Govt challenges Duta Enclave land valuation
KUALA LUMPUR: The government today challenged a chartered surveyor’s valuation of the Duta Enclave land, saying the rate was too high and unsupported by comparable transactions.
The government has raised objections to a valuation of land in Duta Enclave, contending the rate is excessively high and not substantiated by comparable sales. During a compensation hearing, senior federal counsel Nurhafizza Azizan challenged chartered surveyor Foo Gee Jen's assessment during cross-examination. Nurhafizza questioned Foo about comparable transactions in Bukit Tunku, which he used to determine the 1956 market value of the Duta Enclave property.
Foo defended his valuation, saying he made adjustments to five comparable transactions, but Nurhafizza pointed out several adjusted values were below RM6,000 per acre, suggesting his rate was inflated. Foo also disagreed that his valuation lacked documentary evidence or government reports, and was unclear about the status of the road he had referred to as private.
Despite agreeing that Bukit Tunku was more mature, Foo maintained accessibility was relevant to his assessment. The disputed land, a 263.272-acre parcel, houses several government buildings and has been the subject of a legal battle since 2003, with the High Court ruling in Semantan's favor in 2009.
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