Court ruling certifies heirs in century-old Cap Zuriat Sungai Mengkuang royal estate case
By TENGKU NOOR SHAMSIAH TENGKU ABDULLAH
KUALA TERENGGANU, April 7, 2026 — Heirs of Sultan Zainal Abidin III are awaiting a formal response from the Terengganu State Government following a Syariah Court ruling earlier this year that certified the legitimate heirs in connection with the Cap Zuriat Sungai Mengkuang (CZSM) royal estate case.
The Kuala Terengganu Syariah Subordinate Court issued a Faraid Order (Judgment of Tarekah) on Jan 4, 2026 confirming the heirs of the late DYMM Sultan Ismail Nasiruddin Shah, a son of Sultan Zainal Abidin III, according to a media statement issued by the estate’s trustee.
The ruling formally certifies the heirs under Islamic inheritance law and fulfils a mandate issued by the Terengganu Syariah Court of Appeal on April 10, 2023, which required official documentation of lineage before further legal steps could proceed.
Trustee: Court Order Clarifies Heirship
The trustee of the CZSM estate, Tengku Sri Paduka Raja, said the court decision clarifies the legal position of the heirs and enables the matter to move forward within the framework of Syariah law.
“The court order clarifies the status of the heirs and allows the matter to proceed to the next phase in accordance with legal and Syariah principles,” he said in the statement.
Case Dates Back to 1923
The dispute centres on land linked to the Cap Zuriat Sungai Mengkuang (CZSM) estate in Kemaman, Terengganu.
According to the statement, the case relates to royal estate land dating back to 1923, when the land was taken over by the Terengganu State Government.
The land, measuring approximately 13,500 acres, has since undergone extensive development and parts of it have been used for settlement areas benefiting local communities.
The heirs are not seeking the return of the original land but have proposed a resolution through the Islamic legal principle of Istibdal, under which alternative land may be considered as a substitute.
Letters Sent to Menteri Besar
Tengku Sri Paduka Raja said several letters had been submitted to the Terengganu Menteri Besar regarding the matter.
These included correspondence dated Sept 9, 2024, Feb 4, 2026, and March 5, 2026, according to the statement.
“As of now, no official response has been received,” he said.
Call for Cooperation Among Heirs
The trustee also urged heirs to remain patient and cooperate in verifying information related to the estate.
He said such cooperation would help facilitate the next phase of the legal process.
At the time of publication, no response had been issued by the Terengganu State Government regarding the matters raised in the statement. – TNS NEWS
