TANG GUAN GIM v 1. ) Pejabat Daerah dan Tanah 2. ) Pejabat Tanah dan Galian Negeri
Catchwords
Keywords Tang Guan Gim v. Pejabat Daerah Dan Tanah Melaka Tengah & Pejabat Tanah Dan Galian Melaka [k.1] bth 10.7.2026 LAND LAW — Forfeiture — Forfeiture for non-payment of quit rent — Application to compel decision on request for re-alienation — Whether State Authority under statutory duty to consider and communicate decision on application for re-alienation under s 133(3) National Land Code — Whether discretionary power under s 133(3) gives rise to enforceable public duty — Whether mandamus or mandatory injunction available to compel exercise of discretion — National Land Code, ss 133(3), 418 & 432 — Specific Relief Act 1950, s 44. LAND LAW — Forfeiture — Re-alienation of forfeited land — Petition for annulment previously refused — Subsequent request for re-alienation — Distinction between petition for annulment under ss 133(1) and (2) and discretionary power of re-alienation under s 133(3) — Whether former proprietor possesses legal right to determination of request for re-alienation — Nature and scope of State Authority’s discretionary power. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Mandamus — Public duty — Mandatory order compelling public authority to make decision — Whether statutory duty prerequisite to relief — Distinction between compelling performance of public duty and compelling exercise of discretionary power — Whether court may compel authority to entertain request where statute imposes no obligation to decide — Mandamus refused in absence of enforceable statutory duty. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Mandatory injunction — Section 44 Specific Relief Act 1950 — Mandatory order against public authority — Requirement that act sought to be compelled be clearly incumbent under law — Whether State Authority under legal obligation to determine application for re-alienation — Whether relief available in absence of statutory duty. ADMINISTRATIVE LAW — Judicial review — Public law proceedings — Appropriate mode of commencement — Whether application to compel exercise of statutory function should be commenced under O 53 Rules of Court 2012 or by Originating Summons — Court assuming procedural propriety without deciding issue where substantive claim failed for absence of legal duty. LAND LAW — National Land Code — Section 133 — Construction of statutory provisions — Petition for annulment — Re-alienation after forfeiture — Whether words “shall” in s 133(3) impose mandatory obligation to determine application for re-alienation — Whether mandatory language operates only upon prior decision to re-alienate — Purposive construction of statutory scheme. LAND LAW — Forfeiture — Functus officio — Previous application for annulment refused — Whether refusal exhausted State Authority’s jurisdiction — Effect of statutory provision preserving power to re-alienate “at any time” — Continuing existence of discretionary power distinguished from existence of enforceable duty. LAND LAW — Forfeiture — Limitation — Laches — Application seeking decision on request for re-alienation — Whether challenge directed at forfeiture or subsequent administrative inaction — Applicability of limitation periods under Public Authorities Protection Act 1948, O 53 Rules of Court 2012 and s 418 National Land Code — Whether doctrines of limitation and laches engaged. LAND LAW — Forfeiture — Service of statutory notices — Form 6A — Form 8A — Alleged defective substituted service — Notices allegedly affixed at adjoining property — Whether validity of service justiciable in proceedings seeking only order compelling decision — Whether challenge to validity of forfeiture confined to appeal under ss 134 and 418 National Land Code. PRACTICE AND PROCEDURE — Originating Summons — Relief against public authority — Mandatory order compelling exercise of statutory function — Affidavit evidence only — Whether disputed issues concerning validity of forfeiture and service of
Practice Areas
Judges (1)
Judgment
Read the full judgment on the official Malaysia Courts portal.
Read on eJudgmentSource: eJudgment (ma-24ncvc-403-09-2025)