KUALA LUMPUR, August 9 - Laws related to land ownership transfer from public to private companies will be reviewed.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim explained that arbitrary land acquisition is feared to have serious implications for the country if it is allowed to continue.

Quoting the High Court’s decision which ordered the government to transfer ownership of 106.542 hectares of land in Mukim Batu to Semantan Estate Sdn Bhd (SESB).

Although the government abides by the court's judgement, the law would have serious implications for the country if not reviewed.

“We abide by the court’s decision but as requested by both parties, we have negotiated for three months but did not reach an agreement. So, we will also see the legal implications and the implications for the country are very serious.

“I will suggest to Cabinet Ministers to review this law again because if this principle is used, then what about the people's land that was taken since independence or before independence?,” Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said after delivering a message in conjunction with the Guidelines on the Management and Governance of Federal Statutory Bodies here.

Previously, High Court Judge, Datuk Ahmad Shahrir Mohd Salleh ruled that the government should transfer the 'Duta Enclave' land to SESB, after allowing the company's initial suit against the Federal Territories Registrar of Titles as defendant.

The land involved includes the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia Complex, several government buildings, the National Hockey Stadium, Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia and the Federal Territory Mosque.