SHAH ALAM: Organisations and individuals must not collect wakaf contributions without approval from the Selangor Wakaf Corporation (PWS).
PWS chief executive officer Anuar Hamzah Tohar said those collecting wakaf contributions without the corporation’s consent could face action and fines up to RM1,000.
“We don’t want certain parties and individuals to misuse the wakaf contribution, and it (collecting without PWS permission) is also an offence,” Anuar said at a meet-and-greet session on Monday (Oct 9).
A wakaf is a Muslim voluntary charitable contribution made to support people and organisations in need.
Anuar then said that wakaf contributions need not be strictly cash and can also include property and land.
He added that there are many land wakaf contributions, with the largest number in the Sabak Bernam district.
“This indicates that the people there are aware of the importance of contributing wakaf, and the land they contribute can be either rented out or used for agriculture,” said Anuar.
He added that Sabak Bernam had a total of 14.2 hectares of wakaf land as of last year alone and was the biggest contributor of wakaf land in Selangor, amounting to 28.8 hectares valued at RM36.2mil.
Anuar said there were several valuable wakaf land development projects in Selangor meant to generate socio-economic development and benefit the community.
“An example of wakaf land being used for agriculture is a pineapple farm project managed by an individual at Kampung Sungai Merab in Bangi.
PWS is also building a petrol station on wakaf land that will benefit the Sungai Ramal Luar Mosque in Kajang,” said Anuar.
On wakaf in general, Anuar said that the term has a broad definition which addition to cash contributions by the corporation also includes contributions towards development, education, and mosques.
However, he explained contributions made to organisations, such as schools, would only be for necessary items like repairs and renovations, not for beautification such as murals.
