The Sarawak Mosque Welfare Trust (LAKMNS) is hosting the Maal Hijrah Festival 1445H/2023 from July 28 to 30. This year’s festival will feature a range of exciting activities.
New Sarawak Tribune recently had the chance to interview LAKMNS’s chief executive officer (CEO), Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai, who shared with us the history and the important role of the organisation. He also talked about the events taking place during this year’s Maal Hijrah celebration.
New Sarawak Tribune: Can you briefly explain the background of Sarawak State Mosque Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS)?
Datuk Abang Abdul Wahap Abang Julai: Sure. The Sarawak State Mosque Welfare Trust Board (LAKMNS) is a charitable organisation established under the Charity Trust Ordinance, 1960 (Amendment 1994) (CTO). Its main goals are to manage and oversee Masjid Jamek and Masjid Bandaraya Kuching, along with other infrastructure owned by LAKMNS. Additionally, LAKMNS is responsible for various tasks, such as organising religious and spiritual programmes, providing education services, and promoting the social and economic development of the local community. LAKMNS is also in charge of managing the Semariang Muslim Cemetery as well.
Since 1997, we have been providing educational facilities for Muslims in Sarawak. The MASJA-SA Centre of Excellence was established to offer Al-Quran classes and academic tuition classes. In 2010, LAKMNS expanded its role to include tahfiz education by establishing Tadika Tahfiz Tun Abdul Rahman Ya’kub and Ma’had Tahfiz Tun Abdul-Rahman Ya’kub (MATTARY). These efforts aim to produce more professional Quran memorisers and uplift tahfiz institutions in Sarawak. MATTARY’s learning system is based on a dual curriculum, which includes the Integrated Tahfiz Al-Quran Curriculum (KTAB) and the Primary School Standard Curriculum (KSSR).
Since its establishment, what have been LAKMNS’s achievements?
Looking back at history, LAKMNS was founded in 1958 and later incorporated under the CTO in 1960. From the beginning, LAKMNS played a vital role in developing the Masjid Bandaraya Kuching at that time. Thanks to the government’s support and guidance, LAKMNS successfully improved both the physical and spiritual aspects of the mosque. They rebuilt the structure to make it more comfortable and convenient for everyone. On the spiritual side, LAKMNS transformed the mosque into a comprehensive platform for human development. They organised various religious and social programmes to spread knowledge and promote human growth within the community. And that’s not all – in 1981, LAKMNS took on the task of building a new mosque in the Petra Jaya area to serve as the state mosque, replacing the existing one. With dedication and hard work, LAKMNS completed the construction of Masjid Jamek in October 1990.
Apart from managing the two mosques, what other services and assistance does LAKMNS provide to the Muslim community in Sarawak?
Since 2019, LAKMNS has undergone changes to improve management, adopting a corporate image. We restructured by creating six departments, each with its own focus. For example, we have a mosque management department that takes care of arranging the call to prayer, ensuring there are imams and bilals, and revitalizing the mosques.
We also made history by becoming the first Islamic agency in Sarawak with our own digital radio broadcast, called Internet Radio Islamic Sarawak (IRIS). It broadcasts from 11 am to 3 pm and plays a crucial role in sharing information between government agencies and the community. You can download the radio app from our LAKMNS website, Google Play, and the App Store.
Moreover, LAKMNS offers funeral management services at Semariang Cemetery. Those in need can apply through LAKMNS, and we provide assistance at a reasonable price for managing the remains until the burial process. We often receive requests from mosques and schools for help in purchasing Al-Quran, prayer mats and preparing the bathroom for handling the deceased. If anyone needs assistance, they can contact us through the LAKMNS website, Facebook, or Instagram.
In conjunction with the New Year Hijrah celebration, LAKMNS has planned to hold a festival. Can you tell us more about it?
The festival is called the Maal Hijrah Festival 1445H/2023M (FMH 1445H/2023M). It’s the second time this festival is being organised, following its first successful edition last year. The main idea behind this festival is to introduce an innovative and dynamic approach to engage with the community, especially the youth, and encourage them to connect with the mosque institution. LAKMNS aims to make the mosque a healthy place for leisure activities, providing an alternative to other less beneficial activities that the youth might be tempted to engage in.
The festival has several important objectives. First, it aims to enhance the New Year Hijrah celebrations by offering various social activities. Second, it serves as a platform to spread knowledge and understanding about the significance of the Hijrah New Year. Third, the festival promotes the mosque and aims to make it a one-stop centre for the community. Fourth, it focuses on cultivating a healthy lifestyle based on religious values through programs that emphasize spirituality, family, sports, and more. Finally, it serves as a medium for unity, bringing together people from different races to participate in various activities.
It’s understood that this festival is quite big. Can you tell us who the target audience is for this event?
Certainly! The festival offers a diverse range of activities, including spirituality, competitions, exhibitions, sports, and commercial events. Overall, it’s open and suitable for people of all ages, from young to old, and we welcome the participation of people from different religious and ethnic backgrounds. Last year, we had non-Muslim participants joining in, especially in the E-Sports competition, and we expect even more non-Muslims to take part in various activities this year.
For spiritual activities, fans of the independent speaker Ustaz Syed Abdul Kadir Syed Hussin Aljoofree wouldn’t want to miss the chance to be with him during the Malam Cinta Rasul programme. Additionally, followers of nasyid rhythms, particularly the Wildaniey and Musytaq Al-Musthofa nasyid groups, will enjoy qasidah performances during the festival on July 29 after the Isyak prayer.
Moreover, some activities have specific target audiences. For instance, hobbies like remote control planes, remote control crawlers obstacle showcase, and e-sports are aimed at youth and hobby enthusiasts. Meanwhile, there are activities tailored for children, such as colouring competitions, fashion shows and push bike activities.
What is the main attraction of this festival?
Well, the main attraction of this festival is promoting a healthy lifestyle based on religious values, with a particular focus on family values. Families can have a great time together and strengthen their bonds through the various activities and programmes we have planned. Last year’s edition showed that family participation was significant, especially in events like the Badminton and Bowling Competition. We also offer free health check-ups, military exhibitions, and info-kiosks from government and private agencies. Visitors can directly interact with agencies like the Ministry of Energy and Environmental Sustainability (MEESty), where they will learn about Sarawak Government’s sustainability policies. DBKU is also joining us in promoting recycling through the 3R counter. Moreover, you can enjoy food, drinks, car boot sales, and commercial stalls at the festival site. On July 29, the Ministry of Domestic Trade and Cost of Living (KPDN) will hold a “Jualan Rahmah” programme, offering essential goods at low prices. The festival also features exciting lucky draws with prizes like motorcycles, LED TVs, gold dinars, folding bikes, airconds, mountain bikes, refrigerators, washing machines, Samsung tablets, and many other interesting gifts. It’s a great opportunity for families to have fun, learn, and experience a sense of togetherness.
Based on what you shared earlier, it seems that LAKMNS has some long-term plans. Could you tell us a bit about these plans?
As you know, LAKMNS is fully committed to keeping mosque institutions relevant and providing diverse services to the community. To guide us in this effort, we have a clear mission and vision. Our vision is to become a world-class Islamic trust body. To achieve our mission, we have designed comprehensive and dynamic programmes in line with the Sarawak government’s policies. For instance, as the government focuses on environmental sustainability, we are taking initiatives to support their efforts. One example is the construction of an Eco-Friendly Gazebo at the Raudhatul Sakinah Complex in Kuching, previously known as the Semariang Cemetery. This gazebo is designed with the environment in mind, with solar panels for lighting at night and a roof that allows rainwater harvesting. Additionally, we are working towards obtaining ISO 9001:2015 certification for our quality management system and are implementing the “Sustainable Mosque” initiative as part of our plans.
