MAIWP records increase in tithe collection

The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) has collected a total of RM10.8 million in zakat or tithe from 1,036,214 payers, an increase over the last year’s collection at RM9.8 million, despite the country is facing the COVID-19 outbreak and the enforcement of the Movement Control Order (MCO).

Its chief executive officer Datuk Akbar Samon in a statement said that one of the contributing factors to the unexpected increase was the creation of more online payment channels for tithe payers that made it easier for them to fulfil their responsibilities.

“The increase was also attributed to the introduction of two options of tithe rates at RM5 and RM7 respectively in the Federal Territories this year.

“These two rates provide options for those whose livelihood are adversely affected during MCO to continue fulfilling their zakat obligations,” he said.

Akbar said that MAIWP would distribute tithe collected to the asnaf (eligible tithe recipients).

He also said that a total of RM45.07 million in tithe had been distributed through the COVID-19 Musaadah mission launched by the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Dr Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri to assist those affected by the COVID-19 outbreak.

-- BERNAMA