AFTER rejecting the offer price from the previous Pakatan Harapan government for their land in Kampung Baru, landowners and beneficiaries now want to present their proposed development plans under the wakaf system to the Yang di-Pertuan Agong.

The Kg Baru Landowners and Beneficiaries Association (Pewaris) will first meet with Federal Territories Religious Affairs Council (MAIWP) officials on procedures to impose the wakaf system in the area.

Pewaris secretary Zainudin Ismail told The Malaysian Insight that their plans to meet MAIWP officials had been postponed due to the movement control order.

He said Pewaris have already met with federal territories deputy mufti Mohd Ansarullah Mohd Hashim on March 17 to propose the idea.

“We would like to meet MAIWP to get a better understanding on the wakaf system procedures before meeting the Agong because the matter is related to Islam.”

The wakaf system is an inalienable charitable endowment under Islamic law that will ensure Kg Baru remains in the hands of the Malays, stakeholders had said.

“At present, everyone seems to be excited with the wakaf system to develop Kg Baru,” said Zainudin.

He said if things go as planned, MAIWP and Pewaris will explain the proposed development plans to residents.

Pewaris said the wakaf system is the best way to develop Kg Baru, as the system is free from political uncertainty, or a change of government.

Through this system, landowners and their heirs need not worry about losing their rights as their lots will be maintained by a single trustee.

For that purpose, Pewaris intends to use MAIWP wakaf funds to develop the area.

Landowners who backed the plan said they will receive far higher prices than what the previous government had offered.

Through the wakaf system, Pewaris expects landowners be offered RM1,250 per square feet compared to Pakatan Harapan’s offer of RM1,000 per square feet.

Pewaris said they already have 15 parcels of land, each with 15 to 20 lots, to be developed as a pilot project.

Former federal territory minister Khalid Samad had said the New Village Development Corporation (PKB) received 60% approval from 5,374 landowners to sell their land for development purposes.

Pewaris had objected to all the options offered by the government at the time.

Zainudin added Pewaris is now working with the Land Professionals Association of Malaysia to enable the wakaf system to be used for its own development plan. – March 30, 2020.