Speech by Chief Executive of Muis, Hj Abdul Razak Maricar at the Wakaf Disbursement Ceremony

 THURSDAY, 1 JUNE 2016 AT AL-MAWADDAH MOSQUE

Ahli-ahli Majlis Tertinggi Muis,
Ahli-ahli Jawatankuasa Pengagihan Wakaf,
Para wakif, pemegang amanah, mutawalli dan penerima agihan,
Serta tuan-puan yang saya hormati,
Assalamualaikum Warahmatullahi Wabarakatuh.

Alhamdulillah, kita bertemu hari ini untuk suatu lagi Majlis Tahunan Pengagihan Wakaf. Majlis ini amat bermakna kerana ia merupakan kemuncak perlaksanaan tanggungjawab tahunan kita sebagai pemegang amanah dan mutawalli untuk mengagihkan pulangan aset wakaf berdasarkan niat para wakif perintis kita. 

2. Atas berkat dan rahmat Allah Ta’ala, saya ingin maklumkan bahawa lebih $3.01 juta akan diagihkan tahun ini kepada masjidmasjid, madrasah-madrasah dan pertubuhan-pertubuhan Islam tempatan. Ini merupakan jumlah terbesar yang pernah diagihkan sejauh ini. Jika dibandingkan dengan pengagihan tahun lalu, ini adalah penambahan sebanyak $200,000, satu kenaikan sebanyak 7.8 peratus


3. Antara faktor yang menyumbang kepada kenaikan jumlah agihan adalah bertambahnya pulangan sewa tahun lepas. Muis, melalui anak syarikatnya Warees Investments Pte Ltd, telah berusaha gigih untuk menarik dan mengekalkan penyewa yang dapat membayar sewa setimpal dengan harga pasaran. Muis juga telah berusaha menerusi pelbagai inisiatif untuk meningkatkan kesedaran mengenai Wakaf Ilmu demi menggalakkan lebih ramai anggota masyarakat untuk menyumbang kepada konsep Wakaf tunai yang dilancarkan oleh Muis pada tahun 2012, bagi pembangunan pendidikan Islam di Singapura. Alhamdulillah, sebanyak $ 9.8 juta telah dikumpulkan. Hari ini, kita akan menyaksikan pengagihan kali ketiga sebanyak $131,877 yang akan memanfaatkan madrasahmadrasah sepenuh masa dan juga aLIVE, iaitu madrasah separuh masa yang dikendalikan oleh Muis dan masjid-masjid kita.


4. Sebagai badan penguasa wakaf di Singapura, Muis memikul tanggungjawab untuk memastikan bahawa sektor Wakaf ditadbir dengan baik demi kemampanan jangka panjang. Di dalam pelan 3-tahun Muis dari tahun 2016 hingga 2018, Muis akan mengukuhkan tadbir urus Wakaf di Singapura. Antara inisiatif yang akan di jalankan termasuk melakarkan kod tadbir urus Wakaf, meningkatkan pemantauan ke atas harta Wakaf dan menyemak semula dasar serta proses pengagihan pulangan aset Wakaf. Kami akan bekerjasama dengan pemegang amanah dan mutawalli serta mendapatkan panduan dari Jawatankuasa Fatwa dalam isu-isu yang bersangkut paut dengan prinsip-prinsip agama; dalam mengendali dan menaik taraf wakaf-wakaf yang sedia ada


5. Izinkan saya kini menyambung ucapan dalam Bahasa Inggeris.


6. Alhamdulillah, we are gathered here today at this Muis Wakaf Disbursement Ceremony 2016 to fulfil the intentions of our early Muslim philanthropists who have endowed their wealth and properties for charitable and religious causes benefitting generations of Muslims, simply to bring themselves closer to Allah.


7. This ceremony is a culmination of hard work done in the past one year to fulfil the ‘amanah’ bestowed upon many of us here as trustees and mutawallis to help perpetuate the good deed of the wakif. This is done by ensuring that the Wakaf properties entrusted upon us are well maintained and where feasible pooled together to generate better returns to be distributed in accordance to the Wakaf objectives. 


Historic High Wakaf Disbursement



8. I am pleased to announce that we are disbursing more than $3.01 million this year. This is an increase of 7.8% or close to $200k when compared to last year’s disbursement.


9. About half of today’s disbursement, or $1.5 million, will be channelled to 27 mosques in Singapore to help in funding their upgrading projects as well as to support the mosques in delivering their programmes and sustaining their operations. Amongst those assisted by Wakaf for their upcoming upgrading works include the smaller mosques such as Masjid Hussein Sulaiman, Masjid Jamek Queenstown and Masjid Tasek Utara.


10. Muis will be disbursing $338, 000 to 30 Muslim and voluntary welfare organisations this year to help support their programmes aimed at enhancing socio-religious life of different facets within the Muslim community. One such initiative that will be funded by Wakaf is ‘Madrasah Anak Istimewa’ programme (or Madanis in short), which provides Islamic education to our young with special needs. Similarly, Casa Raudha, which runs a sheltered home and provides empowerment programmes for women who are facing marital difficulties or ill-treated will also receive wakaf disbursements today. With today’s contributions from wakaf, I have no doubt it will help to strengthen the sustainability of these organisations’ programmes and services, and thus delivering better outcomes for the community, Insha Allah.


11. I am happy to inform that our full- and part-time madrasahs will be receiving close to $400k this year, one-third or $131,877 is from the net income of Wakaf Ilmu. Wakaf is one source of funding that can help our madrasahs implement effective programmes to develop and produce future-ready students equipped with necessary knowledge and skills in this everchanginglandscape. One such example is Madrasah Al-Arabiah Al-Islamiah’s Scholars’ Programme, which gives highperforming students the opportunity to stretch their potential and enrich their learning experience beyond their classrooms. Through this programme, students can equip themselves with research skills, undertake attachment programmes and participate in various Science and Mathematics competitions.

Factors Contributing to Growth in Wakaf Returns

12. The increase in Wakaf disbursement that we observe today is largely due to higher income growth last year. This did not take place by chance. Muis, through its wholly-owned subsidiary Warees Investments Pte Ltd, adopts a proactive and marketdriven approach to improve the performance of Wakaf properties. A lot of attention and efforts have been put in, to attract and retain quality tenants leasing Wakaf commercial spaces so as to lock in good rental rates thereby maximising Wakaf returns for the benefits of the community.


13. Muis has also embarked on various public awareness campaigns such as through seminars, newsletters and newspaper advertisements to ensure continued community’s support to Wakaf Ilmu. As you are aware, Wakaf Ilmu is a unique cash Wakaf launched in 2012 to allow the Muslim community to donate any amount of money, which are then invested to generate long-term income for Islamic education in Singapore.Alhamdulillah, contributions to Wakaf Ilmu has been encouraging. To date, Wakaf Ilmu’s capital has grown to $9.8 million since its inception. To all those who have contributed to Wakaf Ilmu, thank you for your support. May Allah bless you for your generosity.

Sustaining Wakaf in Years to Come

14. As the custodian of wakaf in Singapore, Muis has a fiduciary duty to govern our Wakaf well so as to protect its sanctity and ensure long-term sustainability. Under the 5th Muis 3-year plan from 2016 – 2018, Muis will be strengthening governance for the Wakaf sector. Initiatives that we hope to implement include developing a comprehensive Wakaf code of governance, stepping up checks and monitoring on Wakaf properties as well as reviewing our Wakaf disbursemet policies and processes. We hope to embark on these initiatives in close consultation with Trustees and mutawallis as well as seeking religious guidance from the Fatwa Committee where there are religious dimensions involved.


15. Since the fourth quarter of last year, the commercial property market has softened with excess spaces available for rent. The increase in high rise industrial developments are also providing alternative locations for businesses, thereby increasing competition among lessors.


16. Given this backdrop, we must ensure that Wakaf properties continue to stay relevant and attractive to tenants. Muis will work closely with Warees to maintain and upkeep as well as to enhance the value of our wakaf properties. We will be setting aside funds for maintenance and rectification works such as repainting and roof replacement of the Wakaf properties, which comprise predominantly of pre-war conserved shop-houses to make our wakaf properties attractive and competitive.

Conclusion

17. To conclude, as we celebrate this happy occasion, let us take this opportunity to reflect on how our forefathers have sacrificed and contributed to the ummah. Together, let us do our part to help perpetuate their good deeds for betterment of our community.


18. It leaves me now to thank trustees, mutawallis and everyone who have contributed to Wakaf in one way or another. May Allah Ta’ala grant all of you with the best of all rewards.


19. Wabillahi Taufiq Walhidayah Assalamualaikum Wr.Wb.

 Speech by CE Muis at the Wakaf Disbursement Ceremony (PDF, 93KB)