SHAH ALAM, Jan 4 — The Sepang District and Land Office has advised landowners who claim that their land has been encroached upon, resulting in the construction of a temple, to take legal action promptly.
It said that demolition of structures may be carried out only after obtaining a civil court order.
Enforcement action applies only to encroachment on government land, reserve land, and mining land under Section 425 of the National Land Code (NLC).
“For privately owned land, ownership rights, care and action against any form of encroachment fall entirely under the responsibility of the landowner, as provided for under Section 44(1)(a) of the National Land Code.
“Encroachment on private land is a civil dispute between the landowner and the encroacher. Therefore, the landowner is responsible for initiating appropriate legal proceedings and action,” the office said in a Facebook post.
It also advised landowners to lodge a police report as official documentation and preliminary evidence for litigation purposes, in addition to appointing a lawyer.
The office remains committed to addressing land encroachment issues prudently in the public interest, while advising landowners to refrain from taking matters into their own hands, as such actions could disrupt public order.
“Meanwhile, the public is advised not to spread unverified information or take actions that may cause confusion and public anxiety,” it said.
Yesterday, a case went viral on social media involving retiree Suhaili Ahmad, 70, who claimed that his land in Taman Topaz, Dengkil, had been encroached upon.
His intention to sell the approximately one-acre plot was thwarted after he discovered that a temple had been built on the land without permission.
He said the existence of the structure only came to light when he visited the site recently after receiving a purchase offer.
The temple is alleged to have been rebuilt and expanded on land he purchased in 2001 without his knowledge, due to the site being located far from the main road and having been rarely visited over the years.
