Measuring the Needs for the Special Property Development Entity (SPDE) for Waqf Property Development in Malaysia

Abstract

This paper aims to enhance the approach for developing the waqf properties in Malaysia. A Special Property Development Entity (SPDE) in the context of this article refers to a dedicated development actor that holds the responsibility to develop waqf lands. The intended role of the SPDE is to become the property development arm of State Islamic Religious Councils (SIRCs) in developing the waqf lands. This is expected to overcome the current limitations of SIRCs in entering into the property development while bringing a new model to deal with the issue of undeveloped waqf lands, as well as a better platform to penetrate the property market. The objective of this article is to measure the needs for the establishment of SPDE by SIRCs. By adopting a structured interview technique with fourteen informants from SIRCs throughout Malaysia, the study was able to quantify the needs for the SPDE. The quantification process for the need to establish the SPDE was conducted using the Guttman Scaling, which galvanises the need for versatile SPDE in contribute to the waqf institution.KeywordsSpecial Property Development Entity (SPDE)Waqf institutionProperty developmentMalaysia