Mitigating the Structural Governing Challenges for Waqf Land Development in Malaysia Through Special Property Development Entity (SPDE)

Abstract

The progression of waqf land development in Malaysia is moderate, considering that it is not on the mainstream agenda of the country. Although waqf exists as a religious instrument, it has become an excellent support system for socio-economic development and has contributed to overall public wellness. Anyhow, the State Islamic Religious Council (SIRCs) who become the sole trustee for waqf in the respective states in Malaysia were facing some structural challenges and searching for effective solutions. With the help from literature, this paper has grouped these structural challenges into three, namely as the legislations, administrations, and obligations. Thus, has opened the opportunity for the Special Property Development Entity (SPDE) to offer some solutions to partially resolve the threats of these structural challenges towards waqf land development. The study had interviewed fourteen SIRCs to explore the challenges and solicit the suitability and acceptance of SPDE in the SIRCs. Overall, the SIRCs did not implement the SPDE except for Selangor. However, the SPDE has its potential and can solve some of the structural challenges if the SIRCs implemented this idea. This paper is using the Structure and Agency Model as the basis to understand and resolve the issues at hand.