Govt plans to amend Small Estates (Distribution) Act

KUALA LUMPUR: The Government plans to amend the Small Estates (Distribution) Act 1955 (Act 98) to enable the distribution of hereditary lands without any inheritance agreement to be decided by the land administrator according to the “majority rule” method, the Dewan Rakyat was told today.

Deputy Minister of Natural Resources and Environmen Datuk Hamim Samuri said among others, the proposed amendment would enable a land administrator to be authorised to sell the hereditary lands in dispute, and divide the proceeds to each heir.

“This means an heir will not have the land physically but instead the right will be replaced in the form of money.

“The government is hoping that the proposed amendment will help heirs and the government in resolving issues of the people which are arising at this time,” he said when winding up the debate on the motion of thanks for the Royal address for his ministry.

Hamim said the proposal was still in its early stages and that the ministry was getting the views from all stakeholders.

Replying to a supplementary question from Datuk Takiyuddin Hassan (PAS-Kota Bharu) who wanted to know whether the government would establish a corporation to buy hereditary lands, Hamim said this would be taken into account .

“Firstly, what is important is that the right of every heir must be protected and, secondly, the solution to a contested property can be immediately made,” he said.

In another development, he said to protect wildlife habitats, the ministry had begun directing each developer to conduct a Wildlife Impact Assessment and to refer to the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment of Malaysia before starting a project.

He said this was important in determining the future of an area to avoid the occurrence of wildlife conflicts that could cause disruption to the lives of the local populace. - Bernama