Two members of Kedah royalty are claiming that the state had forcibly acquired their land, the compensation given did not follow current market prices, and also did not take into account a half-completed building already there.

Tunku Mohd Saad Mansur and his younger brother Tunku Mohd Taufek Mansur claimed in press conference today in Kuala Lumpur that the Kedah state government had acquired the land and neighbouring lots in November 2011, believing that the development on their land had been abandoned.

However, Saad said that there was in fact a court injunction on any development on the land of about four acres, pending an 18-year legal battle between the contractor and the family.

They had won the case in December 2010 and were about to resume development when the state government acquired the land and demolished the building, which Saad estimated, was about 60 percent complete.

They said their land is now part of a 17-acre project jointly developed by the Kedah State Development Corporation (PKNK) and Belleview, and is to become a 'lifestyle centre' that incorporates shopping centres, hotels and conference halls.

Saad claimed that they were not engaged by the state government in developing the land, while Taufek added that there had been no open tender for the project.

He also said that having won the court case, he could have completed the project in less than two years.

The duo said they originally intended to build Plaza Tunku Yaacob, a building of similar purpose as the new development named after their grandfather Tunku Yaacob Abdul Hamid, who in turn is the uncle of the current Agong.

“He wanted to open the first shopping centre in Kedah, Plaza Tunku Yaacob, in the 1980s but the project was stalled. The land was originally his home, but it was demolished (to make way for the shopping centre),” said Taufek.

He added that it was their late father’s promise to their late grandfather to finish the project, located along Lebuhraya Darul Aman, across the road from the local landmark Alor Setar Tower in the state capital.

Saad said that the family was compensated at RM151 per square feet, totalling about RM24 million. However, he complained that this is the 1991 land price, and did not take account the existing building.

He further estimated that the family suffered losses of about RM100 million including legal fees, taxes, and compensation to shop-lot buyers, and that the completed building is worth between RM57 million to RM60 million.

He added that there would be a court hearing in Alor Setar on May 14 against the Kedah land office to dispute the compensation and the acquisition on procedural grounds.