Land Executive Committee of Federal Territor

5/25/2018 Land Executive Committee of Federal Territor

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Malayan Law Journal Reports/1981/Volume 1/LAND EXECUTVE C!MMTTEE !"

"EDERAL TERRT!R# $ %#AR&AT 'AR(ER )L"LLAN *ER'AD + ,1981- 1 MLJ .0

+ .. Deem2er 1983

0 pa4es

,1981] 1 MLJ 234

LAND EXECUTIVE COMMITTEE OF FEDERAL TERRITORY v SYARIKAT HARPER

GILFILLAN ERHAD

FC KUALA LUMPUR

RAJA A!LAN SHAH AG LP" SYED OTHMAN # SALLEH AAS FJJ

FEDERAL COURT CIVIL APPEAL NO 1$1 OF 19%9

2 O&'()*+ 198," 22 D*&*-)*+ 198,

Administrative Law -- Declaration -- Application for declaration -- Decision of Director of

Lands and Mines that applicant must apply for change of category of land use -- No

appeal lodged against decision -- Application for declaration that applicant not required

to apply for change of category prior to application for amalgamation and subdivision --

Land endorsed for planting of fruit trees -- Block of flats erected on land -- No urisdiction

to entertain claim for declaration -- National Land !ode" ss #$%&'" (&)%('%a'" ($*" ()+ ,

)(+

Land Law -- !ondition of use of land for planting fruit trees -- lats built on part of land --

.ale of part of land with flats -- Application for subdivision -- Necessity to apply for

change of category of land use -- National Land !ode" ss #$%&'" (&)%('%a'" ($*" ()+ ,

)(+

n t56s ase t5e respon7ents were t5e re46stere7 owners o two p6ees o lan7 6n t5e

"e7eral Terr6tory T5e on76t6on o use en7orse7 on t5e e:trats o t6tle was ;ru6t trees;


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T5e respon7ents a4ree7 to sell a part o t5e sa67 lan7 on w565 was erete7 a 2lo< o

lats T5ey appl6e7 or amal4amat6on an7 su276$6s6on o t5e lan7 2ut t5ey were tol7 2y

t5e D6retor o Lan7s an7 M6nes t5at t5ey s5oul7 6rst apply or a 5an4e o ate4ory o

lan7 use T5e respon7ents 767 not appeal a4a6nst t5e 7e6s6on o t5e D6retor 2ut appl6e7

2y or646nat6n4 summons or a 7elarat6on t5at upon t5e true onstrut6on o t5e Nat6onal

Lan7 Co7e t5ey are not re=u6re7 to apply or a 5an4e o ate4ory o lan7 use pr6or to

t5e appl6at6on or amal4amat6on an7 su276$6s6on T5e appellants appl6e7 to set as67e

t5e or646nat6n4 summons on t5ree 4roun7s >a? t5ere was no pro$6s6on 6n t5e Nat6onal

Lan7 Co7e to ena2le t5e Court to 4rant t5e 7elarat6on sou45t@ >2? t5e respon7ents 5a7

a6le7 to e:er6se t5e6r r645t o appeal pursuant to set6on 018 o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e

an7 >? t5e matter ompla6ne7 o was t6me+2arre7 2y $6rtue o set6on .>a? o t5e (u2l6

Aut5or6t6es (rotet6on !r76nane 1908 T5e learne7 tr6al Bu74e 76sm6sse7 t5e appl6at6on

o t5e appellants an7 t5ey appeale7 to t5e "e7eral Court

H*./0

1) on a proper rea76n4 o set6on 018 o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e 6t 6s lear t5at

(arl6ament 2y us6n4 pla6n an7 unam264uous lan4ua4e 6nten7e7 t5e r645t to

2e e:lus6$e o any ot5er mo7e o enor6n4 6t T5e ourt t5ereore 5as no

Bur6s76t6on to enterta6n t5e la6m sou45t 2y t5e 7elarat6on@

1) 6n any e$ent w5ere as 6n t56s ase t5e lan7 6s 5el7 un7er a an7 o6e t6tle

an7 2y set6on >.? o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e t5e 6mpl6e7 ate4ory o lan7

use 6s a4r6ultural an7 w56le t5e ont6nue7 use o t5e lan7 or t5e lats 2u6lt

on 6t 6s lawul un7er t5e pro$6so 6t 6s neessary or t5e propr6etor to apply or

t5e 6mpos6t6on o a ate4ory o lan7 use 2eore t5e 6ssue o t6tle to t5e su2+

76$6s6onal port6on

C* +**++*/ '(

Baraclough v Brown , /rs,189- AC 1

A .ubramaniam v .M0M Muthiah !hetty,190- MLJ ...

!hop !huah .eong 1oo v 2eh !hooi Nai , /rs,19- MLJ 9


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.undaram v !hew !hoo 3hoon,198- 1 MLJ 93

Metal 4ndustry 5mployees 6nion v 0egistrar of 2rade 6nions , /rs,19- 1 MLJ ..3

Barnard , /rs v National Dock Labour Board , /rs,19- . F* 18

rancis v 7iewsley and 8est Drayton 6rban District !ouncil , /rs,193- AC .3

9y: ;ranite !o Ltd v Ministry of


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Nos .119 an7 .1.3 Lots 1 an7 .. T5e on76t6on o use en7orse7 on t5e e:trats o

t6tle 6s ;ru6t trees; t5at 6s or t5e plant6n4 o ru6t trees !n %eptem2er . 198 t5ey

entere7 6nto an a4reement w6t5 two Bo6nt pur5asers to sell a part o t5e sa67 lan7 on

w565 6s erete7 a 2lo< o t5ree lats %6ne t5e sa67 sale was only o a part o t5e lan7

t5e a4reement pro$67e7 or t5e transer o a separate 7oument o t6tle to t5e pur5asers

ater su2+76$6s6on T5ey t5ereore su2m6tte7 to t5e Colletor o Lan7 Re$enue t5e

neessary orms to4et5er w6t5 t5e re=u6s6te plan an7 ees or t5e purpose o

amal4amat6on an7 su2+76$6s6on T5e Colletor repl6e7 to t5e respon7ents stat6n4 t5at

t5ey s5oul7 6rst apply or a 5an4e o ate4ory o lan7 use pursuant to set6on 1.0 o

t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e 2eore apply6n4 or amal4amat6on an7 su2+76$6s6on un7er

set6ons 1 an7 108 o t5e Co7e T5ere ensue7 an e:5an4e o letters re4ar76n4 t5e

rul6n4 o t5e Colletor n t5e meant6me t5e respon7entsH appl6at6on was reerre7 to t5e

Comm6ss6oner o Lan7s an7 M6nes %elan4or >now t5e D6retor o Lan7s an7 M6nes

"e7eral Terr6tory? T5e D6retorHs reply to t5e respon7ents was to t5e same eet T5ere

was a urt5er e:5an4e o letters T5e ru: o t5e matter seems to 2e t5e true

6nterpretat6on o t5e pro$6s6ons o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e part6ularly set6on 1.0>1?>a?

T5e respon7ents 2y or646nat6n4 summons see< a 7elarat6on t5at upon t5e true

onstrut6on o t5e pro$6s6ons o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e t5ey are not re=u6re7 to apply

or a 5an4e o ate4ory o lan7 use un7er set6on 1.0>1?>a? o t5e Co7e pr6or to t5eappl6at6on or amal4amat6on an7 su2+76$6s6on 'owe$er t5ey 767 not appeal a4a6nst t5e

7e6s6on o t5e D6retor un7er set6on 018 o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e an7 e$en 6 t5ey

5a7 7one so t5ey were well out o t6me

T5e appellants appl6e7 to set as67e t5e or646nat6n4 summons on t5ree 4roun7sG "6rst

t5ere 6s no pro$6s6on 6n t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e to ena2le t5e ourt to 4rant t5e

7elarat6on sou45t@ seon7ly t5e respon7ents 5a7 a6le7 to e:er6se t5e6r r645t o appeal

pursuant to set6on 018 o t5e Co7e an7 t56r7ly t5e matter ompla6ne7 o was t6me+

2arre7 2y $6rtue o set6on .>a? o t5e (u2l6 Aut5or6t6es (rotet6on !r76nane 1908

T5e learne7 Bu74e 5el7 t5at apart rom t5e at t5at t5e pro$6s6ons o t5e Nat6onal Lan7

Co7e 767 not 6rumsr62e t5e Bur6s76t6on o t5e '645 Court to ma


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lan7 matters 6s not onerre7 e:lus6$ely 2y t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e 'e urt5er 5el7 t5at

set6on 018 o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e w565 sets t5e t6me+l6m6t or an appeal to t5e '645

Court 7oes not ar6se on t5e 4roun7 t5at t5e D6retor 5a7 not ma7e any 7e6s6on on t5e

matter 2ut only ;a ser6es o re=uests op6n6ons e:press6ons o a7$6e an7 t5reat; n t5e

6rumstanes 5e 5el7 t5at as no 7e6s6on was e$er ta.ubramaniam v>

.>M>0>M> Muthiah !hetty" supra 7elaratory rel6e was 5el7 not to 2e a$a6la2le to a party

76ssat6s6e7 w6t5 t5e 7e6s6on o t5e Colletor w5ere an appeal t5ererom was pro$67e7

un7er set6on . o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e to t5e ourtn !hop !hua .eong 1oo v>

2eh !hooi Nai , /rs>" supra 7elaratory rel6e was not 4rante7 s6ne t5e Control o Rent

!r76nane 19 e:pressly pro$67e7 or a r645t o appeal to t5e '645 Court n


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.undaram$ !hew !hoo 3hoon" supra 6t was 5el7 t5at t5e only reourse o a party

76ssat6s6e7 2y t5e 7e6s6on o t5e Colletor un7er set6on o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e

was to appeal a4a6nst t5e 7e6s6on to t5e ourt an7

(=+( ( ML1 &$) at &$?

7elaratory su6t was m6sone6$e7 n Metal 4ndustry 5mployees v> 0egistrar of 2rade

6nions , /rs>" supra an appl6at6on or a 7elarat6on to s5ow t5at on a proper

onstrut6on o set6on .>.? o t5e Tra7e Un6ons !r76nane 199 t5e Re46strar o Tra7e

Un6ons 5a7 no power to 7e67e on t5e el64626l6ty o any 4roup o wor


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way o certiorarit5e sum w565 t5e Iat5 Comm6ttee 5a7 wron4ully 7e7ute7 rom 56s

pay A 7elarat6on was 4rante7 6n l6eu o certiorari>

n rancis $ 7iewsley" supra t5e ourt 7elare7 t5e enorement not6e re=u6r6n4 t5epla6nt6 to ease us6n4 t5e lan7 as a ara$an par< 6n$al67 as 6t was 2ase7 upon a

un7amentally alse 2as6s o at@ t5e at t5at 5e 5a7 a6le7 to appeal a4a6nst t5e

enorement not6e to a ourt o summary Bur6s76t6on 767 not 2ar 56m rom apply6n4 to

t5e ourt or a 7elaratory rel6e as t5e 6n76at6ons 6n set6on .>0? o t5e Town an7

Country (lann6n4 At 190 767 not onta6n lear wor7s to t5at eet n 9y: ;ranite$

Ministry of


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ourt 5a7 no Bur6s76t6on to 6mpu4n su5 a 7e6s6on 2y merely 4rant6n4 a 2are

7elarat6on

.outh 5ast Asia ire Bricks" supra was onerne7 w6t5 t5e pro$6s6ons o set6on .9>?>a? o t5e n7ustr6al Relat6ons At 19 ++ w5et5er certiorariwoul7 l6e to =uas5 an awar7

o t5e n7ustr6al Court or error o law on t5e ae o t5e reor7 t 6s not 6n po6nt

T5us 6t an 2e seen t5at t5e mo7ern use o 7elaratory Bu74ment 5as alrea7y 7e$elope7

6nto t5e most 6mportant means o aserta6n6n4 t5e le4al powers o pu2l6 aut5or6t6es 6n

t5e 6ntr6ate m6:ture o pu2l6 an7 pr6$ate enterpr6se w565 6s 2eom6n4 a 76st6nt6$e

eature o our l6e *ut we must a77 a warn6n4 note t5at 6ts use must not 2e arr6e7 too

ar T5e power to 4rant 7elaratory Bu74ment 6n l6eu o t5e prero4at6$e or7ers or statutory

rel6es must 2e e:er6se7 w6t5 aut6on T5e power must 2e e:er6se7 ;spar6n4ly; w6t5

;4reat are an7 Bealousy; sa67 6n Dato Menteri /thman bin Baginda , Anor v Dato

/mbi .yed Alwi bin .yed 4drus,1981- 1 MLJ .9 t5at t5e power to 4rant a 7elarat6on

s5oul7 2e e:er6se7 w6t5 a proper sense o respons626l6ty an7 ater a ull real6at6on t5at

Bu766al pronounements ou45t not to 2e 6ssue7 unless t5ere are 6rumstanes t5at

properly all or t5e6r ma


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"6rst o all we 5a$e to see t5e nature o t5e la6m t 6s an at6on or a 7elarat6on t5at

on$ers6on 6s not neessary 2eore su2+76$6s6on T5at 6s a =uest6on o law 2y $6rtue o a

statutory pro$6s6on 6n set6on 1.0 o t5e Nat6onal Lan7 Co7e t5e rele$ant aut5or6ty

omm6ts an error 6n t5e 6nterpretat6on o t5e set6on t5en an a44r6e$e7 party 5as a r645t

o appeal to t5e '645 Court un7er set6on 018 o t5e Co7e (arl6ament 5as on t5e

4roun7 o pu2l6 pol6y oun7 t5at t5at 6s a Bust an7 neessary r645t *ut 6n t5e same

set6on (arl6ament 5as also enate7 a spe6al proe7ure o enor6n4 t5at r645t t5e

r645t 5a7 2een s6mply reate7 an7 no spe66 met5o7 o enor6n4 6t 5a7 2een pro$67e7

or t5e e:6st6n4 law 6tsel woul7 5a$e pro$67e7 a met5o7 t5rou45 t5e ourt alrea7y

6n$este7 w6t5 Bur6s76t6on to 7eterm6ne a la6m o t5at nature *ut a spe66 met5o7

5a$6n4 2een reate7 2y pro$676n4 a t6me+l6m6t w6t56n w565 t5e r645t may 2e pursue7 6t

2eomes a =uest6on w5et5er t5at met5o7 6s e:lus6$e or not T5at 7epen7s not upon

any r6467 rule 2ut upon t5e 6ntent6on o (arl6ament appear6n4 rom t5e Co7e

As a 4eneral rule w5ere a statute reates a new o2l64at6on an7 pro$67es a spe6al mo7e

o enor6n4 6t no ot5er ourt 5as Bur6s76t6on to enore t5at o2l64at6on T5e ase

4enerally reerre7 to as esta2l6s56n4 t5at rule 6s 9asmore v /swaldtwistle 6rban District

!ouncil,1898- AC 8 Ie =uote rom t5e spee5 o t5e Earl o 'als2ury LCG

;T5e pr6n6ple t5at w5ere a spe66 reme7y 6s 46$en 2y a %tatute 6t t5ere2y

7epr6$es t5e person w5o 6ns6sts upon a reme7y o any ot5er orm o reme7y

t5an t5at 46$en 2y t5e %tatute 6s one w565 6s $ery am6l6ar an7 w565 runs

t5rou45 t5e law t56n< Lor7 Tenter7en aurately states t5at pr6n6ple 6n t5e

ase o Doe v Bridges>1 * K A7 80 at p 89?'e saysG Hw5ere an At

reates an o2l64at6on an7 enores t5e perormane 6n a spe66e7 manner

we ta


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reme7y onta6ne7 6n 6t w565 6s an appl6at6on to t5e proper )o$ernment

7epartment;

n Baraclough$ Brown , /rs>" supra Lor7 'ers5ell sa67 >pa4e 19?G

;T5e only r645t onerre7 6s Hto reo$er su5 e:penses rom t5e owner o

su5 $essel 6n a ourt o summary Bur6s76t6onH 7o not t56n< t5e appellant

an la6m to reo$er 2y $6rtue o t5e %tatute an7 at t5e same t6me 6ns6st

upon 7o6n4 so 2y means ot5er t5an t5ose presr62e7 2y t5e %tatute w565

alone oners t5e r645t;

Lor7 Iatson sa67 >pa4e ..?G

;T5e r645t an7 t5e reme7y are 46$en uno flatu an7 t5e one annot 2e

76sso6ate7 rom t5e ot5er *y t5ese wor7s t5e le46slature 5as 6n my

op6n6on omm6tte7 to t5e summary ourt e:lus6$e Bur6s76t6on not merely to

assess t5e amount o e:penses to 2e repa67 to t5e un7erta


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7e4ree 6mpro2a2le t5at t5e per6o7 o t5ree mont5s as a l6m6tat6on woul7 5a$e 2een

6nserte7 6 an 6n7e6n6te per6o7 were 6nten7e7 to 2e 46$en T5e per6o7 o t5ree mont5s 6s

o2$6ously or t5e purpose o pre$ent6n4 stale la6ms t5e ontrary 6s susta6na2le t5en

t5e respon7ents are allowe7 to see< to enore t5e6r statutory r645t 2y a met5o7 ot5er

t5an t5at presr62e7 2y t5e Co7e reat6n4 6t

"or t5ese reasons we are o t5e $6ew t5at t5e ourt 5as no Bur6s76t6on to enterta6n t5e

la6m sou45t 2y t5e 7elarat6on an7 t5e appeal must 2e allowe7 w6t5 osts 5ere an7

2elow

Alt5ou45 we eel ompelle7 to allow t5e appeal on t5e 4roun7 6n76ate7 6t may 2e

sat6satory to t5e part6es to


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6n7ustr6al purposes; E:press pro$6s6ons e:6st 6n t5e set6on or t5e ont6nue7 use o t5e

lan7 to w565 6t 5a7 2een put pr6or to t5e ommenement o t5e At %u5 ont6nue7 use

woul7 not 2e unlawul

"rom t56s 6mpos6t6on o a ate4ory o use 2y statutory 6mpl6at6on 6t ollows t5at

w5ene$er 6t 6s 7es6re7 to use t5e lan7 76erently rom t5at to w565 t5e lan7 6s or t5e

t6me 2e6n4 su2Bet to >6n t5e ase o lan7 al6enate7 2eore t5e ommenement 6t woul7

2e t5e 6mpl6e7 on76t6on 6mpose7 2y set6on ? t5e propr6etor must apply or alterat6on

o t5e ate4ory o lan7 use un7er t5e re=u6rements o set6on 1.0 T56s ourt aor76n4ly

5el7 6n ;arden !ity" supra t5at s6ne t5e t6tle was ;ne6t5er or a4r6ultural nor or

6n7ustr6al purposes; an7 t5ere 6s no neessary onse=uene t5at 6t was or t5e only ot5er

purpose $6 or 2u6l76n4 purposes 6t was 6num2ent on t5e propr6etor to apply un7er t5eseon7 part o set6on 1.0>a? or t5e 6mpos6t6on not t5e alterat6on o a ate4ory o use

to w565 t5e lan7 woul7 2e put

I5ere t5e lan7 as 6n t56s ase 6s 5el7 un7er a Lan7 !6e t6tle an7 2y set6on >.? t5e

6mpl6e7 ate4ory o lan7 use 6s a4r6ultural an7 w56le t5e ont6nue7 use o t5e lan7 or

t5e lats 2u6lt on 6t 6s lawul un7er t5e pro$6so t5e 6ssue o t6tle to t5e su2+76$6s6onal

port6on sou45t 2y t5e respon7ents annot ont6nue a use not

%ol66torsG .hearn Delamore , !o>


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Land Executive Committee of Federal Territor