KUCHING: Sarawak Muslims should set up trust funds to purchase and manage inheritance properties, says Tan Sri Abang Johari Openg.
The Premier said this would enable the properties to remain within the ownership of the community instead of being sold to others.
"For Muslims, the inheritance has to be divided among the heirs based on Syariah law.
"If a property is valuable, it can be sold and the proceeds distributed accordingly.
"But in general the Malay community lacks the financial resources to purchase property, so in the end, it leaves their hands," he told reporters after launching a book on Sarawak Malay customs here on Monday (Jan 20).
Abang Johari said the solution was to set up trust funds which could purchase such properties at market prices.
"Then the property will continue to be managed by the Malay community themselves.
"One example is Arif Hotel, which has been purchased by the Satok Trust Fund, so its ownership remains in the hands of the local Malay community," he said.
At the same time, Abang Johari said the Malays could also work with the non-Malay community on an equity-sharing basis.
"You don't sell the property 100% but take part as equity partners," he said.
Earlier, Abang Johari said the book "Adat Resam Masyarakat Melayu Sarawak Berteraskan Syariah Islam" would help preserve the customs and culture of Sarawak's Malay community for future generations.
It was written by the late Mohd Hasbie Sulaiman, a civil servant, cultural activist and author who witnessed Sarawak's development from the Brooke era to independence.
"He was a scholar in Sarawak Malay culture and understood its value in development.
"I hope the book will educate the younger generation about Sarawak Malay customs so that they will not be lost," he said.
