Melaka govt ramping up efforts to curb abandoned private land
Melaka Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh ( pic ) said the state is taking a proactive stance by engaging private landowners to ensure idle land is put to productive use rather than left to deteriorate.
'We cannot allow these lands to sit untouched and become overgrown wastelands.
'One of our key strategies was to invite private landowners who have not developed their land to work together with the state government," he said.
Speaking on the final day of the 15th Melaka state legislative assembly sitting at Seri Negeri in Ayer Keroh on Wednesday (July 23), Ab Rauf stressed that the government remains open to partnership and dialogue.
He said such collaborations could pave the way for developments in agriculture, commercial enterprises or other productive sectors, benefiting both the state's economy and the owners themselves.
'Unfortunately, one of the biggest challenges we face is the unwillingness of some landowners to cooperate.
'We will also continue to offer advisory services and development support to encourage more structured and well-planned land use," he said.
As part of the broader plan, Ab Rauf said the state has rolled out the food security enhancement programme in collaboration with the Department of Agriculture.
'This programme aims to sustainably utilise idle land for agricultural purposes, and at the same time contribute to the national food security agenda,' he said.
Ab Rauf also pointed out that the state is prepared to act if landowners fail to respond.
He said that among the steps available to authorities is issuing formal notices to urge landowners to clear and maintain their plots.
"Land administrators can enforce Sections 125 to 129 of the National Land Code, which relate to breaches of express conditions on land use, if no action is taken by owners," he said.
He added that landowners are given a specific timeframe to respond to these notices.
'Failure to reply or comply could result in enforcement action, including the forfeiture of land under Section 129 of the same Act,' he added.
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2 days ago
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[UPDATED] Jo Ghani: 465 federal land encroachment cases recorded since 2015
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 465 cases of encroachment on federal land were recorded from 2015 to May 2025, said Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani. The acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability minister said most encroachers use the land for squatter housing, small businesses, food stalls, and car wash operations. "According to the Land and Mines Department, there have been 465 cases of encroachment on federal land from 2015 to May 2025. "The total area of land owned by the Federal government is 215,406 hectares. In the case of Penang, 26 complaints involved encroachment on federal land, affecting 18 land lots. "To deal with encroachment on federal land, the Land and Mines Department will coordinate with enforcement agencies, ministries, and the relevant departments. Under Section 425 of the National Land Code, enforcement notices will be issued to encroachers, for them to vacate the site. The relevant agency must then implement control measures to prevent further encroachment," he said in the Dewan Rakyat during Minister's Question Time. He was responding to a question from Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN-Kepala Batas), who asked for details on encroachments on federal-owned land nationwide, specifically in Penang, the actions taken against encroachers, and whether there are plans to develop the land. Johari said the respective ministry or department must take action by installing signboards, fencing off the area, hiring security guards, and demolishing any illegal structures built by encroachers. "In more serious cases where encroachers refuse to vacate and structures have already been built, legal action will be taken. If found guilty, the penalty may be up to RM500,000," he said. Johari said each parcel of federal land has been earmarked for development based on priorities and allocations approved by the federal government. "To ensure optimal use of federal land, the Land and Mines Department facilitates land conversion for use by other ministries and federal agencies that require it, including through rental and leasing arrangements," he said. He was responding to a question from Datuk Adnan Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah) on the ministry's long-term strategic plan to address the poor management of government assets, including abandoned buildings, which has led to encroachment and wastage of national resources. Johari said once a ministry or department is assigned a piece of federal land, it becomes their responsibility. If a project or building on the land is abandoned, the respective ministry must rehabilitate and repurpose it. "If the structure is old – over 40 or 50 years – and no longer suitable for use, the land must be returned to the federal government. The government will then consider alternative uses, such as affordable housing," he said.
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2 days ago
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465 encroachment cases on federal lands since in last ten years
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 465 encroachment cases have taken place on lands owned by the Federal Government from 2015 till May 2025, the Dewan Rakyat was told. Datuk Seri Johari Abdul Ghani ( pic ), who is tasked with temporarily overseeing the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Ministry, said these figures involved encroachment on Federal Government-owned land, which is a total of 215,406 hectares nationwide. 'For the case in Penang, 26 complaints involved encroachment on federal-owned land, which is 18 lots of land,' said Johari in Parliament on Monday (July 28). Johari said the Lands and Mines Department (JKPTG) director-general would coordinate joint programs with other enforcement agencies to address the issue of encroachment. According to Johari, notices under Section 425 of the National Land Code (Act 828) would be issued to encroachers. Johari also said to ensure that federal lands are not repeatedly encroached, the government will come up with a method that will involve ministries or the consumer department. 'Every federal-owned land has development plans based on the Malaysian Plan,' he said. 'But, developing the land is based on the priority and allocation given by the government,' added Johari.
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2 days ago
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Jo Ghani: 456 federal land encroachment cases recorded since 2015
KUALA LUMPUR: A total of 456 cases of encroachment on federal land were recorded from 2015 to May 2025, said Datuk Seri Johari Mohd Ghani. The Acting Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister said most encroachers use the land for squatter housing, small businesses, food stalls, and car wash operations. "According to records from the Department of Director General of Lands and Mines (JKPTG), there have been 465 cases of encroachment on federal land from 2015 to May 2025. "The total area of land owned by the Federal Government is 215,406 hectares. In the case of Penang, 26 complaints involved encroachment on federal land, affecting 18 land lots. "To enforce action against encroachment on federal land, JKPTG will coordinate with enforcement agencies, ministries, and relevant user departments. Under Section 425 of the National Land Code, enforcement notices will be issued to the encroachers to vacate the site. Subsequently, the land-holding agency (KJP) must take control measures to prevent repeated encroachment," he said in the Dewan Rakyat during the Minister's Question Time. He was responding to a question from Dr Siti Mastura Muhammad (PN- Kepala Batas) who asked to state the details of the encroachments on federal government-owned land nationwide and specifically in Penang, the action taken against the encroachers, and whether there are plans to develop land owned by the federal government. Johari said the respective ministry or user department must take action against encroachers, such as installing signboards, fencing the area, hiring security guards, and demolishing any illegal structures built by encroachers. "In more extreme cases where the encroachers refuse to vacate and structures are already built, legal action will be taken. If found guilty, the penalty may be up to RM500,000," he said. Johari said that each parcel of federal land is already planned for development depending on priorities and allocations approved by the federal government. "To ensure federal land is optimally utilised, JKPTG implements land conversion for use by other ministries and federal agencies that need it, as well as through rental and leasing arrangements," he said. Johari was also queried by Datuk Adnan Haji Abu Hassan (BN-Kuala Pilah) on the ministry's long-term and comprehensive strategic plan to address the issue of the failure to manage government assets, including abandoned government buildings, which has led to encroachment and wastage of national resources. Johari said any government land with an assigned user department or ministry becomes their responsibility. If a project or building on the land has been abandoned, the respective ministry must take responsibility to rehabilitate and repurpose the building. "If left abandoned, especially when the structure is over 40 or 50 years old and no longer suitable, the land must be returned to the federal government. The government will then seek alternative uses for it, such as developing affordable housing," he said.
