By Norrasyidah Arshad
SHAH ALAM, May 23 — The Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) distributed RM1.15 billion in zakat payments throughout 2023, benefiting over 350,000 individual and organisational recipients.
Its chairman Tan Sri Syed Anwar Jamalullail said the distribution to the eight categories of recipients, including the poor and needy, increased by 9.7 per cent compared to the RM1.05 billion distributed in 2022.
He added that the distribution benefited more than 65,000 asnaf (zakat recipients) families and helped over 3,600 families break free from the cycle of poverty.
“The largest distribution was allocated to social development, amounting to RM777 million, covering nearly 77 per cent of the total.
“The largest recipient categories were the poor, needy and new converts, who received over RM670 million in aid.
“LZS also allocated RM171 million to the education sector for tuition fees and scholarships to ensure the future of the next generation,” he said at a press conference on LZS’ 2023 zakat collection and distribution performance, here, today.
Anwar said last year, LZS recorded zakat collections amounting to RM1.12 billion, an increase of almost RM51.1 million from the RM1.07 billion in the preceding year.
“This year, we are targeting RM1.15 billion. The trust of zakat payers towards LZS is the main factor for the increase in collection.
“Over 30 years of service since 1994, LZS has distributed over RM11 billion in tithe collection to those in need,” he said.
