KUCHING: Zakat and waqf are being recognised as vital components in building a modern Islamic civilisation, driving both social and economic empowerment through faith-based principles.
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said Malaysia must take the lead in advancing this vision, with Sarawak serving as a symbolic platform to promote it globally.
He said both Islamic economic instruments possess immense potential that should be utilised strategically, not merely as acts of charity but as drivers of socio-economic empowerment for the ummah.
In a speech delivered by Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, Anwar emphasised that zakat and waqf systems have the ability to complement the government’s role in strengthening the social safety net, while also serving as alternative funding sources for education, healthcare, and community development.
“Today, we must apply the same principle: let zakat and waqf take responsibility for education, health, welfare, and innovation, while states focus on security and international leadership.
“This is not only revival; it is a strategy for resilience,” he said during the 14th Annual General Meeting and International Conference of the World Zakat and Waqf Forum (WZWF) 2025 held at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre today.
Anwar also underscored the importance of leveraging modern technology, including artificial intelligence (AI), to revolutionise zakat and waqf management in Malaysia.
“The use of AI can help accurately identify asnaf groups, monitor community needs in real time, accelerate aid distribution, and enable the collection of big data to craft more responsive long-term policies and strategies,” he said.
He further envisioned a digital transformation of Islamic philanthropy through technology.
“Let us imagine waqf assets managed on blockchain for full transparency, zakat distributed through AI-driven platforms to maximise efficiency, and digital media used to inspire global solidarity. This is within our reach if we are bold,” he said.
Anwar added that these contemporary global insights and technological trends mark a new transformational destiny (tajdid) for zakat and waqf in shaping the future of global social development.
