REPUTATIONAL RISK MANAGEMENT IN MALAYSIAN ISLAMIC PUBLIC INSTITUTIONS: TOWARDS A MAQĀṢID AL-SHARĪʿAH-BASED TRACKING MODEL - Mohammad Mahyuddin Khalid; Azri Bhari; Mohd Faiz Mohamed Yusof; Mohd Yusra Abdullah; Zulaipa Ruzulan; Zakiah Samori (al-Qanatir: International Journal of Islamic Studies, 2026)
Malaysian Islamic public institutions, specifically the Department of Islamic Development Malaysia (JAKIM) and State Islamic Religious Councils (SIRCs), play a pivotal role in managing religious affairs and public resources such as zakat and waqf. The effectiveness of these institutions depends on public trust and the capacity to maintain administrative integrity. This article examines the necessity of implementing formal reputational risk management within Islamic public institutions. Drawing on Islamic governance theory and enterprise risk management (ERM) literature, the paper advances three primary arguments. First, reputation serves as the foundation of institutional legitimacy because the relationship with the Muslim community is built upon amānah (trustworthiness) and moral responsibility. Second, the absence of systematic reputational risk management reveals a structural governance gap; this is evidenced by financial audit delays and controversies surrounding halal certification. Third, the development of a proactive reputation tracking instrument grounded in Islamic values is a strategic imperative to support effective decision-making. Consequently, this article proposes the development of an Islamic Reputation Tracking Model as an approach to continuously monitor public trust levels; this enables the strengthening of governance within Islamic public institutions in an increasingly challenging environment.AbstrakInstitusi awam Islam di Malaysia, khususnya Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (JAKIM) dan Majlis Agama Islam Negeri (MAIN), memainkan peranan utama dalam mengurus hal ehwal agama serta sumber awam termasuk zakat dan waqf. Keberkesanan institusi ini bergantung kepada tahap kepercayaan masyarakat dan keupayaan mengekalkan integriti pentadbiran. Artikel ini mengkaji keperluan pengurusan risiko reputasi secara formal dalam institusi awam Islam. Berasaskan kajian lepas berkaitan tadbir urus Islam dan pengurusan risiko perusahaan - Enterprise Risk Management (ERM), artikel ini mengemukakan tiga dapatan konseptual utama. Pertama, reputasi berfungsi sebagai asas kepada legitimasi institusi kerana hubungan dengan masyarakat Islam berteraskan amanah dan tanggungjawab, bukan sekadar hubungan formal. Kedua, ketiadaan pengurusan risiko reputasi yang sistematik memperlihatkan kewujudan jurang tadbir urus yang ketara, seperti yang dicerminkan dalam isu kelewatan pelaporan audit dan kontroversi pensijilan halal. Ketiga, pembangunan instrumen penjejakan reputasi yang proaktif dan berteraskan nilai Islam merupakan satu keperluan strategik bagi memperkukuh pembuatan keputusan serta meningkatkan keupayaan tadbir urus institusi. Sehubungan itu, artikel ini mencadangkan pembangunan model penjejakan reputasi Islam sebagai mekanisme untuk memantau tahap kepercayaan masyarakat secara berterusan, sekali gus memperkukuh tadbir urus institusi awam Islam dalam persekitaran yang berasaskan maklumat.