Administration and Management of Waqf Land in Malaysia: Issues and Solutions

The prolonged conflicts in the administration and management of waqf land have inhibited its development and expansion in Malaysia. This paper aims to identify the issues arising in the administration, management and development of the waqf land in Malaysia and offer several solutions to enhance waqf land development and ultimately strengthen the role of the SIRC (State Islamic Religious Council) as the sole trustee of waqf properties. The review of the past literature and in-depth interviews with three officers from Majlis Agama Islam Negeri (MAIN) or Sate Islamic Religious Council (SIRC) and the Department of Awqaf, Zakat and Hajj (JAWHAR) revealed several prominent issues in developing the waqf land which include ownership and registration of waqf land, financial problems, shortage of competent waqf managers and illegal occupation and encroachment of waqf land. This paper concludes that SIRCs in all states must be professionally restructured in order to improve the administration, management and development of waqf land in Malaysia