QUOTE(ozak @ Oct 23 2012, 10:10 AM)
I think the freehold and leasehold is not related to land condition. Once this guy told me, land near or in town/city is leasehold. Away from town/city have freehold. Those freehold in town/city is old way before town develope. And this ppl are lucky still holding the freehold property. He is a property adjustor (something like that) who value the property for bank.
Short version:
Freehold land is land that belongs to you once you buy it and register in the Land Office. You pay cukai tanah.
Leasehold land belongs to either govt or Sultan. Mining land is leasehold as you need to lease from the govt or Sultan to extract the tin ore and pay a premium each year, so if you have 99-year lease you have to renew it every 99 year. Houses with 99 year lease will belong to the first owner and the next owner gets only 66-year lease not 98y, 97y, 96y, etc...once the lease is up, you either apply for a lease at land office for another 99 years (good luck!) or apply for 1-5 years. So buying 2nd hand leasehold properties need due consideration.
Another thing about mining land and reclaimed land (mining, landfill, etc.) the correct standard for filling the affected area is 5 year settlement period (wait for stones and gravel plus sand to settle) befoe anything can be constructed. Due to Malaysia Boleh, houses and buildings are constructed after 6 months of settlement..so the IR who signs it will not take blame after your property starts to move with the earth and crack appear or collapse as they will shift the blame to each other.
Buyer beware is the obvious choice as the landed properties may be cheap..hee!hee! but headache later, will you have enough painkillers to resolve this?