MAIWP APPEALS FOR YEAR-END ZAKAT SUPPORT AS COLLECTION EXCEEDS RM900 MILLION

LABUAN, Dec 19 (Bernama) -- The Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) has collected more than RM900 million in zakat so far this year and has appealed for continued support from contributors to help achieve its RM1.2 billion target by Dec 31, with less than two weeks remaining.

MAIWP chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Nizam Yahya urged zakat contributors, both individuals and corporate entities, to fulfil their responsibility before the year-end to help the council meet its collection target.

“We call on all eligible zakat payers to perform their obligation before the end of the year so that the funds collected can be channelled efficiently to those in need,” he said to reporters after the MAIWP Media Appreciation Night held here last night.

Mohd Nizam said MAIWP has approved an allocation of RM1.6 billion for next year to be distributed through 28 assistance schemes, reflecting the council’s continued commitment to strengthening social welfare and community development.

He said among the key priorities next year are education and entrepreneurship assistance schemes, which are aimed at empowering asnaf and enabling them to achieve long-term financial sustainability.

“These two areas are crucial in breaking the cycle of poverty by equipping recipients with knowledge, skills and opportunities, and eventually becoming zakat payer,” he said.

Mohd Nizam also called on the media fraternity to play a proactive role in raising public awareness on the importance of zakat contributions, particularly as the year-end approaches.

“We need the media’s assistance in disseminating information to the community so that we can meet this year’s zakat collection target, which in turn allows MAIWP to channel assistance effectively to the needy,” he said.

-- BERNAMA