UMNO Seeks Court Order to Reclaim Land from Tun Mahathir and Former Leaders

UMNO Seeks Court Order to Reclaim Land from Tun Mahathir and Former Leaders


12 Apr 2025 • 1:30 PM MYT


Kamran
A freelance content creator

Image Credit: Sinar Harian


UMNO has taken legal action to secure ownership of a 9,723 square metre plot of land in the capital that is currently registered under the names of four prominent figures, including former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad.


The political party, through its Executive Secretary Datuk Mohd Sumali Reduan, filed an originating summons at the High Court on March 6, naming the Registrar of the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office as the sole defendant. UMNO is represented by the legal firm Hafarizam Wan & Aisha Mubarak.


The case, managed today by High Court Senior Assistant Registrar Nur Shasha Hidayah Nor Azahar, is scheduled for further case management on May 2. Lawyer Nor Hazira Abu Haiyan, representing UMNO, confirmed the court’s direction.


UMNO is seeking a legal declaration that ownership of the land — Grant 78154, Lot 40, Section 51, Bandar Kuala Lumpur — be officially transferred to the party. Currently, the land is under the names of four trustees: the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, Tun Musa Hitam, Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, and the late Tan Sri Sanusi Junid.


UMNO's claim refers to Clause 27.1 of its party constitution and Section 9 of the Societies Act 1966, which it argues supports the transfer of ownership from the named trustees back to the party.


According to an affidavit filed by Mohd Sumali, the process to transfer the land began as far back as 2015. A Letter of Declaration was signed by the four trustees on October 22, 2015, granting permission for the transfer. The party leadership at the time, including the President, Deputy President, and Secretary-General, also endorsed the move in writing on December 10, 2015.


Further support came from the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office, which approved the transfer request in a letter dated December 28, 2015. However, the formal submission of Form 14A — the legal document required for transferring ownership — was rejected in May 2017. The reason given was a mismatch between the name on the land grant and the identification documents.


Since then, UMNO has been attempting to resolve the issue. With two of the original trustees now deceased — Sanusi in 2018 and Daim in 2024 — the party is now turning to the courts to finalize the long-delayed transfer.