NILAI: State land administrators have been urged to embrace the spirit behind the amendments made to the three land laws, as approved by the Parliament recently.
The three laws are the National Land Code 1965, the Strata Title Act 1985 and the Land Acquisition Act 1960.
Minister of Natural Resources and Environment Datuk Seri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar said, the purpose of revising the law stemmed from a series of complaints lodged by the public against the intrusion of lands in Cameron Highlands, Pahang.
Wan Junaidi said the amendments would provide harsh penalties upon the irresponsible parties.
“We believe that the current penalties of a RM2,000 to RM3,000 fine on illegal land intruders are not enough to teach them a lesson. We need to review the laws,” he told a press conference after officiating the 22nd Land Administrator Conference organised by Land and Mines Office and Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment, last night.
“This conference serves as a platform for land administrators to understand the purpose of the amendments and how to implement them effectively after the laws are gazzetted,” he said.
The amendment will see 77 Sections in the National Land Code 1965 being revised, which will provide harsher punishment. Fines on offenders will be raised from RM10,000 to RM500,000 as well as a jail term of one to 15 years.