YB Zawawi Mughni: In Service for This Life & the Hereafter

Executive Councillor for Islamic Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry, Selangor State Government

The Honourable (YB) Mohd Zawawi bin Ahmad Mughni is an assemblyman at the Selangor State Legislative Assembly representing the constituency of Sungai Kandis where he was born and bred. Affectionately called Ustaz Zawawi due to his background as religious teacher and lecturer, he is respected in his constituency as an imam (leader of Muslim congregational prayer), Muslim marriage official, counsellor and motivational expert. YB Zawawi even founded Darul Wardah (a home for rehabilitating delinquent women) with his wife Ustazah Hazlina binti Abd Razak, besides being involved in many other social projects for the needy.

Ever willing to extend help and noted for his calibre, YB Zawawi is recently appointed as the Executive Councillor (Exco) overseeing the portfolio of Islamic Affairs, Consumer Affairs and Halal Industry for Selangor, which is Malaysia’s most developed state. In this interview, YB Zawawi shares with Gaya Travel Magazine on what his new role entails, and how he intends to serve the state and the public through his office.

ISLAMIC AFFAIRS

Gaya Travel: Can you share with us what is your office’s responsibilities when it comes to Islam and Muslims in the state?

YB Zawawi: My main responsibility under this portfolio is to ensure that all matters pertaining to Islam and Muslims in Selangor goes well and administered smoothly.

On the same note, my office is responsible in addressing issues and coordinating with agencies that fall within the administration of the religion of Islam in Selangor, for instance the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (MAIS), appointment of Mufti (Islamic scholar and expert in everything related to Islam), Fatwa (Islamic Decree) Council, Syariah Courts, and Islamic places of worship so that they are all managed smoothly in accordance to the Islamic Religious Administration Enactment 2003. As such, we are improving the running of the Shariah courts to expediently settle issues revolving Muslim marriage, divorce and family conflicts.

The administration of Islamic Affairs portfolio is also actively looking into two major items: the building of a comprehensive database so that information can be channelled systematically and efficiently; and to improve the process of serving the public.

To keep abreast with the times, we are proposing to create a digital radio and apps to link up all programmes held in mosques throughout Selangor so that Muslims can continue to receive reminders on how to progress themselves and deepen their faith by tuning in to the lectures, talks, discussions and question-and-answer sessions held at those mosques via their mobile devices. This is timely because many mosques at the moment are closed from public to mitigate the spread of COVID-19.

Gaya Travel: What are the pressing issues faced by Muslims in Selangor? How does your office address them?

YB Zawawi: Muslims in Selangor face various challenges, for instance income inequality and low economic status, lack of knowledge empowerment, disintegration of the family institution, and the decline in faith.

The challenges have doubled due to rising rate of unemployment, loss of income, and food supply cut off due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Domestic conflicts are escalating too, prompting the state government of Selangor to take necessary measures to tackle these challenges.

We are preparing for counselling centres to be opened at selected mosques in every district in Selangor to assist those who face difficulties in coping with the pandemic by guiding them to become more positive and able to make effective decisions. For objectivity and confidentiality, counselling is provided to those who are above 15 years old and not related to the counsellor in any way. One counselling centre already operational is in Kampung Jawa, which is run by an experienced counsellor. I invite those in Selangor who have counselling experience to participate in this project during their spare time.

Gaya Travel: Though travel and tourism are currently affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, it is anticipated that Islamic tourism will rebound after the pandemic is over and Muslims can travel again. How can your office encourage Islamic tourism in Selangor?

YB Zawawi: Businesses relying on Islamic religious travel namely umrah (minor pilgrimage) and hajj (major pilgrimage) have been severely affected due to the pandemic, especially since the Malaysian borders are still closed.

However, domestic tourism activities that are congruent with Islamic principles should be galvanised. Tourism activities like visiting mosques and historical educational institutions in Selangor should be encouraged. Landmarks such as Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah, Masjid Sultan Sulaiman, Sultan Alam Shah Islamic College, Selangor Integrated Islamic and Quranic Centre, including various mosques that are over 100 years old, can be marketed as tourism destinations. The most visited mosque in Selangor by tourists is Masjid Sultan Salahuddin Abdul Aziz Shah in Shah Alam, which offers dedicated tour guides to explain about the mosque, Islam, and the Muslims’ way of life.

Regarding tourism, our office attempts to assist in meeting the needs of Muslim tourists who come to Selangor by providing Muslim-friendly accommodations, halal restaurants, and Qibla direction together with copies of the holy Quran made available in hotel rooms, including at the rest and recuperation (R&R) spots.

Selangor is studying Charity Tourism – a subset of Volunteer Tourism – in which tourists can come and offer support to those in need at specific destinations. Welfare homes and rehabilitation centres in Selangor such as Al-Jenderami Complex in Sepang and Baitul Mawaddah in Klang (nursing homes catering to destitute senior citizens); Darussolihin in Klang and Rumah Insaf (centres for those who are recovering from substance abuse); and Darul Wardah in Klang, Rumah Arafiah in Shah Alam, Raudhah Sakinah in Ampang and Baitul Ehsan in Sabak Bernam (home for formerly delinquent women) are being identified as potential places where Muslim tourists can come over to contribute and do good.

Still talking about Charity Tourism, I look forward to applying this in my constituency, which has six charity homes that are run by non-governmental organisations (NGOs), namely Darul Wardah, Darul Solihin, Baitul Mawaddah, Baitul Salam (transit house for Muslim converts who need guidance and support to continue their lives), Taufiq Islami (school for the children of Muslim converts), and Rumah Damai (a home catering to 80 persons who are experiencing mental health conditions). With prior arrangement, tourists can visit these homes to directly learn from the experiences of those who are admitted into these homes, including giving morale support or donation. In fact, these homes have been receiving not just locals but officials from Turkey and Bangladesh as well who wanted to understand the prevailing social issues and ways that a state like Selangor respond to them.

On top of that, several proposals relating to agro-tourism in Sungai Kandis constituency has been outlined. Among them are local Javanese culinary festival to promote traditional delicacies popular among local communities of Javanese descent; pineapple festival in Johan Setia to allow the public to interact with the farmers and learn how the crop is cultivated; and putting the spotlight on the cooperative Kohijrah in Johan Setia, which retails all products that are produced in the locale. However, they are currently postponed due COVID-19 pandemic.

Sungai Kandis is home to seven residential villages, and two of them are specially categorised as kampung tradisi (traditional villages that are over 100 years old): Kampung Jawa, and Kampung Jalan Kebun, which is now part of Shah Alam’s Section 30 and renowned for its agricultural products. Weary urbanites can come to these traditional villages to enjoy a more relaxing environment.

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Gaya Travel: How does Selangor protect the rights of the consumers within the state? Are there enough laws to protect the consumers’ rights in Selangor?

YB Zawawi: The role played by the state of Selangor is to ensure that consumers know their rights and responsibilities. The government is obligated to protect consumers’ rights. Furthermore, the Executive Council for Consumer Affairs works closely with NGOs such as Federation of Malaysian Consumers Association and Selangor & Wilayah Persekutuan Consumer Association. Several programmes are being devised to ensure that consumers’ rights are protected.

As for the enforcement of price control, our office collaborates with the Ministry of Domestic Trades and Consumer Affairs (KPDNHEP) for constant monitoring. We endeavour to defend consumers’ rights and take appropriate actions against those who commit offence and breach the Consumer Protection Act that encompasses consumers’ right to basic necessities, right to safety, right to consumer education, right to speak, and right to access information. If there are complaints from the public, for example substandard quality of housing, our role is to accurately channel their complaints to the relevant agencies and authorities.

Gaya Travel: What are the issues often faced by consumers in Selangor? How does your office assist consumers in protecting their rights?

YB Zawawi: Consumers of today face many challenges. Latest among them are related to fraudulent online transactions and scams.

Alarmingly, the number of victims from scams is on the rise, and Selangor registers the highest so far at 927 cases with losses totalling MYR50.4 million. We are now running awareness campaigns among consumers so as not to fall for any scam.

Another concern is the problematic smartphone and internet use among underage children, who are exposed to the dangers of pornography, game addiction and emotional distress, among others.

Gaya Travel: What are Selangor’s plans to ensure that consumers in the state do not face water problems in the future?

YB Zawawi: Selangor state government is committed to solving the state’s water woes considering the state consumes as much as 222 litres of water per capita per day.

We are immediately taking short-term and long-term measures to solve this problem. The state government intends to utilise high technology drones, track water data, conduct constant observation, and analyse the water on daily basis to effectively monitor the rivers and comprehensively conserve the water resources. The state government is executing holistic strategies to ensure that the water resources remain safe and consumers are continuously supplied with clean and quality water for health and well-being.

HALAL INDUSTRY

Gaya Travel: Could you kindly share with us how the Selangor government define ‘halal industry’?

YB Zawawi: Halal means permissible in Islam. Muslims are urged to consume good and services that are prepared in compliance to Islamic practices and Shariah (law), as well as recognised as trustworthy, ethical, safe, and nutritious or enriching.

To ramp up investments and industrialisation of Selangor, the state government has created a new portfolio called Halal Industry to increase economic activity, particularly the sectors that incorporate halal standards, so that they can progress along with other sectors.

My office is interested in collaborating with Halal International Selangor (HIS), an initiative by the Selangor state government to develop an ecosystem that connects all players within the industry, besides opening up more opportunities for prospective halal assured organisations seeking to expand internationally. HIS is focussing on building a database of halal industry players in Selangor; encouraging foreign investors to invest in Selangor by matching with a local strategic partner who is a halal industry player; and facilitate halal industry players to obtain halal certification.

Gaya Travel: How big is the halal industry in Selangor and is the state serious in developing the halal industry?

YB Zawawi: At the moment I am not able to explain in detail the size of the halal industry in Selangor, but based on information provided by the Malaysian federal government agency Halal Development Corporation Berhad (HDC), the global Muslim population is estimated to be 1.8 billion, therefore halal industry should be able to meet the demand from such a large market because it augments the Islamic way of life. The market for halal products in Malaysia alone is estimated to be USD13 billion and growing, therefore Selangor, with its strategic position, can readily take advantage of this.

Selangor is seriously developing the halal industry, in which the state government is formulating strategies to enlarge this sector to attract more investments and turn Selangor into a global halal hub. Since this portfolio is new, our office requires advice from the state economic planning unit (UPEN) regarding the amount of budget to be allocated for the halal industry.

One market that Selangor halal industry is intent at targeting is China because it is estimated that there are over 50 million Muslims in that nation who demand for Muslim-friendly or halal goods and services that Selangor halal industry players can provide. Demand for halal products in China is increasing and Selangor must tap into that lucrative market due to the country’s growing middle class.

Gaya Travel: How can Selangor grow its halal industry?

YB Zawawi: Selangor is giving attention to making the issuance of halal certification, especially for small- and medium-size enterprises (SMEs), easier. We are joining forces with HIS regarding this.

Gaya Travel: Is your office introducing anything new to empower the halal industry in Selangor?

YB Zawawi: Our immediate focus is to streamline our database on the local halal industry before attracting foreign investors on a grander scale. We will create a onestop centre to reduce red tape so that the halal industry can obtain certification speedily.

Gaya Travel: Besides food and beverages, how can Selangor’s halal industry widen its scope to include more sectors in the economy like tourism, technology or finance?

YB Zawawi: Halal industry does not only cover food and beverages but also encompasses cosmetics, logistics, finance, tourism and more. The way forward is by joining forces with HDC to widen our scope and role at the state level. My office works hand-in-hand with Selangor state’s investment agency Invest Selangor in this matter too. A series of discussions have been held and Godwilling, several proposals and recommendations to strengthen the halal industry will be implemented.

Gaya Travel: What is your hope for your office in the next few years?

YB Zawawi: Relating to what I have mentioned earlier, for the next few years, I hope to enhance the level of administration of Islamic affairs and providing excellent service to both Muslims and non-Muslims alike. It is my goal that all services to the public that fall within my portfolio are digitalised where possible for better speed and efficiency. I am determined to allay negative perception towards Islamic institutions by making them friendlier to non-Muslims. I foresee that my office will run more awareness programmes for consumers to understand their rights, especially among youths.

Moreover, I am keen to help Selangor become more investor-friendly by making things easier for them, for instance investors from West Asia to be rightly matched with reliable halal industry players in Selangor using a more complete database. My office aims to provide the necessary support to the halal industry players so that they can penetrate markets worldwide.