Thumbprint rule to curb fraud in land deals
20/03/2007 NST

KUALA LUMPUR, TUES: Property owners will have to provide thumbprints, as well as signatures, when applying for replacement title deeds at the Kuala Lumpur Land and Mines Office.

The move is a new requirement in force this month, following concern over fraudulent land transfers, said director Zainudin Tala.

The land office also now requires thumbprints for land transfer applications, he said.

The requirement came into force this month.

"With thumbprints, we will be able to verify their identity and track down forgers when discovered. There will be no room for escape."

A spate of fraudulent land transfers have emerged, with scores of property owners discovering that forgers have obtained duplicate title deeds and forged property transfers.

Many have been unable to recover their property, following a controversial decision in 2001 which favours innocent buyers of such properties.

The Bar Council has warned landowners to keep a close watch on their properties, in particular those with no restrictions such as caveats on the titles.

Yesterday, Zainudin declined to say if any of these cases involved the Kuala Lumpur Land Office.

For now, the land office is still using ink pads to take thumbprints. Electronic readers have been ordered to access biometric information on the MyKad, he said.

The land office staff have also been instructed to be more alert when issuing duplicate title deeds.

Processing applications might also take longer, up to six months from three months previously, so staff can verify identities.