JUDGMENT

See Mee Chun JCA:

Introduction

[1] This is an appeal by the Appellant/Defendant against the decision of the High Court (HC) in allowing the claim of the Plaintiffs/Respondents. We allowed the appeal and now give our reasons.

Parties

[2] The Appellant is the administrator of the estate of the late Si Ching Boon (deceased). The deceased was his father who passed away in January 2018, after the claim was filed in December 2017.

[3] The Respondents are the brothers of the deceased. Together with another brother by the name of Si Kiam Joo and ten other sisters, they were the children of Mdm Chei Chan, deceased since 13 November 1979.

Background Facts

The Lands

[4] In her lifetime, Mdm Chei Chan owned two pieces of land, GM 247, Lot 5354 and GM 248, Lot 5582, both in Mukim Labu, District of Seremban (the Lands). The Lands contained the following land use, express conditions and restriction in interest:

"Kategori Kegunaan Tanah: Pertanian

Syarat Nyata: Tanah ini hendaklah digunakan untuk tanaman jangka panjang dusun sahaja.

Sekatan Kepentingan:

i) Tanah ini tertakluk kepada Akta Tanah 1960 (GSA) dan tidak boleh dipindah milik kecuali bersekali dengan tapak rumah dan ladang kepada penerima s