KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 12 – The government on Thursday succeeded in its application to stay the High Court’s decision ordering it to transfer ownership of 263.272 acres (106.542 hectares) of land in Mukim Batu here to Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd pending the disposal of the government’s appeal at the Court of Appeal.
High Court Judge Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh in allowing the application ruled that there are special circumstances for the court to grant the stay.
According to the judge, the 263.272 acres of land, commonly accepted as the ‘Duta enclave’ has silently witnessed the construction of a number of government complexes, sports facilities, and a few other landmarks.
He said these buildings and facilities presently accommodate a considerable number of personnel and human resources, along with various types of public assets, not to mention valuable and delicate historical records, in the case of the National Archives.
“If stay application is not granted and the claimants remain immediately at liberty to act on the judgment, there would be immense irreversible consequences. Therefore, the stay application must be granted pending the determination of the appeal.
“As such, I allow the stay application with no order as to costs,” he said adding that it will not prejudice Semantan Estate if the application for stay is allowed.
