Larut, Matang & Selama Land and District Office

The Larut, Matang & Selama Land and District Office is the principal office for dealing with land ownership issues in the district.

The main functions and objectives of the office are:

• The administration and enforcement of National Land laws and State Land regulations.
• Carrying out and enforcing the collection of various Land revenue, Taxes, Licenses, and others.
• Planning and implementation of district socio-economic development programs.
• Coordinating development activities of departments in line with development.
• Maintaining public order and goodwill at the district level.

Operating Hours:

Mondays to Thursdays: 8.15 a.m. – 12.15 p.m., then 2.15 p.m. – 4.30 p.m..

Fridays: 8.15 a.m. – 12.00 p.m., then 3.00 p.m. – 4.30 p.m.

History of the Larut, Matang & Selama Land and District Office

The first building that served as the British Government Office was built in 1881, and was situated along Kota Road (present-day Jalan Kota). It was a wooden building, and kept expanding to accommodate more and more government departments. A newer building was designed by St. Francis Caulfield, Senior Engineer for the Public Works Department very much in a Victorian style. The building’s construction commenced in 1895 and was completed in 1897. It was called the New Government Office. It housed the Council Chamber, offices for the Secretariat, Treasury, Audit, Education, and Forestry Departments.

Taiping Government Office, 11 April 1939

The Larut, Matang & Selama Land and District Office, 2013

The building has never ceased in function, and today is still a government office, serving a similar purpose to that of when it was first built.

Since 2012, the Land & District Office building has been gazetted as a National Heritage building.

It is arguably the best-looking building in Taiping, and is an iconic landmark of the city. One cannot help but feel impressed by the scale and grandiose of the architecture of the building. The building is well lit at night, and the city square opposite the District Office is usually bustling with activity on weekends, especially at night.

The Larut, Matang & Selama Land and District Office is stop number 29 on the Taiping Heritage Trail.