SALARY DEDUCTION SCHEME BOOSTS TITHE COLLECTIONS - LZS

SHAH ALAM, Nov 29 (Bernama) -- Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) has recorded a significant rise in tithe collection through its salary deduction scheme, which now contributes approximately RM500 million to RM600 million.

Its chief executive officer Mohd Khaidzir Shahari said the increase reflects growing public awareness in Selangor of the responsibility to pay tithe, with collections up by 20 to 30 per cent compared with last year.

He added that the growth was also due to cooperation from employers, who allow LZS to run direct campaigns at their companies, and from human resources departments that facilitate salary deductions for employees.

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“Selangor contributes the highest Gross Domestic Product (GDP) in Malaysia, so the workforce is large.

“Sometimes, when we campaign at factories, the employees are not obliged to pay tithe but still want RM5 to RM10 deducted. This is very encouraging,” he said after the launching of the Selangor Tithe Carnival and the Impak Dirasa campaign here today.

The event was launched by LZS Board of Trustees member Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda.

Mohd Khaidzir said LZS had also recorded progress in corporate tithe payments, although only around 20 per cent of companies are currently on track to meet this year’s collection target of RM1.328 billion.

Commenting on the fact that 60 per cent of LZS recipients are not from Selangor, he said this only involves the coding system of an individual’s place of birth.

He added that the LZS system evaluates recipients’ eligibility based on a one-year residency period, compared with five years previously.

Meanwhile, Mohd Khaidzir said the agency aims to attract around 15,000 visitors to the three-day carnival, which began on Thursday at Dewan Raja Muda Musa here, featuring over 150 exhibitors from government agencies, the private sector and local entrepreneurs.

He said the launch of the Impak Dirasa campaign at the carnival is aimed at encouraging and raising public awareness to pay tithe on time, particularly towards the year-end.

Running from Oct 1 to Dec 31, the campaign carries the message ‘Sentiasa Bersama, Sentiasa Menjaga’ as a symbol of LZS’ ongoing support for asnaf and muzakki, while also facilitating tithe payments through digital platforms, branch services and community programmes.

In conjunction with the launch, LZS also activated the special campaign ‘Rezeki Dikongsi-Impak Dirasa’ from Thursday until Dec 31.

“Those who pay tithe during this period will have the chance to win attractive prizes, including an umrah package, motorcycles and shopping vouchers through a special year-end draw,” he said.

At the same event, four companies also handed over their business tithe contributions to LZS. They are Perusahaan Otomobil Kedua Sdn Bhd (RM815,000), Kumpulan Semesta Sdn Bhd (RM494,812), As-Salihin Trustee Berhad Hibah of Mohamed Yusuf @ Abdul Aziz Hashim (RM248,453), and Fly High Education Centre (RM30,000).

-- BERNAMA