Receiving Indonesian Waqf Journalists Forum, Vice President Expects Waqf to Prosper Society

Jakarta, wapresri.go.id – One of the Islamic social funds that has enormous potential in the country is waqf funds, approximately 370 trillion rupiahs per year. If this potential can be explored maximally, it can be utilized for the welfare of the community, one of which is through the empowerment of micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs).

“If we can develop these waqf funds, then we can use them to prosper the community,” said Vice President KH Ma’ruf Amin when receiving an audience with the board members of the Indonesian Waqf Journalists Forum (Forjukafi) at the Vice President’s Official Residence, Jl. Diponegoro No. 2, Central Jakarta, Thursday (15/09/2022).

Furthermore, the Vice President explained that based on the rule that waqf assets must be remained and must not be reduced if waqf asset is used properly, it will get bigger from time to time, like a snowball.

“If we can manage this large community fund well, then we can use it to empower the community’s economy so as to reduce poverty,” he said.

For this reason, the Vice President hoped that the nazir (waqf recipient officers) and various waqf management institutions in the future could be more creative in utilizing waqf funds such as for investment.

“So far, one of the new waqf investment channels is through Sukuk and there are no other investments. So in the future we have to be more creative,” he said.

Furthermore, the Vice President acknowledged that the current waqf movement was still sporadic, even though there had been a national money waqf movement. Thus, he hoped that the waqf movement in the future could be more massive and structured.

“We have to start from the explanation that one of the charities, whose reward is uninterrupted in the hereafter, is waqf. In addition, the potential and benefits are enormous, including being able to grow the financial industry and entrepreneurs,” he said.

Previously, Forjukafi Deputy Chairperson, Rijanto Wicaksono, reported that Forjukafi at the end of September 2022 would hold a Working Meeting (Raker) to discuss the efforts to increase public literacy regarding waqf.

“The results of this working meeting are expected to really figure out how waqf can be known by the broader community,” he said.

This, continued Rijanto, was the purpose of the establishment of Forjukafi by the Indonesian Waqf Board (BWI) to increase public knowledge about waqf.

“So far what the public understands is that waqf is only land, for example, to build a mosque or tomb place. In fact, waqf can be used more, it can even be either productive waqf or cash waqf,” he explained.

Furthermore, Rijanto hoped that the Vice President would be able to attend the Forjukafi Working Meeting to provide direction.

“So we ask for the support of the Vice President to attend and give a speech,” he hoped.

Present to accompany the Deputy General Chairperson of Forjukafi, Forjukafi Secretary Ahmad Setyono and Forjukafi Deputy Secretary Kiki Handriyani.

Meanwhile, the Vice President was accompanied by the Head of the Vice President Secretariat Ahmad Erani Yustika, Deputy for Human Development Policy Support and Equality Development Suprayoga Hadi, Special Staff for the Vice President Masduki Baidlowi, Masykuri Abdillah, and Muhammad Imam Aziz. (DMA/LHS-BPMI Setwapres)