COMMENT | Unity govt quest for transparency ended after polls win

COMMENT | In 1992, the government acquired the land under a row of single-storey houses in the SS1 area in Petaling Jaya, Selangor. This site is now where the Taman Bahagia LRT station is situated.

It was an acquisition under the Land Acquisition Act (1960). Under the act, the state authority can compulsorily acquire land, which must be for a public purpose.

Thus, even if the land sought to be acquired is needed by say, a public utility company or a highway concessionaire, they would not be able to commence the process or acquire it themselves.

Instead, they are compelled to apply to the state government to acquire the land on its behalf, thereby ensuring some measure of control by the state.

When the state approves the proposed acquisition, the state authority will cause a declaration of the proposed acquisition to be published in the state gazette.

The publication date will determine compensation, as the market value of the land...