VOI - Voice of Indonesia | RRI - Radio Republik Indonesia

VOInews, Jakarta: The Badan Wakaf Indonesia (BWI) recently welcomed a visit from the Department of Zakat, Waqf, and Baitulmal of the Ministry of Religious Affairs of Brunei Darussalam. The meeting aimed to deepen Brunei's understanding of the mechanisms for managing waqf in Indonesia, with the hope that these insights could be implemented as productive waqf programs in their own country.

Prof. Dr. Kamaruddin Amin, M.A., the Chairman of BWI, elaborated on the organization’s role as an independent authority overseeing national waqf management, directly accountable to the President of the Republic of Indonesia. “BWI functions as both the regulator and protector of waqf nazhir in Indonesia. While we work alongside the Ministry of Religious Affairs, which contributes through regulatory frameworks, our primary focus lies in the development and certification of nazhir,” he stated.

Rapid Growth of Productive Waqf Assets

During the session, Prof. Kamaruddin highlighted the remarkable growth of waqf assets in Indonesia, which span various sectors, including education, social facilities, mosques, and cemeteries. He noted, “Waqf assets in Indonesia are growing at approximately 6% annually and serve diverse functions in accordance with community needs.” Many of these assets are utilized productively to support social and economic programs.

Innovations in Cash Waqf and Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS)

BWI also introduced its latest innovation, the Cash Waqf Linked Sukuk (CWLS), which allows individuals to invest in the form of cash waqf. “CWLS is a sharia-compliant investment instrument supported by the government and supervised by the National Sharia Council of the Indonesian Ulema Council (MUI),” Prof. Kamaruddin explained. This investment is managed productively through two categories: permanent waqf and temporary waqf, with the proceeds directed towards waqf purposes.

Challenges in Enhancing Waqf Literacy

Despite the advancements, significant challenges remain in enhancing community and nazhir literacy regarding productive waqf, particularly cash waqf. Prof. Kamaruddin revealed, “Waqf literacy in Indonesia is still relatively low, standing at only 0.43%. Our greatest challenge is to improve the literacy and competency of nazhir to ensure optimal management of productive waqf.”

In-Depth Discussions with Brunei Representatives

During the question-and-answer session, Brunei representatives expressed their keen interest in learning more about cash waqf management and CWLS in Indonesia. They noted that cash waqf is still relatively new in Brunei and sought to understand how BWI builds public trust and ensures the sustainability of waqf initiatives.

BWI also outlined the regulations governing the development of nazhir, emphasizing the need for certification and stringent oversight. “Nazhir must possess a robust institutional framework, certification, and a minimum of three years of experience in religious matters,” Prof. Kamaruddin added. He stressed the importance of regulations to prevent money laundering in waqf management.

Prospects for Waqf Development in Brunei

This visit is anticipated to serve as an initial step in strengthening ties between Indonesia and Brunei in the realm of waqf, particularly in the development of productive waqf initiatives. “Through the knowledge gained during this visit, we hope that Brunei can implement more advanced waqf management for the social and economic benefit of its communities,” stated Prof. Kamaruddin.

BWI is optimistic that this collaboration will yield significant benefits for both countries, enhancing the positive impact of waqf.

Source: bwi.go.id.

VOInews, Jakarta: The Head of the Indonesian Army’s Corps of Engineers (Kapusziad), Major General Budi Hariswanto, has proposed the creation of a nuclear, biological, and chemical (NBC) control center to bolster the nation’s defense against modern biological warfare. This recommendation was made during a focused group discussion (FGD) held on October 22, 2024, under the theme "Building National Biological Defense Autonomy to Anticipate Modern Biological Warfare."

“The establishment of an NBC control center is crucial to ensure that the TNI can effectively utilize biological materials and chemical weapons to safeguard the nation from the threats of modern warfare,” Budi stated in an official press release issued by the TNI on Wednesday (October 23, 2024).

In addition to the formation of the NBC control center, Budi underscored the importance of creating specialized NBC units within each branch of the Indonesian Armed Forces (TNI) and enhancing the NBC unit within the Army Corps of Engineers. He stressed that this effort is vital in addressing the escalating threat of chemical and biological warfare in the modern era.

“This control center will also play a pivotal role in countering chemical and biological weapon threats that could endanger the nation’s sovereignty. We must be prepared to face these challenges,” Budi emphasized.

Budi elaborated on the nature of modern biological warfare, which involves various critical elements, including the types of attacks, targets, characteristics of biological materials, and the required responses and impact mitigation. “Modern biological warfare encompasses hybrid warfare, targeting humans and other living organisms. The biological agents used have the potential to evolve or mutate, which demands swift and proactive anticipation,” he explained.

Beyond prevention, Budi highlighted the necessity for the TNI to have advanced research facilities to support the study and development of biological materials. “There must be a program to develop laboratories and strengthen technological research, supported by national and international collaborations,” he added.

Budi further recommended strengthening national regulations to address biological threats. "The TNI recommends the establishment of a biological weapons task force, the harmonization of regulations regarding the possession and storage of high-risk biological materials, and the creation of supervisory bodies to ensure the quality and safety of biological facilities," he noted.

He expressed hope that these recommendations would be seriously considered by the government to reinforce national defense capabilities, particularly in the realm of biological material usage. “With these measures, we can ensure that the nation’s sovereignty is protected against the increasingly complex threats posed by biological warfare,” Budi concluded.

Source: Antara