Cover image via Seri Pacific Hotel Kuala Lumpur Official (Facebook)
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The Kuala Lumpur High Court has ordered the transfer of a 9,723 sq m plot of land to UMNO, settling a longstanding trust issue involving several former top party leaders
The land — where the Seri Pacific Hotel stands — located on Lot 40, Section 51 in the capital city, had been held in trust under the names of four individuals, namely former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad, the late Tun Daim Zainuddin, Tun Musa Hitam, and the late Tan Sri Sanusi Junid.
Justice Roz Mawar Rozain made the ruling today, 24 June, after being informed that UMNO and the Federal Territories Land and Mines Office (PTG) had reached a settlement.
In her consent judgment, she ruled that the land must be vested and registered under UMNO within 30 days, reported FMT.
"The ownership of the property registered under the trustees shall be vested in and registered under UMNO with all rights, interests, and possession," said Roz Mawar, citing Section 9(b) of the Societies Act 1966 and Section 420 of the National Land Code 1965.
UMNO's lawyer Datuk Hafarizam Harun told reporters that today's ruling resolves all legal issues, including the earlier refusal by some of the trustees to sign off on the transfer
The order comes following an originating summons filed on 6 March by UMNO executive secretary Sumali Reduan, who had sought a court declaration that the land had always been held in trust for the party, according to The Edge.
He also asked for the transfer to be completed in line with Article 27.1 of UMNO's constitution.
According to his affidavit, all four trustees had signed Form 17 for the transfer back in October 2015, but the process was delayed after the deaths of Sanusi in 2018 and Daim in 2023.
UMNO currently holds an 85.88% stake in Seri Pacific Corp Sdn Bhd, which owns the hotel through RHB Nominees Sdn Bhd.
