Pengurusan Harta Luqatah Digital: Analisis Prosedur dan Pembinaan Model dalam Konteks Institusi Agama di Malaysia

Digital Luqatah Property Management: Procedural Analysis and Model Development in the Context of Religious Institutions in Malaysia

Abstract

The rapid proliferation of smartphones, laptops, tablets, smartwatches, and other digital devices has introduced new challenges for the management of luqatah (lost-and-found property), particularly because such devices possess both physical value and digital content that may contain sensitive personal, financial, professional, and confidential information. Existing luqatah management practices, however, have largely been developed for conventional physical property and may not adequately address issues relating to data privacy, cybersecurity, ownership verification, and unauthorised access. This study aims to analyze the management of luqatah property involving digital devices and to evaluate the suitability of existing procedures in the current context. The study adopts a qualitative approach through interviews with institutions involved in the management of luqatah property. The findings indicate that current management procedures remain focused on physical property and do not fully take into account the characteristics of digital devices that contain data and personal information. In addition, there are variations in the implementation of procedures across institutions, which affect the consistency of management practices. Accordingly, this study proposes a digital luqatah management model that includes the identification of digital property, data protection, procedural standardization, adjustment of public notification periods, and the development of technological expertise. This model supports a more systematic approach to property management that is aligned with contemporary developments. The study contributes to the contemporary discourse on luqatah by extending its application beyond conventional physical property and provides practical guidance for policymakers and institutions in developing standardised operating procedures for the secure, transparent, and Shariah-compliant management of lost digital devices.