Assessment on Accountability Using Control Activities Approach for Waqf Management in Public University: Case Study in University Putra Malaysia

Abstract

Accountability is an important element when it comes to managing the waqf fund. Issues of mismanagement of waqf fund will lead to the loss of trust among the public. Currently, most of the public universities are involved in managing waqf fund in order to increase their income due to the budget deduction from the government. Very limited study has been conducted in evaluating the accountability of waqf management in public universities. Hence this study aims to conduct assessment on accountability using control activities component in the Centre for Management of Waqf, Zakat and Endowment (WAZAN), University of Putra Malaysia. The study uses qualitative method where the questions relating to the control activities are posed to respondents in the form of focus group discussions. The respondents are the staffs from WAZAN who manage the waqf fund; from higher management to the administration staff. The finding shows that WAZAN yet to implement control activities component in its Centre. Accountability assessment was not able to be conducted due to the absence of internal control system. This study recommends for WAZAN to incorporate the internal control system, especially control activities component in order to reduce the risk of mismanagement of fund and to increase the trust among the public to donate.