KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 6 — Maybank Islamic Bhd and Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) have inked a collaborative agreement to ensure that customers can effortlessly complete zakat obligations, while empowering them to make a significant positive social impact via their donations.
The agreement, which formalised the appointment of Maybank Islamic as the main operational bank for LZS, is expected to boost contributions to poverty alleviation programmes, with the bank amplifying these efforts through its online channels.
“Through this partnership, we provide LZS with more efficient and comprehensive cash management services, from the zakat collection to its distribution, capitalising on Maybank’s vast service network and digital banking,” said Maybank Islamic chief executive officer Datuk Mohamed Rafique Merican.
LZS will be collecting zakat through multiple collection channels such as Maybank’s M2U o or MAE, Maybank’s e-wallet app, JomPay as well as its credit and debit cards, while zakat received over the counter will be deposited through a remote deposit system in selected branches.
LZS chief executive officer Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini said the agency currently provides more than 10 payment methods for Muslims in Selangor to pay their zakat.
“The partnership with Maybank Islamic completes our network of service facilities,” he said, adding that last year, Selangor’s zakat payment via Maybank amounted to RM52.8 million, accounting for 63 per cent of the total collection from payment channel platforms by financial institutions appointed by LZS.
Last year, LZS received a record zakat collection of RM1.07 billion and distributed RM1.05 billion, benefiting more than 350,000 asnaf individuals.
The majority of the zakat, namely RM885 million was distributed to social, educational and religious institutions and over RM700 million was allocated for the social development of the asnaf communities in Selangor.
— Bernama
