Exploiting Public Attitudes Toward Waqf: Advancing Socio-Economic Sustainability In Malaysia’s Green Economy Strategy

Malaysia's sustainable development strategies are aligned with Islamic finance and waqf principles, which are also being touted as an instrument for achieving Malaysia’s Green Economic Strategy (GES), emphasizing low-carbon growth, renewable energy utilization, and equitable wealth distribution. Yet the capacity of waqf to fulfill these intended purposes depends on the need to overcome demographic limitations within the Malay majority in Malaysia, such as income disparities, the pace of urbanization, and the degree of religious observance—factors that in varying measures condition both the willingness and capacity to contribute towards or manage waqf assets. This article examines the phenomenon of interaction between socio-cultural dynamics, institutional frameworks, and the influence of waqf on socio-economic undertakings, as well as its capacity to contribute to socio-economic sustainability in Malaysia's transition to a greener economy. Using a review of literature method, the study scientifically evaluates the waqf's appropriateness with the principles of the green economy (green economic growth, social equity, and environmental preservation). Waqf resources can be organized to help mitigate existing funding gaps in renewable energy projects, including solar farms, lakes, green urban housing, and community agriculture initiatives. Waqf represents a critical tool for policymakers and religious institutions to build a green economy. It can overcome existing barriers to make sustainability and Islamic finance more than aspirational goal by transforming them into mainstream practice through faith-based environmental action