Land Office cuts red tape
31/05/2007 NST

SHAH ALAM: Officials at the Land Office will be able to approve most property transactions in Selangor with immediate effect.

Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Dr Mohd Khir Toyo said the move was aimed at cutting red tape and speeding up land transfers.

Previously, transfers of titles required approval from the Land Office, the state executive council and the office of the menteri besar.

Dr Khir said with the new directive, only transfers of Bumiputera titles to non-Bumiputeras would still require the approval of the state executive council and his office.

The Land Office is now empowered to approve applications by foreigners who want to buy land worth more than RM100,000 in Selangor.

"As long as the applicant fulfils all the requirements set by the federal government and the Foreign Investments Committee, their applications can be approved by the Land Office," Dr Khir said.

Approval to merge lots that are less than 0.8 hectares and classifications of land, be it for industrial or agriculture purposes, can also be given by the Land Office without referring the matter to the state government.

Dr Khir said 15 new registrars would be appointed to speed up the work at the Land Office while experienced staff who had retired would be rehired.

Contract staff are also being recruited to reduce the backlog at the Land Office.