KUCHING: The establishment of a financially strong Malay community trust body is necessary to purchase traditional lands sold for ‘Hukum Faraid’ purposes.

Sarawak Premier, Datuk Patinggi Tan Sri (Dr) Abang Abdul Rahman Zohari Tun Datuk Abang Openg said the purpose of this body is to ensure that assets sold to the Malay trust body can be used to develop the area itself.

“For example, the owner of a shop passes away and the shop, classified as a commercial property, is put up for sale, it can be purchased by anyone.

“However, the Malay community often lacks financial resources to acquire such properties, ultimately leading to the loss of these assets from Malay ownership.

“The solution is to strengthen the Malay community through a trust body. If properties are sold due to the requirements of ‘Hukum Faraid’, this trust body can step in to purchase them,” he explained.

He said this when met by the media after inaugurating the launch of the book ‘Adat Melayu Sarawak Berteraskan Syariah Islam’ at the Hikmah Exchange Event Centre here, on Monday.

Additionally, Datuk Patinggi Abang Zohari noted that the Malay community could collaborate with non-Malays, provided they retain a percentage of equity in such partnerships.

“They should not entirely sell off 100 per cent of their assets to non-Malays but instead maintain a portion as equity while ensuring financial strength.

“If we hold equity in our shops, these assets will not be entirely lost, allowing us to uphold Malay traditions,” he added.

Also present were Deputy Minister of Utility and Telecommunication, Datuk Dr. Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Deputy Minister of Energy and Environmental Sustainability, Datuk Dr. Hazland Abang Hipni, Chief Political Secretary to the Sarawak Premier, Dato Fazzrudin Abdul Rahman, Satok Assemblyman, Dato Ibrahim Baki, Chief Executive Officer of the Sarawak State Mosque Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS), Datuk Abang Abdul Wahab Abang Julai, Political Secretary to Dato Sri Fadillah Yusof and representative of Muhammad Hasbie's family, Irwan Zulkarnain Muhammad Hasbie, President of the Sarawak Writers' Association, Awang Zaidel Awang Jamil, and other dignitaries. -UKASnews