SHAH ALAM (Nov 10): The Sultan of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah, has urged Muslims to channel religious-related funds through parties authorised and recognised by the state Islamic religious council to ensure proper governance and accountability.
Sultan Sharafuddin said the advice came amid a growing number of companies, institutions, individuals and non-governmental organisations collecting or managing Muslim funds and assets, including infaq, donations and fidyah.
"Unfortunately, many of these parties have not been legally appointed by the relevant authorities, such as the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS) and other state Islamic religious councils.
"I am deeply saddened that some of these parties have been involved in misappropriating public funds collected and using them for personal gain. This is shameful and causes significant harm to the Muslim community," he said.
The Sultan conveyed this in a statement in conjunction with the Baitulmal Nusantara Convention (KBN) 2026, organised by MAIS here on Tuesday.
The Raja Muda of Selangor, Tengku Amir Shah, represented Sultan Sharafuddin at the event and officiated the convention, themed "Strengthening Trust, Developing Wealth, Prospering the Ummah".
Sultan Sharafuddin said state Islamic religious councils are the authorities and sole trustees responsible for Baitulmal in their respective states, in accordance with the Islamic Religious Administration Enactments, the Federal Constitution and the respective state constitutions.
He said the councils, particularly MAIS, must ensure that Baitulmal assets are managed transparently, efficiently and professionally, while complying with Islamic principles and applicable laws.
"The governance of Baitulmal must always be maintained at a high standard. Muslim funds must be properly managed, distributed, developed and utilised to safeguard the welfare and interests of the Muslim community," he said.
The Sultan stressed that Baitulmal should not be viewed merely as an institution for collecting Muslim wealth, but also as an organisation capable of developing and growing the community's assets.
Sultan Sharafuddin said MAIS and other state Islamic religious councils could not achieve this objective alone and need to strengthen strategic partnerships with corporate entities, including Islamic banking and financial institutions as well as Islamic wealth management companies.
Such collaborations, he said, would enable the councils to increase the value of Baitulmal assets, including through the development of high-impact commercial properties capable of generating sustainable returns for the Muslim community.
Sultan Sharafuddin also stressed the importance of support from both state and federal governments in strengthening the Baitulmal institution.
The Sultan said laws governing Islamic wealth management, particularly Islamic inheritance laws, need to be strengthened and expedited to address existing challenges.
"The issue of overlapping jurisdiction between civil and shariah courts must also be addressed. These measures need to be implemented promptly so that the frozen inheritance of Muslims can be resolved and channelled back into the economic cycle of the ummah," he said.
The KBN 2026 serves as a strategic platform bringing together academics, policymakers and industry practitioners to exchange knowledge, explore current developments and discuss challenges and opportunities in strengthening Baitulmal institutions and Islamic wealth management across the region.
The convention attracted 400 participants from various professional backgrounds, including speakers and delegates from Malaysia, Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore and Thailand, highlighting the importance of regional cooperation in strengthening the Islamic wealth management ecosystem.
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