0sten3e an4 0t must surely 7e t2e gu040ng 5or3e 7e20n4 all lan4 matters 0n Jo2or at
t2at t0me8
)2e pream7le to t2e 'na3ment rea4s as 5ollowsB
92 o5 1=10 as amen4e4 7y / o5 1=1>@ 21 o5 1=1=@ < o5 1=20@ 6 o5 1=21@ < o5 1=21@ / o5 1=21@ 1> o5 1=2<@
1 an4 11 o5 1=>>@ 16 o5 1=>1@ 9Nt2e re&0se4 '40t0on o5 t2e Laws 'na3tment 1=>1;@ <@ 16 an4 1< o5 1=>6@
1/ o5 1=><@ 1> o5 1=>=@ > o5 1=11 an4 *e4erat0on o5 Malaya %r40nan3e /. o5 1=1= an4 /1 o5 1=/28;
an4 0t 0s a leg0t0mate a04 0n 3onstru0ng t2e sa04 'na3tment 9Susse< ;eerage 8laim 91<11; !! (l $ *
</ 7urquand v 4oard of 7rade 91<<6; 11 pp (as 2<6C an4 ;owell v >empton ;ar2 Racecourse
8o) Ltd ,1<==- ( 11>;8 "uller J 0n 8respigny v Wittenoom 91.=2; 1 )R .=0 at p .=> was o5 t2e
&0ew t2at w2en t2e mean0ng o5 an 'na3tment was un3lear t2en :t2e pream7le may 7e resorte4 to
eDpla0n 0t8: )2e 'na3ment was at t2at t0me a t0mely p0e3e o5 leg0slat0on :to 3onsol04ate an4 amen4
t2e law relat0ng to lan4 0n Jo2or8
!n regar4 to t2e 50rst 0ssue@ t2e answers woul4 7e apparent8 )2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property
must 7e 4one w0t2 t2e pr0or 3onsent an4 upon t2e 0nstru3t0ons o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late
Ung6u 74ulla28 )2at 7e0ng t2e 3ase@ t2e re4empt0on t2at was 4one 0n regar4 to t2e sa04
property 0n so 5ar as 0t 3on3erne4 t2e legal r0g2ts o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2
was 4one not 0n a33or4an3e w0t2 t2e law an4 was 0n&al048 !t was an eDer30se t2at ran 3ounter to
t2e law an4 0ts &al040ty was ?uest0ona7le8
(&&" + -L .% at "&+
The second issue
S2u7ana2:s a5504a&0t 0n en3l . en3los0ng eD2s :SG+1: an4 :SG+1: 3learly s2owe4 t2at 0t was only 0n
1=/0 t2at t2e sa04 property was 4e3lare4 to 7e t2e s0te 5or t2e )ele3ommun03at0ons 4epartment8
)2e m0nutes o5 Glen3ross@ t2e 5ormer (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes@ Jo2or as seen 0n eD2
:SG+1: o5 en3l . w2032 was repro4u3e4 0n t2e early part o5 t20s Fu4gment 3onta0ne4 passages
w2032 are germane to t2e o33as0on an4 t2ese passages s2oul4 7e repro4u3e4 on3e aga0nB
/ !n 1=/0 w2en 0t was 4e304e4 to s0te t2e )ele3oms 7u0l40ng 2ere@ Mr (unyng2am+
"rown en4orse4 on t2e Malay Grant as 5ollowsB
)20s 0s now state lan4 un4er s /1 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment &04e (L$M
1</1=>2
No 5ormal en?u0ry appears to 2a&e 7een 2el4 w2en t20s was 4one8
6 )2e new )ele3oms 7u0l40ng 0s go0ng up on t20s s0te8
Page 2=
an4 5rom t2ese passages 0t was 3rystal 3lear t2at no 5ormal en?u0ry was e&er 2el4 w2en 0t
4e304e4 to 4e3lare t2e sa04 property as state lan48 Eas s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment t2e r0g2t se3t0on to
0n&o6e 5or a3?u0s0t0on purposesK )o answer t20s ?uest0on@ 0t woul4 7e appropr0ate to repro4u3e 0n
&er7at0m t2at se3t0on 0n ?uest0onB
/190; ny person 3la0m0ng any estate or 0nterest 0n lan4 un4er t20s Part may@ at any t0me@
05 20s 3la0m 3annot 7e properly 4ealt w0t2 un4er s 12@ apply to t2e (omm0ss0oner 5or an
or4er t2at any reg0ster@ 7oo6 or Fournal 6ept at any Lan4 %5503e un4er t20s 'na3tment
s2all 7e re3t050e4@ or t2at any entry may 7e ma4e or 0nterpolate4 0n any su32 reg0ster@
7oo6 or Fournal or t2at any entry t2ere0n may 7e 3an3elle4B an4 t2e (omm0ss0oner may
e0t2er re5use su32 appl03at0on@ or@ 05 sat0s50e4 as to t2e Fust03e o5 t2e 3ase@ may ma6e
su32 or4er 0n re5eren3e t2ereto as 2e may t20n6 Fust8
900; )2e (olle3tor an4 e&ery ot2er person a55e3te4 7y su32 or4er o5 t2e (omm0ss0oner
s2all o7ey t2e same upon 7e0ng ser&e4 w0t2 a 3opy o5 su32 or4er8
9000; ny person aggr0e&e4 7y any re5usal or or4er o5 t2e (omm0ss0oner un4er su7+
se3t0on 90; may appeal to t2e 3ourtB pro&04e4 t2at su32 appeal s2all not 7e a4m0tte4 a5ter
t2e eDp0rat0on o5 t20rty 4ays 5rom t2e 4ate o5 t2e 4e30s0on appeale4 aga0nst8
90&; No 3ourt@ ot2er t2an t2e Supreme (ourt@ s2all 2a&e any Fur0s403t0on 0n matters
pro&04e4 5or 7y t20s se3t0on:8
an4 0t was ent0rely meant 5or t2e purpose o5 re3t0503at0on o5 t2e reg0sters8 Se3t0on /1 o5 t2e
'na3ment 4oes not g0&e aut2or0ty nor power to t2e respon4ents to a3?u0re t2e sa04 property@ an4
w2at was wr0tten 7y (unyng2am+"rown as allu4e4 to a7o&e 3annot@ 0n law@ 7e 3ons04ere4 as
3orre3t8 !t was an 0n3orre3t assert0on o5 t2e law 7y (unyng2am+"rown8 )o a44 0nsult to 0nFury t2e
lan4 t0tle o5 t2e sa04 property as eD2070te4 0n en3l . at eD2 :SG+>: 7ore t2e 5ollow0ng passages at
t2e top port0onB
)20s 0s now state lan4 un4er s /1 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment@ &04e (L$M 1</1=>2
#ate4 t2e 21 %3to7er 1=/0
(&&" + -L .% at "&.
(L$M 226/1=/0 Sg4B !lleg07le 21810
(omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes Jo2or
an4 t2e rest o5 t2e lan4 t0tle o5 t2e sa04 property was typewr0tten 0n t2e Jaw0 s3r0pt w2032 was not
?u0te leg07le@ ne0t2er was 0t translate4 5or t2e 7ene50t o5 t2e 3ourt8 s 5ar as ! 3oul4 ma6e 0t out@ t2e
Faw0 s3r0pt was wor4e4 0n t2ese wor4s 9Roman0Ie4 Malay;B
!sn0n 1/< l2am4ul0lla2
Eusall0 lla2 l0 Sa0 #0na Mu2amma4 Ea:al0 l020 Easa270 Eassallam
#ul0 Gang Ma2a Mul0a Ma2araFa Jo2or 7u "a6ar yang 406urn0a6an lla2 Su72ana2uwataala 7a6a
6eraFaan 40 atas tana2 Jo2or serta segala FaFa2an 4aera2 ta6lu6nya mu4a2+mu4a2an 7arang 40lanFut6an
lla2 us0a serta 7ertam7a2 tam7a2 4aulat 4an memperole20 6emenangan 40 4un0a a620rat8 m0n8
Keta2u0 ole2 4engan 5060ran yang sepert0 60ta 4an 6eturunan war0s+war0s gant0 60ta 4engan se7enar+7enar
mengurn0a6an 6epa4a yang mul0a Ung6u 74ulla2 888 Jo2or 888
Mempunya0 se6ep0ng tana2 yang 40 4alam 4aera2 J" 888 7esarnya enam e6ar 4an >0 per30s 6erFa 4an
6e4u4u6annya 7ersepa4an sepert0 40 7awa2 0n0
#0 se7ela2 t0mur 4engan Sye4 "aram 4an 'n306 n4a6
#0 se7ela2 7arat 4engan Sye4 Janal 4an 'n306 888
#0 se7ela2 utara 4engan 'n306 Ausse0n 70n Guso5
#0 se7ela2 selatan 4engan GM Ung6u 888
Page >0
Sepert0 petanya yang a4a 40tul0s6an 40 se7al06 6ertas 0n0 4engan sempurna 2a6 m0l06 tela2 60ta 6urn0a6an
4an sera26an sepert0 yang terse7ut 0n0 6epa4a GM Ung6u 74ulla2 mempunya0 40a selama+lamanya8
Ma6a 4engan a6al 60ta yang sempurna memetera06an 3ap 4an mem7u7u2 tapa6 tangan 40 atas surat 0n0
40 4alam Jo2or "a2ru
6epa4aB 888
Aar0 7ulan Ra70ul 620r 20Fra2 Na70 Mu2amma4 s8a8w8 ser07u 4ua ratus 888
tt 9)04a6 Jelas;
Kepa4a Pengu6ur )ana28
ll t2at t2e lan4 t0tle sa04 0n t2e Jaw0 s3r0pt was t2at t2e sa04 property was al0enate4 to t2e late
Ung6u 74ulla28
!t woul4 also 7e 0nterest0ng to re5er to s 12 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment 9No 1; an4 t2at se3t0on was
wor4e4 0n t20s wayB
90; ny person assert0ng t2at 2e 2as a r0g2t ot2erw0se t2an 7y su33ess0on to a 4e3ease4
propr0etor or 7y &0rtue o5 an agreement 5or sale to 7e reg0stere4 un4er t20s Part as t2e
owner o5 or as 2a&0ng an 0nterest 0n any lan4 2el4 un4er entry 0n t2e mu60m reg0ster may
apply to t2e (olle3tor 5or an or4er t2at su32 memor0al s2all 7e ma4e upon t2e entry 0n
t2e mu60m reg0ster as s2all reg0ster 20m as su32 owner or as 2a&0ng su32 0nterest8 )2e
(olle3tor s2all t2ereupon 3ause a not03e o5 su32 appl03at0on@ su7stant0ally 0n t2e 5orm o5
S32e4ule A@ to 7e ser&e4 on t2e o33up0er 905 any; o5 su32 lan4@ to 7e pu7l0s2e4 lo3ally 0n
t2e 40str03t@ an4 poste4 on t2e lan4 5or a per0o4 o5 t20rty 4ays@ an4 s2all ma6e su32
en?u0ry as may 7e ne3essary8
(&&" + -L .% at "&,
900; !5@ a5ter su32 not03e an4 en?u0ry@ t2e (olle3tor 0s o5 op0n0on t2at su32 appl03at0on
oug2t to 7e grante4@ or 05@ 0n t2e 3ourse o5 su32 en?u0ry@ 0t s2all 7e pro&e4@ to 20s
sat0s5a3t0on t2at some ot2er person 0s ent0tle4 to 7e reg0stere4 as t2e owner o5 su32 lan4
or o5 su32 0nterest 0n t2e lan4@ t2en@ 0n e0t2er o5 su32 3ases 2e s2all ma6e an or4er@
su7stant0ally 0n t2e 5orm o5 S32e4ule J@ 0n a33or4an3e w0t2 20s 4e30s0on an4 2e s2all
t2ereupon ma6e t2e ne3essary entry 0n t2e mu60m reg0ster8
9000; 3opy o5 t2e or4er a7o&e ment0one4 s2all 7e 5urn0s2e4 7y t2e (olle3tor to t2e
person 0n 5a&our o5 w2om su32 or4er 0s ma4e an4@ on appl03at0on@ to any ot2er party to
t2e pro3ee40ngs8:
an4 ! must at on3e say t2at 7e5ore 0n&o60ng s /1 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment 9No 1;@ t2e pro&0s0on o5 s
12 o5 t2e same 'na3tment must 50rst 7e 3ompl0e4 w0t28 Se3t0on 1290; o5 t2e 'na3ment 0s 3learly
wor4e48 !t ena3ts t2at any person assert0ng t2at 2e 2as a r0g2t ot2erw0se t2an 7y su33ess0on to a
4e3ease4 propr0etor or 7y &0rtue o5 an agreement 5or sale may apply 5or an or4er t2at su32
memor0al s2all 7e ma4e upon t2e entry8 !t 0s t2e 4uty o5 t2e 3olle3tor to 0ssue a not03e o5 su32 an
appl03at0on 0n t2e 5orm o5 s32 A@ an4 t2e same oug2t to 7e ser&e4 on t2e o33up0er o5 su32 lan4@ to
7e pu7l0s2e4 lo3ally 0n t2e 40str03t an4 poste4 on t2e lan4 5or a per0o4 o5 >0 4ays8 !t 0s only a5ter
su32 not03e an4 en?u0ry 2as 7een 3arr0e4 out t2at a re3t0503at0on to t2e reg0ster 3oul4 7e e55e3te4
a5ter s32 J 2as 7een 0ssue48 n4 t2ere must also 7e 3ompl0an3e w0t2 s 129000; o5 t2e 'na3ment8
perusal o5 eD2 :SG+1: o5 en3l . as repro4u3e4 somew2ere 0n t20s Fu4gment 3learly s2owe4 an
alarm0ng la36 o5 3ompl0an3e w0t2 t2e pro&0s0ons o5 s 1290;@ 900; an4 9000; o5 t2e 'na3ment8 )2e sum
total o5 all t2ese legal semant03s woul4 7e t20sB t2at t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4 un4er t2e
wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment an4@ 3onse?uently@ t2at a3?u0s0t0on must 7e 4e3lare4 as null an4
&o04 an4 o5 no e55e3t at all8 )2at woul4 7e t2e legal pos0t0on o5 t2e purporte4 a3?u0s0t0on o5 t2e sa04
property8
Page >1
Stan40ng on 20s own groun4@ 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n 5or t2e respon4ents respon4e48 Ae su7m0tte4
t2at w0t2 t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property amount0ng to L<@000 0n 1<=/@ t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment 2a4 a3?u0re4 an 0nterest 0n t2e sa04 property8 !t was t2us Fust050a7le@ so t2e
su7m0ss0on went@ 5or t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment as a party 3la0m0ng an 0nterest 0n t2e sa04
property to ut0l0Ie t2e pro&0s0on o5 s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment 0n or4er to apply to t2e (omm0ss0oner o5
Lan4s n4 M0nes@ Jo2or 5or an or4er t2at t2e reg0ster o5 t2e sa04 property to 7e re3t050e4 an4 an
en4orsement to 7e ma4e t2ere0n to s2ow t2at t2e sa04 property was ta6en o&er 7y t2e Jo2or
State Go&ernment8 !n l0ne w0t2 t2e sa04 appl03at0on@ 0t was su7m0tte4 t2at t2e (omm0ss0oner o5
Lan4s n4 M0nes@ Jo2or t2en ma4e t2e ne3essary en4orsement on t2e 4o3ument o5 t0tle o5 t2e
sa04 property on 21 %3to7er 1=/0 an4 7y t2at en4orsement t2e property 0n ?uest0on 7e3ame
state lan4 un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment as re5le3te4 0n t2e 50le t2at 3arr0e4 t2e 5ollow0ng re5eren3e
num7er ++ (L$M 1</1=>28
'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n also too6 eD3ept0on to t2e su7m0ss0on t2at s 12 o5 t2e 'na3ment must
3ome 50rst an4 7e 3ons04ere4 0n 0ts ent0rety 7e5ore s /1 o5 t2e same 'na3tment 3oul4 7e a3t0&ate48
!t was 20s su7m0ss0on t2at t2e 7as0s 5or t2e en4orsement un4er s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment was t2at t2e
Jo2or
(&&" + -L .% at "&$
State Go&ernment 2a4 a3?u0re4 an 0nterest 0n t2e sa04 property a5ter re4eem0ng 0t 5or L<@000 0n
1<=/8 !t was also 20s su7m0ss0on t2at 0n 3onsonan3e w0t2 t2e re?u0rement o5 s /1 o5 t2e
'na3ment@ t2e (omm0ss0oner o5 Lan4s n4 M0nes 404 t2e r0g2t t20ng 7y re3t05y0ng t2e reg0ster an4
ma4e an en4orsement s2ow0ng t2at t2e sa04 property was state lan4 a5ter t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment 2a4 re4eeme4 t2e sa04 property an4 w2en t2e matter 3oul4 not 7e 4ealt w0t2 un4er s
12 o5 t2e 'na3ment8 %5 3ru30al 0mportan3e was t2e su7m0ss0on o5 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n to t2e
e55e3t t2at s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment@ as wor4e4@ 4oes not st0pulate t2at t2ere 2as to 7e a not03e or an
en?u0ry un4er s 12 o5 t2e same 'na3tment 7e5ore s /1 3oul4 apply8 *rom t2e tenor o5 20s
su7m0ss0on 0t 3an 7e surm0se4 t2at w2at 2e was say0ng was s0mply t20sB t2at s /1 o5 t2e
'na3ment stoo4 0n4epen4ently o5 s 12 o5 t2e same 'na3tment8
)2e respon4ents were us0ng t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property on payment o5 L<@000 as a
yar4st036 to argue t2at t2e sa04 property 2a4 7e3ome &este4 0n t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8 "ut
t2e re4empt0on eDer30se was 4one w0t2out t2e 3onsent nor not03e to t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e sa04
property8 )2e lan4 t0tle o5 t2e sa04 property@ as repro4u3e4 0n en3l . as eD2 :SG+>:@ la36e4 mater0al
part03ulars an4 was now2ere l06e t2e eDample o5 anot2er lan4 t0tle as seen 0n eD2 :SG+2: o5 en3l
.8 *rom t2e language employe4 0n s /190; o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2e 3la0mant may resort to s /1 o5 t2e
same 'na3tment 05 t2e 3la0mant:s :3la0m 3annot 7e properly 4ealt w0t2 un4er s 12:8 !t 5ollows t2at
t2e r0gours o5 s 12 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment 9No 1; must 7e &0gorously appl0e4 7e5ore s /1 o5 t2e
same 'na3tment 3an 7e put 0n mot0on8 )2e wor40ngs 0n 7ot2 s 12 an4 /1 o5 t2e Lan4 'na3tment
9No 1; are &ery 3lear an4 unam70guous an4 0n or4er to 3onstrue t2e mean0ng 7e20n4 t2ose
se3t0ons 0t woul4 7e 04eal to loo6 at t2e wor4s employe4 an4 3onstrue 0t a33or40ngly8 Lor4
Earr0ngton o5 (ly55e 0n 4arrell v 9ordree ,1=>2- ( 6.6 at p 6<2 on3e remar6e4 t2atB
)2e sa5er an4 more 3orre3t 3ourse o5 4eal0ng w0t2 a ?uest0on o5 3onstru3t0on 0s to ta6e t2e wor4s
t2emsel&es an4 arr0&e 05 poss07le at t2e0r mean0ng w0t2out@ 0n t2e 50rst 0nstan3e@ re5eren3e to 3ases8
!t must not 7e 5orgotten t2at t2e 4el07erat0ons o5 t2e leg0slature must 2a&e 7een ma4e 0n t2e r0g2t
atmosp2ere an4 t2e leg0slature must 2a&e 0nten4e4 w2at t2ey 2a4 eDpresse4 a5ter all@ as Par6e J
on3e sa04 0n R v 4anbury !6nhabitants# 91<>1; 1 4 $ 'l 1>6 at p 112 t2at t2e rule o5 3onstru3t0on
woul4 always 7e :to 0nten4 t2e leg0slature to 2a&e meant w2at t2ey 2a&e a3tually eDpresse48: !n
s0m0lar &e0n@ Lor4 Par6er (J 0n 8apper v 4aldwin ,1=6/- 2 H" /> at p 61 0n re50ne4 language sa04
t2at :t2e 0ntent0on o5 Parl0ament must 7e 4e4u3e4 5rom t2e language use48: !n my Fu4gment@ t2e
wor4s employe4 0n ss 12 an4 /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment were so pla0n an4 s0mple t2at t2e tas6 o5
0nterpretat0on 3oul4 2ar4ly 7e sa04 to ar0se8
Page >2
)2e 'ngl0s2 (ourt o5 ppeal 0n Re >ing) deceased ,1=6>- (2 1/= 2a4 to 0nterpret t2e pro&0s0on 0n
s 1191; o5 t2e Law o5 Property 3t 1=2/@ an4 t2at se3t0on ena3te4 t2at t2e 7ene50t o5 e&ery
3o&enant 0n a lease to 7e per5orme4 7y t2e lessee :s2all 7e anneDe4 an4 0n304ent to an4 s2all go
w0t2 t2e re&ers0onary estate 0n t2e lan48: #0plo36 LJ at p 1=. o5 t2e report@
(&&" + -L .% at ""&
3onstrues t2at se3t0on 0n t2ese wor4sB
)2e eDpress0on :go w0t2: must 7e 0nten4e4 to a44 somet20ng to t2e 3on3ept 0n&ol&e4 0n t2e eDpress0on
:anneDe4 an4 0n304ent to: an4 0n my &0ew 3onnotes t2e trans5er o5 t2e r0g2t to en5or3e t2e 3o&enant 5rom
t2e ass0gnor to t2e ass0gnee w0t2 t2e 3onse?uent 3essat0on o5 t2e r0g2t to t2e ass0gnor to en5or3e t2e
3o&enant aga0nst t2e tenant8
an4 0t woul4 7e 3lear t2at #0plo36 LJ ass0gne4 a mean0ng to e&ery wor4 0n t2e statute8 !n
ass0gn0ng t2e mean0ng to t2e wor4s t2at appear 0n s /190; o5 t2e 'na3ment espe30ally t2e
5ollow0ng wor4sB
ny person 3la0m0ng any estate or 0nterest 0n lan4 un4er t20s Part may@ at any t0me@ 05 20s 3la0m 3annot 7e
property 4ealt w0t2 un4er s 12@ apply to t2e (omm0ss0oner 5or an or4er t2at any reg0ster@ 7oo6 or Fournal
6ept at any Lan4 %5503e un4er t20s 'na3tment s2all 7e re3t050e4@ 888
one must 7e ro7ust an4 4ownr0g2t 5ort2r0g2t8 !t s0mply meant t2at 05 t2e 3la0mant:s 3la0m 3annot 7e
4e304e4 un4er s 12 o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2en t2e 3la0mant may resort to s /1 o5 t2e same
'na3tment8 !t 7r0ngs 0nto s2arp 5o3us t2e nee4 to apply an4 put 0nto mot0on s 12 o5 t2e 'na3ment
7e5ore resort0ng to s /1 o5 t2e 'na3ment8 )2at woul4 7e t2e 3orre3t 0nterpretat0on o5 s /1 o5 t2e
'na3ment8 )20s was my Fu4gment an4 ! so 2ol4 a33or40ngly8 ! woul4 t2ere5ore answer t2e
?uest0on pose4 un4er t2e se3on4 0ssue 0n 5a&our o5 t2e appl03ants8 )2e a3?u0s0t0on eDer30se ma4e
un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment must 7e stru36 4own an4 7e 3ons04ere4 as null an4
&o048
)2e gol4en rule o5 3onstru3t0on as propoun4e4 7y Par6e " 0n 4ec2e v Smith 91<>6; 2 M $ E 1=1
at p 1=/ must surely r0ng true 0n t2e 3onteDt o5 t2e present 3ase8 )2ere 20s Lor4s20p aptly sa04B
!t 0s a &ery use5ul rule@ 0n t2e 3onstru3t0on o5 a statute@ to a42ere to t2e or40nary mean0ng o5 t2e wor4s
use4@ an4 to t2e grammat03al 3onstru3t0on@ unless t2at 0s at &ar0an3e w0t2 t2e 0ntent0on o5 t2e leg0slature@
to 7e 3olle3te4 5rom t2e statute 0tsel5@ or lea4s to any man05est a7sur40ty or repugnan3e@ 0n w2032 3ase t2e
language may 7e &ar0e4 or mo4050e4@ so as to a&o04 su32 0n3on&en0en3e@ 7ut no 5urt2er8
!n 3onstru0ng s /190; o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2ere was no ne3ess0ty@ 0n &0ew o5 t2e s0mple wor4s
employe4 t2ere0n@ to :&ary or mo405y: t2e language8 !t was so or40nar0ly s0mple an4 stra0g2t5orwar4
t2at 0t re?u0res no Fu4030al 0ntell0gen3e to 0nterpret t2ose wor4s8 )2e wor4s were 32osen to re5le3t
t2e 0ntent0on o5 t2e leg0slature an4 ! must g0&e e55e3t to 0t a33or40ngly8 )20s was my Fu4gment an4 !
so 2ol4 a33or40ngly8
The third issue
M0ss Mary Jesmal Pere0ra 5or t2e appl03ants su7m0tte4 w0t2 &0gor an4 &0tal0ty t2at t2e law o5
l0m0tat0on 3annot 7e tr0ggere4 0n a s0tuat0on w2ere t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4 7y t2e Jo2or
State Go&ernment un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment8 S2e re0terate4 t2e pos0t0ons o5 7ot2
t2e appl03ants
(&&" + -L .% at """
as t2e 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2@ an4 s2e su7m0tte4 t2at 7y
apply0ng t2e 3on3ept o5 t2e law o5 e?u0ty@ t2e appl03ants were not 7arre4 5rom su0ng t2e
respon4ents 7e3ause a33or40ng to 2er@ t2e 0ssue o5 statutory l0m0tat0on 3annot 7e appl0e4 to t2e
5a3tual matr0D o5 t2e present 3ase8 )2ere are passages appear0ng 0n 2< 5alsbury/s Laws of
England 91t2 '4;@ at p >2< para .26 w2032 mer0t repro4u3t0onB
Page >>
Where the cause of action has accrued on or after the date of death an4 t2ere 0s no eDe3utor@ then if the
claim is for the recovery of land or an a4&owson the administrator is deemed to claim as if there had
been no interval of time between the death and the grant of letters of administrationF !5 t2ere 0s 4ou7t
w2et2er t2e 4eat2 or t2e a33rual o33urre4 50rst@ t2e 4eat2 w0ll 7e presume4 to 2a&e pre3e4e4 t2e a33rual
9At2inson v 4radford 7hird Equitable 4uilding Society 91<=0; 2/ H"# >.. 9(;;8 9'mp2as0s a44e48;
an4 0t 3ategor03ally states t2at t2e 0nter&al 7etween t2e 4ate o5 4eat2 an4 t2e grant o5 letters o5
a4m0n0strat0on woul4 not 7e 3al3ulate4 5or t2e purpose o5 4eterm0n0ng t2e 0ssue o5 l0m0tat0on8 )20s
meant t2at e&en t2oug2 t2e 3o+a4m0n0strators o5 t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 0n t2e
persons o5 7ot2 t2e appl03ants were appo0nte4 ?u0te late 0n t2e 4ay ++ to 7e pre30se t2e letters o5
a4m0n0strat0on were eDtra3te4 on 1> January 1==< alt2oug2 0t was 4ate4 26 June 1==6@ yet t2e
aDe o5 l0m0tat0on 2as yet to 5all8
"ut 'n 74ul Ras04 Su40n 5or t2e respon4ents too6 eD3ept0ons to t2e su7m0ss0ons o5 Ms Mary
Jesmal Pere0ra8 Ae 4rew my attent0on to t2e a5504a&0t o5 S2u7ana2 0n en3l . espe30ally at paras
10@ 11 an4 12 t2ereto an4 2e su7m0tte4 t2at t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 6new
t2at t2e sa04 property was re4eeme4 as early as 0n 1=0< an4 2e re5erre4 to t2e letter 4ate4 1<
July 1=./ as seen 0n eD2 :SG+/: o5 en3l . to 7a36 up 20s su7m0ss0on8 Ae su7m0tte4@ 0n ser0ous
&e0n@ t2at t2e sa04 property was re4eeme4 0n 1<=/ an4 3al3ulat0on w0se@ us0ng t2e year 2001 as
t2e 7arometer@ t2e ep0so4e too6 pla3e 106 years ago8 !n4ee4 0t was a long 4rawn matter8 Sl0g2tly
more t2an one 3entury8 E0t2 t2at lengt2 o5 t0me@ 0t was t2e 3ontent0on o5 Mr 74ul Ras204 Su40n
t2at 0t was 20g2ly 0mproper to pursue t2e matter s0n3e 0t 2a4 eD3ee4e4 t2e perm0tte4 per0o4@ un4er
t2e law@ to 0nst0tute legal pro3ee40ngs8 Ae 5urt2er su7m0tte4 t2at w2ate&er a3t0on un4erta6en@ 0t
woul4 surely preFu403e not only t2e respon4ents 7ut also t2e t20r4 part0es espe30ally t2e )ele3oms
#epartment w2o 2a4 reser&e4 t2e usage o5 t2at part o5 t2e sa04 property 7y way o5 a ga1ette
not0503at0on &04e GN ><6 4ate4 10 May 1=/18
'n306 74ul Ras04 Su40n 3ont0nue4 w0t2 20s su7m0ss0on8 Ae su7m0tte4 t2at t2e 3la0ms o5 7ot2 t2e
appl03ants 2a&e 3ause4 an 0nFust03e to t2e respon4ents8 Ae &enture4 a reason 5or t2at 0nFust03e8
Ae sa04 t2at t2e respon4ents 2a&e lost 3on3rete e&04en3e to 40spro&e or to re7ut all t2e
allegat0ons a4&an3e4 7y 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4ue to t2e non+a&a0la70l0ty o5 3erta0n 4o3uments8 Ae
po0nte4 out t2at 0t was rat2er 405503ult an4 0n4ee4 0mposs07le on t2e part o5 t2e respon4ents to
tra3e 3erta0n 4o3uments w2032 2a&e 7een lost or us0ng t2e Malay language ++ a language
un4erstoo4 7y all Malays0ans@ t2ose 4o3uments were o&erta6en 7y t2e roll0ng years or :40telan
Iaman:8 !n4ee4@ t0me woul4 w0pe out 3erta0n sal0ent an4 use5ul 4o3uments
(&&" + -L .% at ""(
5a&ora7le to t2e respon4ents8 Ae su7m0tte4 t2at 7ot2 t2e appl03ants too6 t2e0r own sweet t0me to
0nst0tute t2ese pro3ee40ngs ++ some 106 years a5ter t2e sa04 property 2a4 7een re4eeme48 Ae
su7m0tte4 t2at 05 su32 3la0ms were to 7e allowe4@ 0t woul4 open t2e 5loo4gates 5or ot2ers to 5ollow
an4 t2ose ot2ers woul4 ma6e an4 0nst0tute t2e0r 3la0ms on matters t2at 2a4 2appene4 a long t0me
ago8 Ae po0nte4 out t2at a3t0ons t2at 2a4 eD3ee4e4 t2e l0m0tat0on per0o4 3oul4 &ery well turn out to
7e untrue8 Ae t2en 4rew my attent0on to 5alsbury/s Laws of England 91t2 '4; Vol 2< at para 60/
o5 p 266 t2ereto@ w2032 was wor4e4 0n t20s 5as20onB
Pol03y o5 t2e L0m0tat0on 3ts8 )2e 3ourts 2a&e eDpresse4 at least t2ree 4055er0ng reasons support0ng t2e
eD0sten3e o5 statutes o5 l0m0tat0on@ namelyB 91; t2at long 4ormant 3la0ms 2a&e more o5 3ruelty t2an Fust03e
0n t2em 9A/8ourt v 8ross 91<2/; > "0ng >2= at pp >>2+>>>@ per "est (JC R" Pol030es at Lloyd/s v 4utler
,1=/0- 1 K" .6 at pp <1+<2 ,1=1=- 2 ll 'R 226 at p 22=@ 2>0@ per Streat5e0l4 J;C 92; t2at a 4e5en4ant
m0g2t 2a&e lost t2e e&04en3e to 40spro&e a stale 3la0m 9ones v 4ellgrove ;roperties Ltd ,1=1=- 2 K" .00
at p .01@ per Go44ar4 (J;C an4 9>; t2at persons w0t2 goo4 3auses o5 a3t0ons s2oul4 pursue t2em w0t2
reasona7le 40l0gen3e 94oard of 7rade v 8ay1er) 6rvine * 8o 91=2.; ( 610 at p 62< 9AL;@ per Lor4
t60nson;8
'n306 74ul Ras04 Su40n roun4e4 up 20s su7m0ss0on 7y say0ng t2at t2e re4empt0on pr03e o5
L<@000 t2at t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment a4&an3e4 to t2e 32ett0ar was e?u0&alent to t2e &alue an4
t2e 32arge o5 t2e sa04 property at t2at po0nt o5 t0me@ an4 t2at 7e0ng t2e 3ase 0t was 20s su7m0ss0on
Page >1
t2at 0t was 20g2ly 0mproper 5or t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment to 7e or4ere4 to 3ompensate 7ot2 t2e
appl03ants an4 t2e ot2er 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 0n w2ate&er 5orm at t20s po0nt o5
t0me8 *or t2ese reasons@ 2e praye4 t2at t2e not03e o5 mot0on 0n en3l > as amen4e4 0n en3l 6 o5
7ot2 t2e appl03ants 7e 40sm0sse4 w0t2 3osts8
M0ss Mary Jesmal Pere0ra re0terate4 t2e po0nt t2at s0n3e t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4 un4er t2e
wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2e statute o5 l0m0tat0on 3annot 7e a3t0&ate4 0n 5a&our o5 t2e
respon4ents8 S2e 5urt2er su7m0tte4 t2at t2ere was no l0m0tat0on 0n respe3t o5 an a3t0on see60ng a
4e3larat0on 5rom t2e 3ourt8 !n s2ort@ 0t was 2er su7m0ss0on t2at 0n see60ng 4e3laratory rel0e5 t2e law
o5 l0m0tat0on woul4 not apply8
L0m0tat0on 4epr0&es or restr03ts t2e r0g2t o5 an aggr0e&e4 person to see6 re3ourse to legal reme4y8
!t operates as an a7solute 4e5en3e 0n 5a&our o5 t2e 4e5en4ant8 )wo aut2or0t0es must 7e 20g2l0g2te4
0n or4er to s2ow t2e st0ng o5 t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on8 )2e 50rst woul4 7e t2e 3ase o5 8redit 8orporation
!-# 4hd v 9ong 7a2 Sin ,1==1- 1 MLJ 10= w2ere Aas20m Geop San0 (J 9Malaya; 9as 2e t2en
was; at pp 11>+111 aptly sa04B
)2e l0m0tat0on law 0s promulgate4 5or t2e pr0mary o7Fe3t o5 40s3ourag0ng pla0nt055s 5rom sleep0ng on t2e0r
a3t0ons an4 more 0mportantly@ to 2a&e a 4e50n0te en4 to l0t0gat0on8 )20s 0s 0n a33or4 w0t2 t2e maD0m interest
reipublicae ut sit finis litium t2at 0n t2e 0nterest o5 t2e state t2ere must 7e an en4 to l0t0gat0on8 )2e
rat0onale o5 t2e l0m0tat0on law s2oul4 7e appre30ate4 an4 en5or3e4 7y t2e 3ourts8
(&&" + -L .% at ""A
NeDt@ 0t woul4 7e t2e Pr0&y (oun30l:s 3ase o5 @ew 4on 7ew * Anor v >enderaan 4as -ara ,1=<>-
1 MLJ 1 at p / w2ere Lor4 "r0g2tman 2a4 t20s to say o5 l0m0tat0onB
E2en a per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on 2as eDp0re4@ a potent0al 4e5en4ant s2oul4 7e a7le to assume t2at 2e 0s no
longer at r0s6 5rom a stale 3la0m8 Ae s2oul4 7e a7le to part w0t2 20s papers 05 t2ey eD0st an4 40s3ar4 any
proo5s o5 w0tnesses w2032 2a&e 7een ta6en@ 40s32arge 20s sol030tor 05 2e 2a4 7een reta0ne4C an4 or4er 20s
a55a0rs on t2e 7as0s t2at 20s potent0al l0a70l0ty 2as gone8 )2at 0s t2e w2ole purpose o5 t2e l0m0tat0on
4e5en3e8
"as03ally@ t2e rat0onale 5or t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 0s s0mply to 40s3ourage stale 4eman4s8 )2e
lateness an4 t2e 40latory 3on4u3t o5 t2e pla0nt055 s2oul4 7e 3onstrue4 0n 5a&our o5 t2e 4e5en4ant8
"ut t2e 4elay as allu4e4 to 0n paras 11 an4 1/ o5 en3l 2 went un32allenge4 an4 t2e reasons
a4&an3e4 7y 7ot2 t2e appl03ants must 2a&e 7een t2e trut28 "ot2 t2e appl03ants 2a&e summone4
enoug2 #ut32 3ourage@ so to spea6@ 0n 50l0ng t2e not03e o5 mot0on 0n en3l >8 )2e 4elay 0n t2e 3ase
o5 >redin Sdn 4hd v @79 6nvestments Sdn 4hd ,1==<- 1 MLJ 16 went uneDpla0ne4 an4 S2a06
#au4 J( 4el0&er0ng t2e Fu4gment o5 t2e 3ourt 3ensure4 su32 a mo&e8 t p /1 o5 t2e report@ t20s
was w2at 20s Lor4s20p 2a4 to sayB
)2e 3entral 0ssue 0s w2et2er t2e sale an4 pur32ase agreement 2as 0n law 3ome to an en4@ or 0s 0t st0ll
su7s0st0ng8 Ee 2ol4 t2at 0n law t2e agreement 3ame to an en4 on 1 July 1=<> w2en Kre40n 5a0le4 to settle
t2e 7alan3e o5 t2e pur32ase pr03e8 !5 t2ere 0s a 3ause o5 a3t0on at all@ 0t arose on 1 July 1=<>8 Ee agree
w0t2 t2e 3ontent0on o5 Mr Royan o5 3ounsel 5or G)* t2at s0n3e t2e a3t0on was 50le4 more t2an 11 years
a5ter t2e term0nat0on@ 0t 0s statute+7arre48 lt2oug2 Kre40n:s a3t0on 0n essen3e 0s see60ng 4e3laratory rel0e5@
ne&ert2eless su32 rel0e5 3an 7e 7arre4 7e3ause o5 un4ue 4elay8 !n 53 5ussin bin 53 Ali * =rs v 0ato/ 53
-ohamed bin @aacob ,1=<>- 2 MLJ 22.@ an a3t0on 5or 4e3laratory rel0e5s 50le4 o&er t2ree years a5ter t2e
3ause o5 a3t0on arose@ t2e *e4eral (ourt 2el4 9at p 2>2;B
:Now t2e grant0ng o5 a 4e3laratory Fu4gment 0s a matter purely at t2e 40s3ret0on o5 t2e
3ourt8 Ee 4o not t20n6 t2at t2e 30r3umstan3es surroun40ng t2e present appeals woul4
Fust05y our eDer30s0ng t20s 40s3ret0on 0n 5a&our o5 t2e appellants@ w2ere t2ere 2as 7een@ 0n
one &0ew@ unreasona7le &a30llat0on an4 4elay8:
!n t2e present 3ase too@ t2ere 2as 7een 4elay o5 o&er 11 years an4 now2ere 2as t2e appellant eDpla0ne4
t2e0r 0na3t0on 5or t2e 4elay8
Page >/
! woul4@ w0t2out 2es0tat0on@ a33ept t2e eDplanat0on 5or t2e 4elay 0n 50l0ng t2e not03e o5 mot0on 0n
en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 68 Eoul4 t2e 4elay o5 106 years 5rom t2e t0me t2e sa04 property was
re4eeme4 7e 3onstrue4 a4&ersely aga0nst 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 7ear0ng 0n m0n4 t2at 7ot2 t2e
respon4ents 2a&e 7een preFu403e4 t2eretoK !n answer0ng t20s ?uest0on one must 3erta0nly
7alan3e t2e 0nterests o5 t2e part0es 0n t2e present 3ase8 )2e respon4ents were not a7le to tra3e
t2e rele&ant 4o3uments to 7olster up t2e0r 3ase w20le t2e appl03ants were t2e &03t0ms o5 an
a3?u0s0t0on eDer30se w2032 ran 5oul o5 t2e law 0n t2at t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment was
ut0l0Ie48 Not only t2at@ t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 were not 0n5orme4 w0t2 regar4
to t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04 property 7y t2e Jo2or State
(&&" + -L .% at ""'
Go&ernment8 !n 5a3t@ t2e 3onsent o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 were not
o7ta0ne4 7e5ore t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment pro3ee4e4 to re4eem t2e sa04 property8 )o a44
0nsult to 0nFury@ no 5ormal en?u0ry was e&er 2el4 7e5ore t2e sa04 property was purporte4ly a3?u0re4
7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment8
)2e w2ole strengt2 o5 t2e appl03ants: 3ase 20nge4 on t2e a3?u0s0t0on eDer30se t2at was 4one on
21 %3to7er 1=/0 un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment8 S0n3e t2e sa04 property was a3?u0re4
un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t2ere was 0n 5a3t no a3?u0s0t0on at all un4erta6en 7y t2e
Jo2or State Go&ernment an4@ 3onse?uently@ t2e sa04 property was ne&er &este4 0n t2e Jo2or
State Go&ernment8 )2e owners20p o5 t2e sa04 property rema0ne4 t2roug2out an4 to t20s 4ay as
t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 an4 t2at estate 2a4 not 7een 40str07ute4 to t2e 7ene5030ar0es
as yet8 E2en t2e sa04 property was purporte4ly a3?u0re4 on 21 %3to7er 1=/0@ t0me rema0ne4 st0ll
an4 t2e r0gours o5 t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on was not a3t0&ate4 at all8 !n 5a3t t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on was not
appl03a7le to t2e 5a3ts o5 t2e present 3ase8 !n so 2ol40ng@ ! must 0mpose a 3a&eat8 ! am not
eDten40ng nor postpon0ng t2e l0m0tat0on per0o4 0n 5a&our o5 t2e appl03ants8 )20s was a 3ase w2ere
t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on playe4 no part at all8 !n 1<=/ w2en t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment re4eeme4
t2e sa04 property@ 0t was an a3t o5 7ene&olen3eB &ery 5r0en4ly@ &ery 2elp5ul an4 &ery 32ar0ta7le
gestures ++notw0t2stan40ng t2e 5a3t t2at t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 were not tol4
nor were t2e0r 3onsents o7ta0ne4 7e5ore t2e re4empt0on was un4erta6en8 5ter t2e sa04 property
2a4 7een re4eeme4 0n 1<=/@ t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment purporte4ly 2el4 t2e t0tle to t2e sa04
property 0n total 40sregar4 to t2e legal r0g2ts o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28
Surely t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 oug2t to 7e re3ogn0Ie4 7y t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment w2en t2e sa04 property was re4eeme4 0n 1<=/C t2ey s2oul4 not 7e s04e steppe4
s0n3e t2ey are ent0tle4@ 0n law@ to t2e estate o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28
!n my Fu4gment@ t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 2as no appl03at0on to t2e 5a3ts o5 t2e present 3ase8 S0n3e t2e
sa04 property was wrongly a3?u0re4 un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment@ t0me rema0ne4 at
large an4 t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on was 0nappl03a7le an4 0t 3annot go&ern t2e out3ome o5 t2e present
3ase at all8 )2e law 7oo6s are replete w0t2 aut2or0t0es on t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on8 !t woul4 4o Fust03e
to re5er to some o5 t2em e&en t2oug2 t2ey 2a&e no 7ear0ng at all to t20s 3ase8 )2omson (J@ 0n
Lee Lee 8heng v Seow ;eng >wang ,1=60- 26 MLJ 1@ 2a4 t20s to say on t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 9see
p 2 o5 t2e report;B
)2e per0o4 pres3r07e4 7y s <9>;97; o5 t2e (0&0l Law %r40nan3e 0s a per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on8 !5 t2e 3ourt 2as
power to eDten4 0t t2en 0t 2as power to eDten4 any ot2er per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on an4 0t woul4 t2us 7e open to
e&ery l0t0gant w0t2 a statute+7arre4 gr0e&an3e to 3ome to t2e 3ourt an4 attempt to 2a&e t2e statutory 7ar
remo&e4 so t2at 2e 3oul4 7e 2ear48 )2e pr0n30ple o5 l0m0tat0on 0s a &ery an30ent one 9see > "la36@ (om
1</; an4 t2e o7Fe3t o5 mo4ern statutes o5 l0m0tat0on 2as 7een t2us 4es3r07e4 7y Eoo4@ V03e+(2an3ellor@
0n t2e 3ase o5 -anby v 4ewic2e > K $ J >12 at p >/2 B
(&&" + -L .% at ""%
:)2e leg0slature 2as@ 0n t20s as 0n e&ery 30&0l0se4 3ountry t2at 2as e&er eD0ste4@ t2oug2t 50t
to pres3r07e 3erta0n l0m0tat0ons o5 t0me a5ter w2032 persons may suppose t2emsel&es to
7e 0n pea3ea7le possess0on o5 t2e0r property@ an4 3apa7le o5 transm0tt0ng t2e estates o5
w2032 t2ey are 0n possess0on@ w0t2out any appre2ens0on o5 t2e t0tle 7e0ng 0mpugne4 7y
l0t0gat0on 0n respe3t o5 transa3t0ons w2032 o33urre4 at a 40stant per0o4@ w2en e&04en3e 0n
support o5 t2e0r own t0tle may 7e most 405503ult to o7ta0n8:
Page >6
)2ere 0s@ o5 3ourse@ no reason w2y t2e leg0slature s2oul4 not 4etra3t 5rom t2e 3erta0nty w2032 t2e su7Fe3t
t2us enFoys 7y g0&0ng t2e 3ourts power to enlarge t2e per0o4s o5 l0m0tat0on pres3r07e4 7y statute 7ut one
woul4 eDpe3t any statute w2032 2a4 t20s o7Fe3t to eDpress 0t w0t2 &ery great 3learness an4 part03ular0ty8
s was sa04 7y r3207al4 J@ 0n t2e 3ase o5 Washer v Elliott 1 (P# 16= at p 1.1 B
:!t 0s not reasona7le to eDpe3t t2at su32 a 32ange woul4 7e ma4e w0t2out part03ular an4
pre30se ena3tments regulat0ng t2e eDer30se o5 a power so eDtens0&e an4 eD3ept0onal@ or
t2at 0t woul4 7e le5t to 7e 0mpl0e4 5rom mere general wor4s t2e purpose an4 o7Fe3t o5
w2032 may 7e answere4 7y attr07ut0ng to t2em a natural 7ut more l0m0te4 mean0ng8:
!n 8ommissioner of the 9ederal 8apital v 6nsurance 8ompany of North America ,1=6<- 2 MLJ
11>@ t2e t2en *e4eral (ourt 2a4 o33as0on to 3ons04er an appl03at0on 7y way o5 mot0on to pre3lu4e
t2e respon4ent 0n t2at 3ase 5rom rely0ng on t2e 4e5en3e o5 l0m0tat0on8 )2e 2ea4note o5 t2e 3ase at
p 11> woul4 7e su55030ent to s2ow t2e 5a3ts an4 t2e Fu4gment o5 t2e t2en *e4eral (ourt an4 ! w0ll
now repro4u3e t2e 2ea4noteB
)2e respon4ent@ 0nsurer 5or t2e appellant@ was 7roug2t 0n as a t20r4 party to an a3t0on 0nst0tute4 7y t2e
(entral 'le3tr030ty "oar4 aga0nst t2e appellant@ 3la0m0ng 3ompensat0on 5or 4amage 3ause4 to 3erta0n
ele3tr03al 0nstallat0ons8 (lause . o5 t2e 3ontra3t o5 0nsuran3e rea4B :!5 t2e 3ompany s2all 40s3la0m
l0a70l0ty 888 an4 su32 3la0m s2all not w0t20n twel&e 3alen4ar mont2s 5rom t2e 4ate o5 su32 40s3la0mer 2a&e
7een re5erre4 to ar70trat0on 888 t2e 3la0m s2all 5or all purposes 7e 4eeme4 to 7e a7an4one4 888:
)2e not03e o5 40s3la0mer was ser&e4 on t2e appellant on Mar32 12@ 1=6/8 %n ugust 1@ 1=6/@ t2e
respon4ent appl0e4 5or an or4er un4er s / o5 t2e r70trat0on %r40nan3e@ 1=/0@ to stay 5urt2er pro3ee40ngs
unt0l t2e 4055eren3es 7etween t2e appellant an4 t2e respon4ent were su7m0tte4 to ar70trat0on8 )2e or4er
was grante4 on Septem7er 26@ 1=66@ t2at 0s@ a5ter t2e eDp0ry o5 t2e 3ontra3tual per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on8
)2e appellant 7y way o5 mot0on@ appl0e4 5or a &ar0at0on o5 t2e or4er to t2e e55e3t t2at t2e respon4ent
s2oul4 7e pre3lu4e4 5rom rely0ng on t2e lapse o5 t0me 7etween ugust 1@ 1=6/ an4 Septem7er 26@ 1=66
0n 3omput0ng t0me 5or t2e purpose o5 plea40ng l0m0tat0on un4er 3l . o5 t2e 3ontra3t as a 4e5en3e to t2e
3la0m 0n t2e ar70trat0on pro3ee40ngs8 G0ll J8 40sm0sse4 t2e mot0on 9,1=6.- 2 MLJ 161;8 %n appeal@
H%#&@ allow0ng t2e appealB
91; 7y &0rtue o5 s > 91; o5 t2e (0&0l Law %r40nan3e an4 s 2>92; an4 2/92; o5 t2e 3ourts o5
Ju403ature 3t 1=61@ t2e A0g2 (ourt 2as 0n2erent e?u0ta7le Fur0s403t0on to restra0n a
4e5en4ant 5rom sett0ng up t2e 4e5en3e o5 l0m0tat0on un4er a 3ontra3t 9or statute; 05 t2e
5ollow0ng 30r3umstan3es are
(&&" + -L .% at ""+
presentB 9a; two 5orums w0t2 nom0nal Fur0s403t0on to 2ear an4 resol&e a 40spute 7etween
t2e same part0esC 97; t2e statutory or 3ontra3tual per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on s2oul4 2a&e eDp0re4
w20lst t2e ?uest0on o5 t2e appropr0ate 5orum to resol&e t2e 40spute was pen40ngC 93; 0t
was 7eyon4 t2e 3ontrol o5 t2e aggr0e&e4 party to 4o anyt20ng 3ons0stent w0t2 20s legal
r0g2ts to es3ape t2e 3onse?uen3es o5 20s 3la0m 7e0ng 7arre4 7y t2e e55luD0on o5 t0meC
92; t2e 3on40t0ons ne3essary 5or t2e 3ourt to eDer30se 0ts 0n2erent Fur0s403t0on were
present 0n t20s 3ase8 n or4er s2oul4 t2ere5ore 7e ma4e &ary0ng t2e or4er o5 26
Septem7er 1=66 0n terms o5 t2e mot0on8
RustomF0 on 7he Law of Limitation and Adverse ;ossession 9.t2 '4@ 1==2; 7y SP Sen Gupta 0s
a 7oo6 wort2 rea40ng8 )2ere t2e learne4 aut2or ma6es 3op0ous re5eren3es to !n40an@ 'ngl0s2 an4
mer03an aut2or0t0es as well as to t2e (o4e 4e *ran3e8 t pp 10 +11 o5 t2e 7oo6@ t2e learne4
aut2or wr0tesB
Act quiets long possession ++ )2e o7Fe3t o5 l0m0tat0on 0s to ?u0et long possess0on an4 to eDt0ngu0s2 state
4eman4s 9ohn v Summer !R 1=1> S0n4 >> at p >6@ !LR 1=12 Kara320 166C Luchmee v Run3ee 91<.>;
20 ER >./ 9P(;;8 ll statutes o5 l0m0tat0on 2a&e 5or t2e0r o7Fe3t t2e pre&ent0on o5 t2e ra0s0ng up o5 3la0ms
Page >.
at great 40stan3es o5 t0me w2en e&04en3e 0s lost@ an4 0n all well+regulate4 3ountr0es@ t2e ?u0et0ng o5
possess0on 0s 2el4 as an 0mportant po0nt o5 pol03y 97rustees of 0undee 5arbour v 0ougall 91</2; 1 Ma3?
AL >21C Luchmee v Run3ee 91<.>; 20 ER >./ 9P(;C 7ara Nath v 6shwar 8handra 91=11; 16 (EN >=< at
p 101C R Rama Reddi v R 4abu Reddi !LR 91=12; >. Ma4 1<6 at p 1=1;8 )2e pu7l03 2a&e a great 0nterest
0n 2a&0ng a 6nown l0m0t 50De4 7y law to l0t0gat0on@ 5or t2e ?u0et o5 t2e 3ommun0ty@ an4 t2at t2ere may 7e a
3erta0n 50De4 per0o4@ a5ter w2032 t2e possessor may 6now t2at 20s t0tle an4 r0g2t 3annot 7e 3alle4 0n
?uest0on 98holmondeley v 8linton 91<20; 2 Ja3 $ E 110;8 :)0me:@ sa04 Lor4 Plun6et@ spea60ng o5 t2e law
o5 pres3r0pt0on@ :2ol4s 0n one 2an4 a s3yt2e@ 0n t2e ot2er an 2our+glass8 )2e s3yt2e mows 4own t2e
e&04en3e o5 our r0g2ts@ t2e 2our+glass measures t2e per0o4 w2032 ren4ers t2at e&04en3es super5luous:
98lippen/s =il 8o Ltd v Edinburgh and 0ist Water 7rustees !R 1=01 (al 61 at p 6=;8 )2e use o5
pres3r0pt0on 0s so ne3essary t2at w0t2out t20s reme4y@ e&ery possessor 7e0ng l0a7le to 7e trou7le4 0n all
etern0ty@ t2ere woul4 ne&er 7e any per5e3t assuran3e o5 a sure an4 pea3ea7le possess0on 90omat@ Vol !@
p <6.;8
t p 1>@ t2e learne4 aut2or statesB
-orality of plea of limitation ++ L0m0tat0on 0s not unFust 5or a 40s3re40ta7le 4e5en3e an4 t2ere 0s not20ng
morally wrong 0n a 4e5en4ant rely0ng upon 0t 9Rhodesia Rly Ltd v Resident 8ommr) 4echuanaland 91=>>;
116 !( =26 at p =2. 9P(;C 8haran 0as v Amir2han !LR 91=20; 1< (al 110 116 9P(;;8 plea o5 l0m0tat0on
0s not a mere te32n03al plea an4 a party w2o 3an 0n&o6e t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 0n 20s 5a&our 0s Fust050e4 0n
4o0ng so@ an4 oug2t not to 7e 4epr0&e4 o5 t2e a4&antage t2ere7y ga0ne4 9-anghumal ethanand v
Aratmal Satramdas 91=2>; .6 !( 11= 9S0n4; at p 1< !R 1=21 S0n4 1.8 See also 8haran 0as v Amir >han
!LR 91=20; 1< (al 110 at p 116 9P(;;8 !t may o5ten 7e a &ery r0g2teous 4e5en3e 9Roddam v -orley 91</.;
1 #e G $ J 1 at p 2>@ ?uote4 w0t2 appro&al 7y t2e Pr0&y (oun30l 0n Rhodesia Rly Ltd v Res) 8ommr)
4echuanaland 91=>>; 116 !( =26 at p =2. 9P(;;8 )2e 3ourt 2as not to 4eterm0ne w2et2er t2e 4e5en3e 9o5
l0m0tat0on; 0s 2an4some or 3ons30ent0ous@ 7ut w2et2er 0t 0s
(&&" + -L .% at "".
goo4 0n law 9Reeves v 4utcher 91<=1; 2 H" /0= at p /11C 7ea 9inancing Syndicate Ltd v 8handra
>amal !LR 91=2=; /6 (al /./ at p /.6 5ollowe4;8 %7ser&at0ons 0n &ar0ous 3ases 9See >anwar 8haran3it
Singh v 4ishen Singh 91=11; 2> !( 162 9PunF;;@ t2at w2en a pla0nt055:s 3la0m 0s Fust an4 e?u0ta7le@ 0t w0ll
not 7e 40sm0sse4 as t0me 7arre4@ 3annot 7e supporte4 9see -ahommad @unis v 7rilo2chand 91=>1; 1/>
!( 10/< at p 1061 ll8 See also 5ansra3 :upta v =fficial Liquidator !LR 91=>2; /1 ll 1=6. 9P(;;8 E2ere
no l0m0tat0on was pro&04e4 w2en t2e su0t was 50le4@ 0t 3annot 7e sa04 to 7e t0me 7arre4 9Sami v 4oard of
Revenue !R 1=<< ll 1</;8
(ont0nu0ng 0n a ser0ous &e0n@ t2e learne4 aut2or at p 16 lays 4own t2e 5ollow0ng propos0t0ons o5
t2e lawB
)2e 5ollow0ng are t2ree 3orrelate4 an4 5am0l0ar propos0t0ons o5 t2e law o5 l0m0tat0onB
91; L0m0tat0on 4oes not eDt0ngu0s2 t2e r0g2t 7ut only 7ars t2e reme4y8 )2e wor4 :r0g2t: 0s
use4 2ere to mean a pr0mary or su7stant0&e r0g2t@ an4 t2e propos0t0on 0s true only 05 t2e
wor4 0s un4erstoo4 0n t2at l0m0te4 sense8 *or a reme4y 0s also a r0g2t 0n t2e w04er sense
o5 t2e wor4@ a san3t0on0ng or se3on4ary r0g2t@ a reme40al or pro3e4ural r0g2t as 0t 0s o5ten
3alle4@ an4 l0m0tat0on 4oes un4ou7te4ly eDt0ngu0s2 su32 a r0g2t@ t2oug2@ su7Fe3t to t2e
?ual0503at0on alrea4y ment0one4@ lea&0ng t2e su7stant0&e r0g2t una55e3te48 %5 3ourse@ t2e
reme4y 3an 7e re&0&e4@ or :re3reate4: woul4 per2aps 7e t2e 7etter wor4 to use 7y a law
5or t2e purpose@ Fust as any ot2er r0g2t@ 0n3lu40ng a su7stant0&e r0g2t@ 3an 7e so 3reate48
"ut@ 0n so 5ar as t2e part03ular reme40al r0g2t to w2032 0t appl0es 0s 3on3erne4@ l0m0tat0on
un4ou7te4ly eDt0ngu0s2es t2e r0g2t8 !t 0s@ 2owe&er@ 0mportant to remem7er t2at l0m0tat0on
eDt0ngu0s2es only t2e part03ular reme40al r0g2t w2032 0s 0ts &03t0m an4 t2at@ s0n3e 0t lea&es
t2e su7stant0&e r0g2t una55e3te4@ t2at r0g2t 3an st0ll 7e en5or3e4 0n ot2er ways 05 ot2er
ways are a&a0la7le@ not merely 0n40re3tly 7y t2e en5or3ement o5 a l0en or 7y o7ta0n0ng a
5res2 prom0se@ or 7y reason o5 payment notw0t2stan40ng t2e 7ar 7e0ng sa5e 5rom re3all@
7ut also 0n a pos0t0&e an4 40re3t manner8
92; !5 a reme4y 7e3omes 7arre4 un4er t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 0n 5or3e at t2e t0me@ a
su7se?uent 32ange 0n t2e law g0&0ng a longer per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on w0ll not 7y 0tsel5@ 0n t2e
a7sen3e o5 pro&0s0on 5or t2e purpose@ re&0&e@ or rat2er@ re3reate t2e reme4y8 )2e
part03ular reme40al r0g2t 0s eDt0ngu0s2e4 an4 3an 7e re3reate4 only 7y a law 5or t2e
purpose8 "ut t2e su7stant0&e r0g2t an4 ot2er reme40al r0g2ts@ 05 any@ 5or 0ts en5or3ement
rema0n0ng una55e3te4@ t2ese reme40al r0g2ts 3an 7e eDer30se4 so long as t2ey are not
7arre4 7y t0me8
Page ><
9>; )2e law o5 l0m0tat0on to apply 0s t2e law 0n 5or3e at t2e t0me t2e pro3ee40ng 0n
?uest0on 0s 0nst0tute4 9;alais 8entral 4an2 v > oseph Augusti !R 1=66 Ker 121;8
n4 at p 1<@ t2e learne4 aut2or 5urt2er states t2atB
)2e 3ourt oug2t not to put an 0nterpretat0on upon a statute o5 l0m0tat0on 7y 0mpl03at0on an4 0n5eren3e 9Lala
4al -u2and v La3wanti !R 1=./ S( 10<=;8 E2ere t2e language o5 a statute 0s 3lear@ t2e 3ourt 0s 7oun4
to g0&e e55e3t to 0ts pla0n mean0ng 7ut w2ere t2e language o5 t2e ena3tment 0s not 0tsel5 pre30se or 0s
am70guous or o5 4ou7t5ul 0mport@ re3ourse may 7e 2a4 to eDtraneous 3ons04erat0ons 9:eneral Accident v
anmahomed !R 1=11 P( 6;@ an4
(&&" + -L .% at "",
un4er su32 30r3umstan3es t2e 3ourt woul4 a4opt a 3onstru3t0on 0n 5a&our o5 t2e r0g2t to pro3ee4 rat2er
t2an one 7arr0ng su32 r0g2t 9ethmal v Amb Singh !R 1=// RaF =.C AR Senthilanathan 8hettiar v
;anchayat 4oard !R 1=/2 Ma4 1<2C Nalin v 4e3oy !R 1=/> (al /0C ayan La2shmi v 8l7 !R 1=6. P
==;8
Leg0slat0&e w0se@ 0n Eest Malays0a@ t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 0s go&erne4 7y t2e L0m0tat0on 3t 1=/>
93t 2/1; 9:t2e 3t:; an4 our 3t 0s 7ase4 on t2e 'ngl0s2 L0m0tat0on 3t 1=>=8 )2ere are pro&0s0ons
0n t2e 3t t2at eDten4e4 or postpone4 t2e l0m0tat0on per0o4s un4er 3erta0n s0tuat0ons an4 t2ese
pro&0s0ons 3an 7e seen 0n Part !!! t2ereto ++ 5rom ss 21+2=8 Se3t0on 21 spea6s o5 an eDtens0on o5
l0m0tat0on per0o4 0n 3ase o5 40sa70l0tyC s 2/ relates to an eDtens0on o5 l0m0tat0on per0o4 w2ere t2e
4e7tor a4m0n0sters t2e estate o5 20s 3re40torC s 26 relates to 5res2 a33rual o5 a3t0on on
a36nowle4gment or part paymentC s 2. re5ers to 5ormal pro&0s0ons as to a36nowle4gments an4
part paymentsC s 2< tal6s o5 t2e e55e3t o5 a36nowle4gment or part payment on persons ot2er t2an
t2e ma6er or t2e re30p0ent t2eretoC an4 50nally@ s 2= relates to postponement o5 l0m0tat0on per0o4 0n
3ase o5 5rau4 or m0sta6e8 )o me@ ss 26+2< o5 t2e 3t are t2e rele&ant pro&0s0ons go&ern0ng t2e
re&0&al o5 a 3ause o5 a3t0on 0n t2e e&ent o5 an a36nowle4gment or part payment8 Se3t0on 26 o5 t2e
3t ena3ts as 5ollowsB
91; E2ere t2ere 2as a33rue4 any r0g2t o5 a3t0on to re3o&er lan4 or to en5or3e a
mortgage or 32arge 0n respe3t o5 lan4 or personal property@ an4 ++
9a; t2e person 0n possess0on o5 t2e lan4 or personal property
a36nowle4ges t2e t0tle o5 t2e person to w2om t2e r0g2t o5 a3t0on 2as
a33rue4C or
97; 0n t2e 3ase o5 any su32 a3t0on 7y a mortgagee or 32argee t2e
person 0n possess0on as a5oresa04 or t2e person l0a7le 5or t2e 4e7t
se3ure4 7y t2e mortgage or 32arge ma6es any payment 0n respe3t
t2ereo5@ w2et2er pr0n30pal or 0nterest@
t2e r0g2t s2all 7e 4eeme4 to 2a&e a33rue4 on an4 not 7e5ore t2e 4ate o5 t2e
a36nowle4gment or last payment8
92; E2ere any r0g2t o5 a3t0on 2as a33rue4 to re3o&er any 4e7t or ot2er l0?u04ate4
pe3un0ary 3la0m@ or any 3la0m to t2e personal estate o5 a 4e3ease4 person or to any
s2are or 0nterest t2ere0n@ an4 t2e person l0a7le a33ounta7le t2ere5or a36nowle4ges t2e
3la0m or ma6es any payment 0n respe3t t2ereo5@ t2e r0g2t s2all 7e 4eeme4 to 2a&e
a33rue4 on an4 not 7e5ore t2e 4ate o5 t2e a36nowle4gment or t2e last payment8
Pro&04e4 t2at a payment o5 a part o5 t2e rent or 0nterest 4ue at any t0me s2all not eDten4
t2e per0o4 5or 3la0m0ng t2e rema0n4er o5 t2e rent or 0nterest t2en 4ue@ 7ut any payment
o5 0nterest s2all 2a&e e55e3t@ 5or t2e purposes o5 t20s su7se3t0on only@ as 05 0t were a
payment 0n respe3t o5 t2e pr0n30pal 4e7t8
Page >=
an4 0t 3learly pro&04es 5or a 5res2 a33rual o5 a3t0on un4er two s0tuat0ons8 )2e 50rst woul4 7e 0n
relat0on to a3t0ons to re3o&er lan4 or to en5or3e a mortgage or 32arge 0n respe3t o5 lan4 or
personal property 9see s 2691; o5 t2e 3tC an4 4an2 of America National 7rust Savings
Association v 8heong 5oon 8hong ,1=<>- 1 MLJ 2</;8 )2e se3on4 woul4 7e 0n relat0on to a3t0ons
to re3o&er any 4e7t or ot2er pe3un0ary 3la0m@ or any 3la0m to t2e personal estate o5 a
(&&" + -L .% at ""$
4e3ease4 person@ or to any s2are or 0nterest o5 any su32 estate 9see s 2692; o5 t2e 3t@ an4 Wee
7iang 7eng v =ng 8hong 5ooi * Anor ,1=.<- 2 MLJ /1 an4 =versea-8hinese 4an2ing
8orporation Ltd v ;hilip Wee >ee ;uan ,1=<1- 2 MLJ <> 9*(;@ ,1=<1- 2 MLJ 1 9P(;;8 !n s2ort@ 0n
t2e 3onteDt o5 s 26 o5 t2e 3t@ only two a3ts may 3onst0tute or g0&e r0se to a 5res2 a33rual o5 a3t0onB
91; t2e a36nowle4gment o5 t2e 3la0mC an4
9>; t2e ma60ng o5 any payment 0n respe3t o5 t2e 3la0m8
)2e wor4 :a36nowle4gment: t2at appears 0n s 26 o5 t2e 3t 2as 7een 3onstrue4 to mean an
:a4m0ss0on: 7y Lor4 #enn0ng 0n :ood v ;arry ,1=6>- 2 ll 'R /=8 t p 61 o5 t2e report@ 20s
Lor4s20p 2a4 t20s to sayB
Nowa4ays@ as a result o5 t20s new 3t@ t2ere 0s no ne3ess0ty to loo6 5or a prom0se@ eDpress or 0mpl0e48
)2ere nee4 7e only an a36nowle4gment o5 a 4e7t or ot2er l0?u04ate4 amount8 )2at means ! t20n6@ t2at
t2ere must 7e an a4m0ss0on t2at t2ere 0s a 4e7t or ot2er l0?u04ate4 amount outstan40ng an4 unpa048 '&en
t2oug2 t2e 4e7tor says 0n t2e same wr0t0ng t2at 2e w0ll ne&er pay 0t@ ne&ert2eless 0t 0s a goo4
a36nowle4gment8 !n or4er to 7e an a36nowle4gment@ 2owe&er@ t2e 4e7t must 7e ?uant050e4 0n 50gures or@
at all e&ents@ 0t must 7e l0?u04ate4 0n t2e sense t2at 0t 0s 3apa7le o5 as3erta0nment 7y 3al3ulat0on@ or 7y
eDtr0ns03 e&04en3e@ w0t2out 5urt2er agreement o5 t2e part0es8
E2at amounts to an a36nowle4gment woul4 &ary 5rom 3ase to 3ase8 )2ere are no 2ar4 an4 5ast
rules8 t t2e en4 o5 t2e 4ay@ 0t 0s a ?uest0on o5 5a3t an4 0t 0s up to t2e 3ourt to 4e304e 9Langrish v
Watts ,1=0>- 1 K" 6>6;8 Kerr J 0n Surrendra =verseas Ltd v :overnment of Sri Lan2a ,1=..- 1
ELR /6/ at p /./ ga&e a 70r4:s eye &0ew o5 t2e law 0n t2ese wor4sB
"ut ta60ng t2e 4e7tor:s statement as a w2ole@ as 0t must 7e@ 2e 3an only 7e 2el4 to 2a&e a36nowle4ge4
t2e 3la0m 05 2e 2as 0n e55e3t a4m0tte4 20s legal l0a70l0ty to pay t2at w2032 t2e pla0nt055 see6s to re3o&er8 !5 2e
2as 4en0e4 l0a70l0ty@ w2et2er on t2e groun4 o5 w2at 0n plea4er:s language 0s 3alle4 :a&o04an3e:@ or on t2e
groun4 o5 an allege4 set o55 or 3ounter 3la0m@ t2en 20s statement 4oes not amount to an a36nowle4gment
o5 t2e 3re40tor:s 3la0m8 lternat0&ely@ 05 2e 3onten4s t2at some eD0st0ng set o55s or 3ross+3la0m re4u3es t2e
3re40tor:s 3la0m 0n part@ t2en t2e statement@ ta6en as a w2ole@ 3an only amount to an a36nowle4gment o5
0n4e7te4ness 5or t2e 7alan3e8 !n e55e3t@ :a36nowle4ges t2e 3la0m: means t2at t2e statement 0n ?uest0on
must 7e an a4m0ss0on o5 t2at 0n4e7te4ness w2032 t2e pla0nt055 see6s to re3o&er notw0t2stan40ng t2e eDp0ry
o5 t2e per0o4 o5 l0m0tat0on8
Now@ t2e a5504a&0t o5 S2u7ana2 0n en3l . t2at was a550rme4 on 6 Septem7er 1=== as allu4e4 to
earl0er@ 0n part03ular at para < t2ereo5 ga&e an 0n6l0ng t2at t2ere m0g2t 2a&e 7een an
a36nowle4gment8 )2at para < was allu4e4 to 0n t2e 7o4y o5 t20s Fu4gment an4 t2e Malay &ers0on
was wor4e4 0n t20s 5as20onB
<8 Saya sesunggu2nya per3aya 7a2awa 2arga pene7usan tana2 terse7ut se7anya6
L<@000 yang 407uat ole2 KeraFaan 6epa4a 32ett0ar yang 7er6enaan a4ala2 sama 4an
selaras 4engan n0la0 4an ga4a0an atas tana2 terse7ut 6et06a 0tu@ 4an 60n0 a4ala2 t04a6
waFar 7ag0 KeraFaan Neger0 Jo2or mem7ayar apa+apa Fua 7entu6 pampasan atau
gant0rug0 6epa4a Pemo2on+Pemo2on ataupun war0s+war0s lmar2um Ung6u 74ulla2
yang la0n8
Page 10
(&&" + -L .% at "(&
7ut@ w0t2 respe3t@ on t2e a&a0la7le aut2or0t0es@ t2e a&erment 0n para < o5 en3l . 3an ne&er 7e
3onstrue4 to 7e an a36nowle4gment o5 a 4e7t8 !t was an a&erment w2032 s2owe4 t2at t2e sa04
property 2a4 7een re4eeme4 at RM<@000 7y t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment to t2e 32ett0ar@ an4 t2at
amount was sa04 to 7e at par w0t2 t2e &alue o5 t2e 32arge t2at was pla3e4 on t2e sa04 property at
t2at mater0al t0me an4@ 3onse?uently@ 0t was unw0se 5or t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment to pay any
3ompensat0on or 4amages to t2e appl03ants or to t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla28
Moreo&er@ 7y &0rtue o5 s 2.91; o5 t2e 3t@ e&ery su32 a36nowle4gment s2all 7e 0n wr0t0ng an4
s0gne4 7y t2e person ma60ng t2e a36nowle4gment8
"e t2at as 0t may@ 0t was part an4 par3el o5 my Fu4gment an4 ! so 2ol4 t2at t2e law o5 l0m0tat0on 2as
no rele&an3e to t2e 5a3ts o5 t2e present 3ase 5or t2e reasons allu4e4 to 7y me somew2ere 0n t20s
Fu4gment8 !n a4Fu403at0ng en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 6 ++ t2e not03e o5 mot0on@ ! 2a&e 6ept an
open m0n48 ! 2a&e eDam0ne4 t2e 5a3ts 0n 0ts ent0rety an4 ! 2a&e allu4e4 to t2e rele&ant laws8 ! too6
0nto 3ons04erat0on t2e su7m0ss0ons o5 t2e part0es t2roug2 t2e0r 2ar4wor60ng 3ounsel8 No stones
were le5t unturne48
!n t2e early part o5 t20s Fu4gment@ ! pose4 t2ree ?uest0onsB
5) Eas 0t really true t2at t2e 5ate o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e estate o5 Ung6u 74ulla2
2a4 7een 4eterm0ne4 7y t2e law o5 l0m0tat0onK
5) Eere t2e m0nutes o5 Glen3ross a 4amper to t2e appl03ants 0n t2at e&eryt20ng was
a 5oregone 3on3lus0onK
5) Eas t2e sa04 property a state lan4K
an4 ! w0ll now answer t2ese t2ree ?uest0ons 0n t2e negat0&e8 Surely t2e re4empt0on o5 t2e sa04
property 4one 0n a 3lan4est0ne manner w0t2out t2e 6nowle4ge nor 3onsent o5 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5
t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 must 7e 3onstrue4 as an a3t ta0nte4 w0t2 0llegal0ty8 )2e appl03ants an4 t2e
7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e late Ung6u 74ulla2 oug2t not to 7e penal0Ie4 5or t2e 5a0lure o5 t2e Jo2or
State Go&ernment 0n a3?u0r0ng t2e sa04 property not 0n a33or4an3e w0t2 t2e r0g2t se3t0on o5 t2e
'na3ment8 )2e a3?u0s0t0on ma4e un4er t2e wrong se3t0on o5 t2e 'na3ment must 7e 4e3lare4 as
null an4 &o04 un4er t2e law8
)2e 4e3larat0ons soug2t 5or 0n en3l > o5 prayers 97; an4 93; as amen4e4 7y en3l 6 were ent0rely
w0t20n my 4oma0n to grant8 !t was ent0rely an eDer30se o5 Fu4030al 40s3ret0on 7ase4 on t2e a&a0la7le
e&04en3e8 Lor4 Stern4ale MR 0n 5anson v Radcliffe ?rban 0istrict 8ouncil ,1=22- 2 (2 1=0 on3e
remar6e4 t2atB
)2e power o5 t2e 3ourt to ma6e a 4e3larat0on 888 0s now almost unl0m0te4C ! m0g2t say only l0m0te4 7y 0ts
own 40s3ret0on8
!n well 4e50ne4 s0tuat0ons@ t2e 3ourts may re5use to grant 4e3larat0ons8 Some eDamples may 7e
30te4 2ereB
6) !n 4lac2burn v Attorney-:eneral ,1=.1- 1 ELR 10>.@ t2e (ourt o5 ppeal re5use4 to
ma6e a 4e3larat0on on a 2ypot2et03al ?uest0on o5 w2et2er 7y s0gn0ng t2e )reaty o5
Rome@ Aer MaFesty:s Go&ernment woul4 0rre&ers07ly surren4er 0n part t2e
so&ere0gnty o5 0ts Parl0ament8
3 (&&" + -L .% at "("
6) !n 8o< v :reen ,1=66- 1 (2 216@ t2e 3ourt re5use4 to grant a 4e3larat0on 7e3ause 0t
0n&ol&e4 a ?uest0on o5 moral0ty an4 not law8
Page 11
6) !n 4ritish Railways 4oard v ;ic2in ,1=.1- ( .6/@ a 4e3larat0on was re5use4
7e3ause t2ere was an attempt to 32allenge t2e &al040ty o5 Parl0amentary
pro3ee40ngs8
4) !n 0atu2 Amir >ahar bin 7un -ustapha v 7un -ohd Said bin >erua2 * =rs ,1==1- >
MLJ .>. at p .1.@ t2e 3ourt re5use4 to grant a 4e3larat0on 7e3ause t2e appl03at0on
was sa04 to 7e 5r0&olous an4 &eDat0ous an4 an a7use o5 t2e pro3ess o5 t2e 3ourt8
2) !n -enteri 5al Ehwal 0alam Negeri) -alaysia * =rs v >arpal Singh ,1==2- 1 MLJ
11.@ 4e3larat0on was re5use4 7e3ause t2e matter was sa04 to 7e t2eoret03al@
2ypot2et03al@ a7stra3t@ premature or a3a4em03 0n nature8
2) !n -erde2a ?niversity 4hd v :overnment of -alaysia ,1=<1- 2 MLJ >/6@ t2e 3ourt
reFe3te4 an appl03at0on 5or a 4e3larat0on an4 rule4 t2at t2e go&ernment@ 0n reFe3t0ng
an appl03at0on 5or t2e sett0ng up o5 a pr0&ate un0&ers0ty@ 2a4 a3te4 5a0rly an4
reasona7ly8
"ut t2ese eDamples 3annot 0n5luen3e t2e out3ome o5 en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 68 *or t2e
reasons a4um7rate4 a7o&e@ ! allowe4 en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 6@ part03ularly prayers 9a;@ 97;@
93;@ an4 94;8 !n en3l 2@ 7ot2 t2e appl03ants 4epose4 t2at t2ey were 3la0m0ng 5rom t2e Jo2or State
Go&ernment 5or t2e return o5 t2e sa04 propertyC an4 7ot2 o5 t2em also 4epose4 t2at 0n t2e e&ent
t2at t20s 3oul4 not 7e 4one ++ per2aps 7e3ause t2e )ele3ommun03at0ons #epartment are 3urrently
s0te4 on t2at property@ t2ey 3la0me4 5rom t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 3ompensat0on an4/or
4amages to 7e a33or4e4 to t2em toget2er w0t2 t2e ot2er 7ene5030ar0es w2ose r0g2ts 2a&e 7een
4en0e48 Now@ prayer 95; o5 en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 6 ga&e t20s 3ourt t2e power to or4er any
ot2er rel0e5 w2032 woul4 7e 50t an4 appropr0ate 9see Lim Eng >ay v aafar bin -ohamed Said
,1=<2- 2 MLJ 1/6 as appl0e4 0n 9ulcrum 8apital Sdn 4hd v 0ato/ Samsudin Abu 5assan !Raha1
Sdn 4hd * Anor) 6nterveners# !and another application# ,2001- / (LJ .>C ,2001- 1 MR <./; an4@
0n t20s regar4@ an4 0n &0ew o5 t2e 5a3t t2at t2e )ele3ommun03at0ons #epartment 0s 3urrently s0te4
on t2e sa04 property@ ! ma4e an or4er t2at t2e Jo2or State Go&ernment 3ompensate 7y way o5
4amage 7ot2 t2e appl03ants an4 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e estate o5 Ung6u 74ulla2 w2ose r0g2ts
2a&e 7een 0n5r0nge48 )2e 4amages@ so or4ere4@ must 7e assesse4 7y t2e Sen0or ss0stant
Reg0strar o5 t2e A0g2 (ourt o5 Jo2or "a2ru8 s agree4 7y 7ot2 3ounsel 5or t2e part0es an4 a3t0ng
w0t20n t2e am70t o5 prayer 95; o5 en3l > as amen4e4 7y en3l 6@ ! ma4e an or4er 5or t2e stay o5 my
Fu4gment 9Leong 8hee >ong * Anor v 7an Leng >ee !No (# ,2001- / (LJ 10<C ,2001- 1 MR
111.;8 Just03e must 7e seen to 7e 4one an4 on t2e a&a0la7le e&04en3e@ Fust03e must 7e mete4 out
0n 70g 4oses to 7ot2 t2e appl03ants an4 t2e 7ene5030ar0es o5 t2e estate o5 Ung6u 74ulla28
Addendum
%n t2e 0nstru3t0ons o5 t2e 2onoura7le (20e5 Ju4ge@ Malaya@ ! 3alle4 7ot2 3ounsel to my 32am7ers
0n t2e Kuala Lumpur A0g2 (ourt on 11 pr0l 2001
(&&" + -L .% at "((
0n or4er to announ3e my wr0tten Fu4gment8 "ot2 t2e learne4 3ounsel were present8 %n3e aga0n@ !
woul4 l06e to re3or4 my appre30at0on to 3ounsel on 7ot2 s04es 5or t2e ass0stan3e t2ey 2a&e
ren4ere4 me 0n a4Fu403at0ng en3l > as amen4e4 0n en3l 68
=rder accordinglyF
Reporte4 7y Ja50sa2 Jaa5ar