Malay reserve land cannot be leased to non-Malays: Ministry

KUALA LUMPUR: The proposal by UDA Holdings Berhad for the government to allow Malay reserve land to be leased to non-Malays to increase the land's marketability cannot be implemented due to the restrictions in the Malay Reservation Enactment, according to Natural Resources and Environment Ministry.
In a statement today, the ministry said the enactment restricts any disposal (of Malay reserve land), be they in the form of lease or transfer to non-Malays, and that it (the enactment) must be amended first if the government wished to implement the suggestion.
"However, the land lease method can be applied, but subject to a period not exceeding three years, in line with the provisions stated in the National Land Code 1965 and the Malay Reservation Enactment of respective states," it said.
The ministry also explained that the Code did not prohibit the Malay reserve land classed as agricultural land to be developed via a sub-divide process to increase the value of the land.
However, it is subject to the approval of the state authorities, it said.
According to the ministry, Perak, Selangor, Negri Sembilan and Pahang had been adopting the Malay Reservation Enactment (FMS Cap 142) while Kelantan, Kedah, Perlis, Johor and Terengganu were using their respective Malay Reservation Enactment.
There was no such enactment for Penang and Malacca, it said. — Bernama