FEZAKAT 2025 RAISES PUBLIC AWARENESS, UNDERSTANDING OF ZAKAT

KUALA TERENGGANU, Dec 27 (Bernama) -- The Terengganu Zakat Festival (FEZAKAT) 2025, organised by the Terengganu Islamic Religion and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM), aims to make zakat services more accessible to the public in a friendly and open setting.

Held at Kuala Terengganu City Centre (KTCC) Mall from yesterday until Dec 31, the festival offers easier zakat payments alongside advisory services, zakat assessments, and family-friendly activities.

MAIDAM chief executive officer, Associate Prof Datuk Dr Ahmad Azrin Adnan, said the festival includes family activities to enhance understanding of zakat.

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“The festival aims to give zakat payers in Terengganu another option for in-person payment, alongside online methods, making it easier for the public to carry out zakat assessments.

“At the same time, they have the opportunity to learn about various types of zakat, including business, income, mineral and crop, which certainly enhances public knowledge,” he told reporters after officiating FEZAKAT 2025 here today.

Ahmad Azrin said the festival also introduces young people to zakat through educational programmes, including a colouring contest, adding that the outreach programmes ensure the people in Terengganu, especially children, understand the importance of zakat from a young age, while strengthening MAIDAM’s ties with the public.

He urged Muslims in Terengganu to pay their zakat by Dec 31 to fulfil their obligation to Allah SWT.

“…zakat payers are eligible for a 100 per cent tax rebate for payments made from Dec 26 to 31, 2025,” he said.

Meanwhile, Ahmad Azrin expressed gratitude that some former zakat recipients have become payers this year.

“I was informed that at least three former zakat recipients attended FEZAKAT this year as payers. According to unofficial records, Terengganu now has around 29,500 poor and needy (fakir dan miskin) asnaf (tithe recipients), a three per cent decrease from last year.

“This means some have increased their household income and are no longer classified as poor and needy asnaf. This is a success for MAIDAM, and we will continue striving to see more asnaf transition from zakat recipients to payers,” he added.

-- BERNAMA