In a dilemma over land title
17/05/2007 The Star By TUNKU SHAHARIAH

AN 81-year-old World War II veteran is upset that he has been given the run around by the Kulim Land Office over the dual ownership of a plot of land he purchased in Kulim, Kedah in 1954.

Wan Abdul Rahim Wan Mahmud who served in the British army, said he bought the piece of land at Lot 49, Kampung Padang Kulim using his wages from his army service when he returned to his hometown in Kulim three years before the country’s independence.

He said he built a house and lived there with his family. He said he was also unaware that he had to submit his temporary title deed issued in the 1950s or known as Surat Putus Kecil (SPK) to Kulim Land Office for a new revised title.

In 1984, when he wanted to change the land title to his son Wan Nazir’s name, he was shocked to be told that he was not the only landowner.

“When they wanted to issue me a new title, it seems that the Kulim Land Office found out that another person also owned the same piece of land.

“I also found out that the Kulim Land Office had been collecting quit rent from both of us all these years,” he said when met at his house here yesterday.

Wan Abdul Rahim said he was still waiting for the Land Office to clear the confusion.

“What I don’t understand is why the Kulim Land Office is unable to do anything about this matter since 1984,” he added.

A spokesman from Kulim Land Office said they would conduct a check on the ownership of the piece of land within two weeks.

“There may be a confusion over the boundary of the land area purchased by another person whose name has appeared in the new title,” the spokesman said.