KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 14 — After more than two decades of legal battles over 106 hectares of prime Kuala Lumpur land now occupied by major federal institutions, the government has offered Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd a settlement to resolve its compensation claim.
The offer was disclosed at the High Court here today, where both parties informed Justice Roslan Mat Nor that Putrajaya had extended the settlement proposal, although its terms and value were not disclosed, news outlet Free Malaysia Today reported.
“Under the circumstances, we would like to settle the case as soon as possible. But to be fair to (Semantan), I’m sure they will need some time to confer with their client before they can decide as to whether the matter can be settled amicably,” senior federal counsel Nurhafizza Azizan was quoted as saying in court.
Semantan Estate applied to postpone today’s hearing to give the company time to consider the offer, but Roslan rejected the application and ordered the hearing to proceed as scheduled.
Nurhafizza said the government had only received instructions to extend the settlement offer yesterday, as all settlement proposals must first be approved by the Finance Ministry.
The dispute dates back to 2003, when Semantan Estate sued the government over its 106ha parcel in Kuala Lumpur known as the Duta Enclave, claiming that the land had been unlawfully acquired in 1956.
The disputed land along Jalan Tuanku Abdul Halim, formerly Jalan Duta, now houses several federal facilities, including the National Hockey Stadium, National Archives, Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court, Inland Revenue Board and Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission Academy.
The High Court ruled in Semantan Estate’s favour in 2009, but subsequent appellate decisions found that the company was not entitled to the land title.
The case took a significant turn on June 24 last year when the Court of Appeal ruled that Semantan Estate was entitled to adequate compensation instead, with the amount to be assessed based on the land’s value in 1956 when the government took possession of it.
The appellate court also ordered an assessment of mesne profits, meaning compensation for the government’s use or occupation of the disputed land during the relevant period.
The Federal Court dismissed Semantan Estate’s application for leave to appeal on November 13 last year, leaving the Court of Appeal’s ruling in force and paving the way for the compensation assessment now before the High Court.
The settlement offer now gives both sides a possible route to resolve the financial dispute without waiting for the assessment process to run its full course.
Semantan Estate has yet to accept the offer and the terms remain undisclosed, according to the news portal.
The hearing continued today with chartered surveyor Foo Gee Jen called to testify.
The separate assessment of mesne profits is being heard before High Court judge Ahmad Shahrir Salleh.
The hearing before Roslan continues on August 21.
Semantan Estate is represented by lawyers Janet Chai, Ira Biswas and Alexie Ng.
Date: 14 August, 2026 4:00 pm
Source: Malay Mail
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