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{
    "id": 1091540,
    "url": "https://info.mzalendo.com/api/v0.1/hansard/entries/1091540/?format=api",
    "text_counter": 241,
    "type": "speech",
    "speaker_name": "Wajir East, WDM-K",
    "speaker_title": "Hon. Rashid Kassim",
    "speaker": {
        "id": 13504,
        "legal_name": "Rashid Kassim Amin",
        "slug": "rashid-kassim-amin-2"
    },
    "content": " Thank you, Hon. Temporary Deputy Speaker. I stand to support this WAQF Bill initiated through the House. Waqf is an extremely useful endowment fund used over the years in a number of Islamic countries. It is useful in the sense that it is a willing collection of individual contributions from individual members to this endowment fund. It has a certain set of criteria of ways on where it is to be used and how. Currently, these payments in terms of Waqf are ordinarily done either individually or publicly. There is no formal structure or institution able to formalise, use and create criteria for its usage and collection, so it can be followed by each and every individual contributor of the endowment fund. This endowment fund is a willing contribution intended to support the less fortunate individuals in our society. Currently, there is no formal way of doing this. The country has its specific contribution through the exchequer which has its way of disbursing money to its nationals. But endowment funds do not have a specific way of getting money from the exchequer. This is there to bridge the gap that exists between the less fortunate and able members of our society so that we can meet their obligations and needs. Basically, this endowment fund will meet and support the less fortunate individuals. Some of the areas it supports are orphanages. We know very well they get certain contributions from the Government but there is no specific funding which goes to specific orphanages and the children who are equally disadvantaged. It is an Islamic responsibility for us to support them and there are specific surahs of the Quran which state that orphans should be supported but there is no specific fund. We feel that this endowment fund will cater for the less fortunate, orphans and widows who ordinarily do not get the exchequer support. Basically, this fund will also support other institutions. Currently, there is a 10 per cent willing contribution to various churches existing in this country. Every Mosque has certain collections done on a daily basis but this is not regulated. The churches’ collections and mosque funds are not properly regulated. With the creation of this Bill and endowment institution we will regulate all collections and give specific criteria on how it will be disbursed, whom it will be disbursed to and eligibility. So, it will create sanity in terms of disbursements. Also, for those specific contributors making contributions they will feel their money and collections are properly organised and disbursed in a specific criteria and people will be more willing to contribute further to this endowment fund. Therefore, this Bill will create a clean and supportive environment which will increase the collection centres and provide certain criteria on how monies will be used. More critical is who will man this Commission. The people who will man will not be ordinary members of this society but should be very pious. People who are really concerned, accountable and do funding and disbursement in a very transparent manner. So, how we craft and operationalise this Bill will be quite significant on how it will be rolled and accepted by each and every individual contributor of this society. The electronic version of the Official Hansard Report is for information purposesonly. A certified version of this Report can be obtained from the Hansard Editor."
}