Pengurusan Mualaf di Malaysia: Kerjasama Dinamik Antara Agensi Kerajaan dan Bukan Kerajaan

Based on statistical records, the number of converts in Malaysia is increasing from year to year. The increase however will be insignificant without an effective management system in administering the material and spiritual needs of the converts. This is because, neglecting the needs of the converts will even lead to more conflicts and more critical issues. In Malaysia, the authority to administer the affairs of the converts at state level is the Islamic Religious Council or the Islamic Religious Department. Both agencies will manage the registration of converts, provide financial and welfare assistance from zakat funds and also provide appropriate religious education and guidance to every convert. In addition, the existence of non-governmental organizations (NGOs) such as PERKIM, MACMA, KIMMA, ABIM and others also carry out similar roles at both state and national levels. They also provide educational classes as well as organizing activities and programs for converts at NGO level. In Selangor, to manage the converts more effectively, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council has taken the initiative to establish a formal collaboration with five selected NGOs in the state. However, this scenario does not apply in all other states. This paper will further explore the situation in other states in Malaysia about the extent of the collaboration between governmental and non-governmental agencies in managing converts.   Keywords: converts, management of converts, non-government organization.                 Abstrak Statistik menunjukkan jumlah mualaf di Malaysia meningkat setiap tahun. Peningkatan ini tidak akan memberi sebarang makna sekiranya tiada satu sistem pengurusan yang sistematik dalam pengurusan bahan-bahan dan keperluan spiritual mualaf. Pengabaian dalam aspek keperluan mualaf akan mencetuskan konflik dan isu-isu lain. Di Malaysia, pihak berkuasa yang bertanggungjawab dalam menguruskan kebajikan mualaf di peringkat negeri adalah Majlis Agama Islam atau Jabatan Agama Islam. Kedua-dua agensi ini akan menguruskan pendaftaran mualaf, menyediakan bantuan kewangan dan kebajikan melalui peruntukan zakat, dan menganjurkan kelas pengajian agama. Di samping itu, kewujudan agensi-agensi bukan kerajaan (NGOs) seperti PERKIM, MACMA, KIMMA, ABIM dan lain-lain turut memainkan peranan diperingkat negeri dan kebangsaan. Agensi-agensi ini menganjurkan kelas-kelas pengajian dan aktiviti-aktiviti lain diperingkat agensi masing-masing. Di Selangor, untuk menguruskan mualaf secara efektif, Majlis Agama Islam Selangor telah mengadakan kerjasama bersama lima agensi bukan kerajaan. Walaubagaimanapun, kerjasama seperti ini tidak berlaku di negeri-negeri lain. Artikel ini akan membincangkan situasi di negeri-negeri lain di Malaysia dalam aspek kerjasama antara agensi-agensi kerajaan dan bukan kerajaan dalam menguruskan mualaf.   Kata kunci: mualaf, pengurusan mualaf, agensi bukan kerajaan.