Tawaran pampasan Duta Enclave masih kekal, kata peguam kerajaan

The Malaysian government has presented a payment offer to Semantan Estate for the ongoing dispute over the 106-hectare Duta Enclave, which currently houses several federal government buildings. Putrajaya's offer, made on August 14th, aims to resolve the lengthy issue without using the assessment process. However, the estate has not responded to the proposal, according to the government's senior counsel, Nurhafizza Azizan, as her client has not returned a statement.

The government's offer and its valuation remain undisclosed. Semantan requested a delay in the proceedings to consider the offer but was denied by Judge Roslan Mat Nor. The government's offer came as the High Court was determining the amount of compensation to be paid to the estate, following the High Court's decision last year that the company was entitled to compensation based on the land's value when it was taken over in 1956.

The High Court also ordered the assessment of "mesne profits," i.e., compensation to the rightful owner for losing the right to use or build on the land. The disputed land, located along Tuanku Abdul Halim Road (formerly known as Duta Road), now houses several federal government buildings such as the National Stadium, National Archives, Kuala Lumpur Syariah Court, Land Revenue Department, and Malaysia Corruption Prevention Authority.

The dispute began in 2003 when Semantan challenged the government's claim that the land was unlawfully taken over. The High Court subsequently ruled that Semantan was not entitled to reclaim the land due to the presence of numerous government facilities and infrastructure built on it. The federal court later dismissed Semantan's appeal for justice, allowing the process to continue in the Federal Court.

The only Semantan witness, valuer Foo Gee Jen, testified before High Court judge Ahmad Shahrir Salleh. Today, Nurhafizza and another senior government counsel, Azza Azmi, questioned Foo's valuation based on the 1956 value of the property, particularly its comparison with Batu Estate and adjacent plots in Bukit Tunku. Attorney Ira Biswas represented Semantan. The court has set September 1st to continue the hearing.