Dr Shahidan Kassim Chairs Coordination Meeting for PERKIM International Waqf Convention
KUALA LUMPUR, 8 DECEMBER 2025 — The Muslim Welfare Organisation Malaysia (PERKIM) convened its Coordination Meeting for the International Waqf Convention today as part of its early preparations for a large-scale programme expected to gather leading waqf scholars and experts from Malaysia and abroad.
The high-level meeting was chaired by PERKIM Deputy President, YB Dato’ Seri Dr Shahidan Kassim, who underscored the need for meticulous coordination to ensure the convention fulfils its strategic objectives in strengthening the nation’s waqf ecosystem.
Also present were PERKIM Deputy President, YBhg Dr Haji Mohd Ridhuan Tee Abdullah; Ustaz Haji Muhammad Fitri Abdullah; YBhg Datuk Haji Mohd Nakhaie Haji Ahmad; PERKIM Honorary Secretary-General, YBhg Dato’ Dr Haji Mohamad Marzuki Mohamad Omar and PERKIM Honorary Treasurer, YBhg Datuk Haji Mersal Abang Rosli.
The attendance of PERKIM’s top leadership highlighted the organisation’s unwavering commitment to elevating waqf as a sustainable instrument for community development and empowerment.
The meeting also brought together senior representatives from key religious agencies including the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM), Federal Territories Islamic Religious Department (JAWI), and Selangor Islamic Religious Department (JAIS), further reinforcing PERKIM’s strategic partnership with religious authorities to ensure orderly, ethical and shariah-compliant waqf implementation.
This inter-agency cooperation is expected to strengthen the administrative framework that will be showcased during the upcoming convention.
Deliberations centred on four major areas, including the role of waqf as a long-term support mechanism for PERKIM’s dakwah and welfare programmes.
The meeting also discussed the harmonisation of waqf governance models to enhance transparency and accountability, as well as the development of programme content for the International Waqf Convention, which will feature panels comprising both local and international experts.
Another key focus was the enhancement of waqf benefits for education, asnaf welfare and the development of new Muslims, an area that has remained a core priority for PERKIM since its establishment.
PERKIM emphasised that waqf institutions must be driven more innovatively to remain relevant to contemporary societal needs, while continuing to serve as a form of ongoing charity (sadaqah jariyah) that delivers long-term impact.
The upcoming convention is therefore expected to serve as a pivotal platform in shaping a more progressive, sustainable and strategically robust direction for Malaysia’s waqf landscape.
Also participating in the meeting were YBhg Datuk Dr Haji Mazlan Haji Ahmad, Adviser to the Enforcement Focus Group of the Enforcement Agency Integrity Commission (EAIC), and PERKIM National Administration Director YBhg Dr Suariza @ Hidayah Muhammad, who contributed insights to refine the convention’s operational framework.
Overall, the coordination meeting marked PERKIM’s significant first step towards hosting an International Waqf Convention that aims to elevate the national waqf institution, expand global partnerships, and strengthen efforts in championing dakwah and welfare for the Muslim community worldwide.
Dato’ Seri Shahidan Kassim chairs the Coordination Meeting for the International Waqf Convention in the capital.
Representatives from JAKIM, JAWI and JAIS attend the meeting to provide their insights and recommendations.
PERKIM’s top leadership and members present during the session.
Meeting participants gesture a thumbs-up towards the camera during the proceedings.
