(delivering the judgment of the Court): Preliminary: The Facts And Background

The State Authority of Malacca within the definition of the National Land Code, 1965 has fallen victim to the bureaucratic bungling of a land office functionary, with disastrous consequences and leaving in its wake frustrated officialdom—that is the moral and indeed the net effect of the requisite orders we made on the conclusion of somewhat brief submissions by counsel on both sides in allowing this appeal from the decision of Wan Yahaya J., involving the validity of the purported forfeiture of a parcel of land in Malacca by the Collector of Land Revenue, Alor Gajah, in the exercise of his powers conferred by the relevant provisions of the National Land Code (‘the Code').

The facts of the matter are clear and simple and not in dispute; what is in issue is a pure question of law. It is necessary by way of background in considering the question of law involved to briefly set out a narrative of the facts and circumstances culminating in these proceedings to appreciate and evaluate the events that have transpired, the necessity for the appellants to resort to judicial process for the determinat