From Educational Access to Indigenous Human Capital Development: MUIS’s Role Through the Special Arabic Language Program

This study examines the role of the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah, MUIS) in expanding access to Islamic higher education for Indigenous Sabahan communities through the Special Arabic Language Program (SALP). Although Islamic religious institutions have long supported education, empirical studies critically examining their role in facilitating educational access and human capital development among Indigenous populations remain limited. Addressing this gap, the study explores how MUIS contributes to educational access, continuity, and human capital development through sustained institutional support. A qualitative case study design was employed. Data were collected through semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with 23 SALP alumni and analyzed thematically using the framework proposed by Miles, Huberman, and Saldaña. The findings indicate that MUIS contributes through two interrelated mechanisms. First, sustained zakat-based financial support serves as a structural gateway that reduces economic barriers, enhances academic stability, and enables educational continuity. Second, SALP serves as a structured and inclusive educational pathway that supports Indigenous human capital development by facilitating educational progression from pre-university to postgraduate levels and fostering locally grounded professional development. Overall, MUIS contributes to inclusive Islamic education and Indigenous human capital development through sustained financial support and structured educational pathways in Sabah.