Background

Background on the Establishment of the Department of the Director General of Federal Lands and Mines

The Office of the Commissioner of Lands and Mines was established in 1896 following the federation of the Federated Malay States (Perak, Selangor, Pahang and Negeri Sembilan) under the Federation Agreement of 1895. Sir Henry Conway Belfield was appointed as the first Commissioner of Lands and Mines on 27 July 1896. The officeholder was responsible for formulating land policies and enforcing land legislation in the Federated Malay States. However, in May 1934, an attempt was made to abolish the position, with its functions proposed to be assumed by the Residents and State Legal Advisor.

The establishment of the Federation of Malaya under the Federation of Malaya Agreement 1948 brought about a restructuring of the country's land administration system. Land was designated as a matter within the jurisdiction of the State Governments, while the role of the Commissioner of Lands and Mines evolved into that of a policy adviser, legislative coordinator and intermediary between the Federal Government and the State Governments. Subsequently, the Federal Legislative Council passed the Chief Secretary (Incorporation) Ordinance 1949, which enabled the Chief Secretary, as a corporation sole, to hold and administer Federal Government land.

In addition, the functions of the Chief Secretary, who was then a British officer, included overseeing financial affairs and holding Federal Government land. However, as Malaya moved towards independence, the number of positions held by British officers was gradually reduced. In 1949, pursuant to the Chief Secretary Incorporation Ordinance 1949, the position was abolished, and its functions were divided between two separate offices. Financial administration was assigned to the Ministry of Finance while the management of Federal Government land was transferred to the Commissioner of Lands at that time. Subsequently, under the Federal Land Commissioner Ordinance 1957, the responsibility for managing Federal Government land was consolidated under a single office, namely the Federal Land Commissioner.

The Office of the Federal Land Commissioner was formally established in 1957 following the enactment of the Federal Land Commissioner Ordinance 1957 by the Federal Legislative Council. This Ordinance is now known as the Federal Land Commissioner Act 1957 [Act 349], which empowers the Federal Land Commissioner to hold and administer Federal Government land.

In 1970, following the restructuring of the Federal Government's administrative machinery, the office was renamed Office of the Director General of Federal Lands and Mines pursuant to Federal Government Gazettes P.U.(B) 324/1970 and P.U.(B) 478/1989. These administrative developments reflected the introduction of the designation Director General of Federal Lands and Mines. The Director General exercises powers under Section 8 of the National Land Code [Act 828] and also performs the functions of the Federal Land Commissioner under Act 349.

From 1978 to 1981, the office was known as the Federal Lands and Mines Department. Between 1982 and 1988, its administration and operations continued under the Ministry of Land and Regional Development through the Land Administration and Management Division. From 1989 to 1991, the division was renamed the Land Management and Legislative Division.

Subsequently, with effect from 1 January 1992, the office was formally designated as the Department of the Director General of Federal Lands and Mines, a name it retains to this day.

The Department of the Director General of Federal Lands and Mines is one of the departments within the organisational structure of the Ministry of Natural Resources and Environment. Since 1957, the Department has been transferred several times between various ministries, as outlined below:-