The total area of Malay reserve land in Peninsular Malaysia increased to 4.95 million hectares in 2024, with Kelantan having the largest portion.
KUALA LUMPUR: The total area of Malay reserve land (MRL) in Peninsular Malaysia increased to 4.95 million hectares in 2024.
This marks a net increase of 135,063.46 hectares from the 4.82 million hectares recorded in 2020.
The Ministry of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability (NRES) provided the data in a parliamentary written reply.
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The figures exclude Penang and Melaka, which do not have a Malay Reservation Enactment.
Kelantan recorded the largest MRL area at 1.36 million hectares.
It was followed by Perak with 953,212.43 hectares and Kedah with 809,142.22 hectares.
Johor recorded 561,802.60 hectares, while Pahang had 444,074.90 hectares.
Negeri Sembilan’s MRL area is 224,483.22 hectares and Selangor’s is 164,743.96 hectares.
Perlis recorded 33,554.48 hectares, and Kuala Lumpur had 1,004.00 hectares.
Terengganu’s specific MRL area is 2,378.89 hectares, with total Malay holdings amounting to 401,129 hectares.
NRES stated that MRL management is governed by key legal frameworks.
Article 89 of the Federal Constitution provides special protection for such land.
It requires land of equivalent value to be provided should any revocation occur.
The legal framework also includes state-level Malay Reservation Enactments.
These cover provisions for declaration, revocation, ownership restrictions, and prohibitions for non-Malays.
The National Land Code 1965 regulates general land administration and title registration.
The National Land Council coordinates land policies and compiles federal MRL data. – Bernama
