FUNDAMENTALS OF PROPERTY DEVELOPMENT FOR WAQF LAND IN MALAYSIA

Abstract

Waqf land development is becoming increasingly common in Malaysia as a means of achieving socioeconomic goals while simultaneously ensuring long term asset sustainability. However, its development potential remains underutilised due to complex legal institutional and operational constraints. While prior studies have examined individual challenges related to waqf governance, financing and land administration, there is a lack of an integrated understanding of the fundamentals elements required to guide systematic property development of waqf land. This paper aims to identify and synthesis the core fundamentals of property development that are particularly relevant to waqf land in Malaysia. By adopting qualitative research approach, this paper integrates an extensive literature review with semi-structured interviews with stakeholders including the State Islamic Religious Council and developers who are engaged in waqf property development. Thematic analysis was employed to examine institutional roles, development processes and governance practices. The finding indicates six interrelated fundamentals essential for effective waqf property development which are governance and legal alignment, institutional structure and stakeholder coordination, pre-development readiness assessment, development methodology and financing mechanisms, development approval and implementation workflow and post development management and benefit distribution. These findings provide a foundation for waqf administrators and development practitioners in order to improve coordination and implementation of waqf development in Malaysia.