Resolving Lot Lidi Issues Through Surrender and Re-Alienation Mechanism Under the National Land Code 1965: A Qualitative Exploration

Lot lidi is a significant concern in land development, primarily due to issues in land planning and utilization in Malaysia. Thus, this paper aims to explore the potential application of the surrender and re-alienation mechanism under the National Land Code 1965 (NLC 1965), which could potentially address these issues. Based on qualitative methodology, perspectives from industry practitioners and policymakers involved in land administration are gathered. Face-to-face and online interviews were conducted in this study with a sample of five professional key players in land administration. This result revealed that the surrender and re-alienation procedures could potentially be a structured legal direction to overcome the lot lidi issues in regularizing problematic land parcels, promoting accessibility, and achieving sustainable land use planning. Four predominant themes are identified that could be regarded as potential strategies for addressing the issue of lot lidi. This is not just a means to right a wrong or to imbue more confidence in the government's administration of land law; this is a vital strategy for maintaining long-term land use planning at the local level. The existing literature supports this approach, revealing that ignoring lot lidi conflicts could result in worse consequences, leading to further land conflicts and social instability. Therefore, by implementing these mechanisms in line with legal frameworks, this study aims to streamline Malaysia’s land administration system and support both economic and social development for sustainable communities.

Land Administration, Lot lidi, National Land Code 1965, Surrender and Re-alienation

1. Rosli, F. (2023). Lot Lidi Boleh Dirampas, Menyalahi Tiga Akta. BH Online. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

2. Abu, J. (2017). Pemajuan Tanah Melalui Peruntukan-Peruntukan Khas (Seksyen 204A-H Kanun Tanah Negara 1965)-Suatu Pilihan. Jurnal Pentadbiran Tanah. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

3. Adnan, M. Z., Suratman, R., & Samsudin, S. (2021). Enforcement on Land Tax Arrears in Malaysia: A Framework based on National Land Code 1965. Studies of Applied Economics, 39(10), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.25115/eea.v39i10.5359 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

4. Aksinuddin, S. (2023). Complete Systematic Land Registration. Best Journal of Administration and Management, 2(2), 56–63. https://doi.org/10.56403/bejam.v2i2.130 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

5. Ariff, A. H., Samsudin, S., & Ahmad, M. H. (2021). Re-appraising Land Development Approval Procedure through Surrender and Re-Alienation Mechanism in Johor. Planning Malaysia, 19(4), 83–95. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

6. Creswell, J. W. (2013). Qualitative Inquiry and Research Design: Choosing among Five Approaches (Third Edit). SAGE Publication Inc. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

7. Enemark, S., McLaren, R., & Lemmen, C. (2021). Fit-for-purpose Land Administration - Providing Secure Land Rights at Scale. Land, 10(9), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.3390/land10090972 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

8. Gabriel T.L, H., Suhud, N. A., Gabrielina T.C, F., Chung L., P., Bak Y., L., Wai C., L., & Siong H., C. (2022). Tragedy of the Anticommons (ToA) in Agricultural Land Partition involving Fragmented Co-proprietorships: An Analysis of Malaysian Case Laws. International Journal of Built Environment and Sustainability, 9(2), 11–20. https://doi.org/10.11113/ijbes.v9.n2.921 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

9. Hakim, A. M., Samsudin, S., & Haffiz, A. A. (2021). Land Alienation in the Johor Bahru District Area: The Factors of Unsuccessful Response of form 5A, National Land Code 1965. IOP Conference Series: Earth and Environmental Science, 683(1). https://doi.org/10.1088/1755-1315/683/1/012013 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

10. Ibrahim, I., Omar, A., Sahdan, K., & Ibrahim, A. F. (2023). Unregistered Land Lot: Causes and Its Implication to Socioeconomics and Legislation. Jurnal INSTUN, 6. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

11. Ibrahim, N. A., Samsudin, S., & Suratman, R. (2022). Using Relative Importance Index Methods to Study Knowledge Sharing Approaches and Barriers in Land Administration. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 12(10). https://doi.org/10.6007/ijarbss/v12-i10/15467 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

12. Ismail, N., Zakaria, S. R. A., & Samsudin, S. (2023). Lot Lidi Development Conflict From Legal Perspectives. International Journal of Law, Government and Communication (IJLGC), 8(32), 150–160. https://doi.org/10.35631/ijlgc.832013 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

13. Ismail, N., Zakaria, S. R. A., & Samsudin, S. (2024). Resolving “Lot Lidi” Proprietorship Through The National Land Code: A Groundbreaking Preliminary Analysis. International Journal of Law, Government and Communication (IJLGC), 9(36), 222–243. https://doi.org/10.35631/ijlgc.936017 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

14. Keenan, S. (2017). Smoke, Curtains and Mirrors: The Production of Race Through Time and Title Registration. In Law and Critique (Vol. 28, Issue 1, pp. 87–108). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10978-016-9194-z [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

15. Mahmud, N. H. (2024). Kesan Buruk Lot Lidi. Harian Metro. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

16. Mansoor, M., Abu Bakar, N., Abdul Hamid, N., Mansor, H., Abdullah, R., & Najib A’zmi, A. (2023). Advertising and Sale of Skewer Lots from a Criminal Law Perspective. Malaysian Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities (MJSSH), 8(11). https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.47405/mjssh.v8i11.2584 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

17. Mansoor, M., Abu Bakar, N., Abu, J., Abdul Hamid, N., Mansor, H., & Abdullah, R. (2024). Understanding the Persistence of Lot Lidi Transactions in Malaysia: A Qualitative Study of Buyers’ Perceptions and Practices. International Journal of Academic Research in Business and Social Sciences, 14(11). https://doi.org/10.6007/IJARBSS/v14-i11/23405 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

18. Marshall, B., Cardon, P., Poddar, A., & Fontenot, R. (2013). Does Sample Size Matter in Qualitative Research?: A Review of Qualitative Interviews in is Research. Journal of Computer Information Systems, 54(1), 11–22. https://doi.org/10.1080/08874417.2013.11645667 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

19. Mohd, K. W., & Syed Abdul Kader, S. Z. (2021). Responding to Land Fraud: Should Torrens Compensation Scheme be Introduced in Malaysia. Environment-Behaviour Proceedings Journal, 43–49. https://doi.org/10.21834/ebpj.v7isi11.4171 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

20. Mohsin, A., Firdaus, N. F., & Berahim, N. (2022). The Causes of Unauthorized Residential Plots Development and Implication for Government Agencies. Sains Humanika, 14(1), 26–34. www.sainshumanika.utm.my [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

21. Mokhtar, N. A. (2024). Pembeli tanah lot lidi tiada hak sebagai tuan tanah - Bukit Aman. BH Online. https://www.bharian.com.my/berita/nasional/2024/05/1252335/pembeli-tanah-lot-lidi-tiada-hak-sebagai-tuan-tanah-bukit-aman [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

22. Nezuakifli, N. (2022). Lot Lidi: Tanah tanpa geran individu berasingan. Dimensi KOOP Bil 70/2022, 34–41. [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

23. O’Connor, P. (2003). Double Indemnity - Title Insurance and the Torrens System. QUT Law Review, 3(1), 1–27. https://doi.org/10.5204/qutlr.v3i1.123 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

24. Rohani, A., Suhailizan, S., Mohd Halim, H., Amirul Haffiz, A., Mohd SHahrizan, S., Robiah, S., & Salfarina, S. (2019). Surrender And Re-Alienation Of Land In Johor, Malaysia: A Planning Tool And Mechanism For Sustainable Property Development. Catalyzing Innovation: Annual World Bank Conference on Land and Poverty. https://www.researchgate.net/publication/334049478 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

25. Suhaimi, R., Taha, M. M., Sulong, J., Awang, M. B., & Ismail, N. (2023). The Principle of Fiqh in Purchasing Lot Lidi: A Preliminary Analysis. Journal of Islamic, Social, Economics and Development (JISED), 8(52), 180–189. https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.085216 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

26. Taha, M. M., Awang, A., Hamid, C. K., Hamdan, M., Ahmad, S., Said, S., & Ismail, N. (2025). Principles of Land Control for Lot Lidi in Malaysia from the Perspective of Siyasah Syari’iyyah. International Journal of Research and Innovation in Social Science (IJRISS), 9(18), 1175–1189. https://doi.org/10.47772/IJRISS.2025.SPiKEM4 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

27. Taha, M. M., Awang, A., Sulong, J., Awang, M. B., & Suhaimi, R. (2022). The Concept of Unauthorized Agriculture Land Development and It’s Reality in Malaysia. Journal of Islamic, Social, Economics and Development (JISED), 7(47), 582–596. https://doi.org/10.55573/JISED.074751 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

28. TGM Research. (2025). What is Non-probability Sampling? Types, Examples, and Best Practices. TGM Research Blog. https://tgmresearch.com/non-probability-sampling.html [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

29. Zakaria, S. R. ., & Hussin, K. (2013). Recognition of the Economic Security in the Form of Assurance Fund as a Protection to Landowners and the Economic Stimulator in Malaysia. China-USA Business Review, 12(08), 768–774. https://doi.org/10.17265/1537-1514/2013.08.005 [Google Scholar] [Crossref]

• Conflict of Law in the Safeguarding of Malaysian Intangible Cultural Heritage: A Way Forward
• Alternative Dispute Resolution in India: A Brief Overview Justice Delayed is Justice Denied. - William E. Gladstone
• The Role of Museums in Safeguarding Cultural Heritage Rights: Balancing Access and Repatriation
• An Evaluation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights' Significance and Application in Nigeria
• The Role of International Law in Shaping National Immigration Policies.