BANGI – Institutions of Islamic affairs, at the federal and state levels, need to build a network of communication and engagement, as well as understanding all aspects with all agencies, to ensure integrated planning and implementation of their management at the national level.
Chief Secretary to the Government, Tan Sri Mohd Zuki Ali, said that the management of Islamic affairs is not ordinary management, as its role is not just administration and management but rather a source of reference and guidance in the religious field.
“Therefore, the management of Islamic affairs needs to be inclusive in all aspects and not exclusive to some aspects or certain groups only.
“Any action among religious people and religious agencies cannot be siloed, but must take into account the interests of various parties,” he said when officiating the Islamic Affairs Management Convention here today.
Mohd Zuki said that religious administrators also need to be actively involved and play a prominent role in various matters related to community administration and management, to voice new ideas based on the Maqasid Syariah approach.
“As an administrator of religious affairs, the need for a suitable prayer room with related facilities is an important input, which must be submitted by the management of Islamic affairs in any development project to the government,” he said.
Mohd Zuki also feels that the digitalisation of services in the administration of religious affairs should be given higher priority, and the management of religious agencies should not be left behind.
“The Fourth Industrial Revolution (IR 4.0) has arrived and is becoming a reality. The emergence of new technologies, such as automation, robotics, Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine to Machine (M2M) and the Internet of Things (loT), have changed the way the world operates.
“Even though the management of Islamic affairs is under the purview of the states, it would be great if coordination and standardisation could be worked on because success would showcase the beauty of Islam,” he said.
He also reminded all federal and state religious agencies to implement and practise various initiatives drawn up by the government regarding aspects of strengthening integrity.
Methods that are transparent and free of integrity issues, such as cashless transfers and other financial transactions, are among the innovative management methods that can minimise misconduct and integrity issues involving cash. – Bernama
