PUTRAJAYA, Jan 16 — The total zakat (tithe) collected by the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council Zakat Collection Centre (PPZ-MAIWP) last year increased by 11 per cent to more than RM1.03 billion, compared to the RM937 million recorded in 2022.
Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said the number of zakat payers last year also increased by one per cent to 1.85 million people compared to the 1.83 million people the previous year.
He said that income tithe recorded the highest collection at 68 per cent or RM702 million, followed by business tithe at 16 per cent or RM165 million, with the rest comprising zakat on savings, property, fitrah, qadha, and other categories.
“Payment of zakat through salary deduction made up 50 per cent of the total collection at RM519 million,” he told a press conference here today.
MAIWP chairman Tan Sri Dr Mohd Daud Bakar and PPZ-MAIWP chairman Tan Sri Dr Abdul Aziz Abdul Rahman were also at rhe event.
Mohd Na’im added that RM175 million was collected at PPZ-MAIWP counters last year, RM132 million through the PPZ-MAIWP portal, and RM61 million through agents.
According to him, as of December last year, MAIWP had distributed RM952.27 million in zakat funds to eight asnaf groups through various programmes and initiatives, including zakat assistance schemes, al-Wakalah, educational and welfare institutions and amil.
Meanwhile, he said the total cash wakaf collection for 2023 increased by 162 per cent to RM6.64 million, with 14,635 contributors, compared to RM2.53 million in 2022.
Mohd Na’im said of the total, RM4.5 million was collected through special wakaf collection, and the remaining RM2.1 million was obtained through general wakaf collection.
He said for this year, MAIWP aims to collect RM1.12 billion in zakat and cash wakaf collections, with 1.96 million payers.
Meanwhile, MAIWP acting chief executive officer Datuk Mohd Nizam Yahya said the agency has raised the monthly assistance for basic needs from RM150 to RM300, effective this month.
“The aid that is channelled to household heads through e-wallet apps is an additional assistance to the cash aid they receive. We anticipate that over 30,000 families will benefit from this aid,” he said.
— Bernama
