Small land lots can be partitioned
The Star 13/10/2006

Those who inherit portions of land less than 0.4ha will be able to partition their land grant from the original soon.

Natural Resources and Environment Minister Datuk Seri Azmi Khalid said currently, only one grant was issued for a piece of land less than 0.4ha inherited by several people in a family.

“This happens for Malay reserve land used for agriculture that is divided among children by the original landowner.

“Each child gets a piece of land but anyone who wants to convert land use for his own portion for development must get consensus from everyone else as there is only one land grant,” he said in Penang yesterday.

He was speaking to reporters after witnessing the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding for the e-Tanah system pilot project at Hotel Equatorial here.

Azmi said although the Cabinet had approved the partitioning of land grants in 2001, the matter would only be brought to Parlia-ment this year.

Allowing the partitioning of grants would benefit owners who had plots of abandoned land with commercial value, he said.

On the e-Tanah system integrated online computer system for land management and administration around the country, he said the RM55mil project would kick off in Penang by end of next year.

It would cut down on delays in processing work at Land office, bureaucratic problems and unsystematic data storage.

“Applications to partition buildings now take 365 days to be settled but will only take an estimated 153 days under the e-Tanah system.

The e-Tanah system will be used for matters relating to land disposal, land title registration, strata title, land acquisition and re-alienation, land alienation, revenue and quit rent collection, he said.