Putrajaya akan cabar saman baharu berkait Enklaf Duta

Kuala Lumpur: The Malaysian government plans to challenge a new lawsuit filed by Semantan Estate (1952) Sdn Bhd, demanding that Putrajaya sell a 263,272-acre plot of land in the Enklaf Duta enclave and transfer the proceeds to the company, or pay compensation based on the current market value of the land, estimated to be between RM12 billion and RM13 billion.

Attorney-General Kalidas informed the High Court judge, Anand Ponnudurai, that the government is willing to challenge the legal action. The government must file its defense before January 4, while Semantan Estate must submit a response, if any, before February 12. The matter is set for further consideration on February 16. Ag Kalidas, representing Semantan Estate, confirmed the outlined schedule.

The company, now in the process of voluntary liquidation, contends that it is the beneficial owner of the land, despite a previous court ruling preventing it from acquiring physical possession or transferring registered ownership rights. Semantan Estate asserts that the government took over the land's possession between 1956 and 1958, ostensibly for diplomatic enclave purposes, but later decided to develop the land for other purposes, including government offices, commercial and cultural buildings, and infrastructure.

The company maintains that compensation based on the land's value in 1956, estimated at RM1.58 million at the time, would deprive the company of nearly the entire economic value of the land. In June 2025, the Federal Court ordered a re-examination of the land's value, based on its value on December 3, 1956, plus 6% annual interest. The High Court rejected the appeal in November of the same year.