Selangor Zakat board denies claims of handing out RM400 aid to parents

The Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) has denied claims on social networks that it will be handing out RM400 in aid to parents who have three school-going children this year.

According to a statement by LZS, no such provision was being provided, and the public is urged not to trust the information which has been circulating since early January, as well as to stop spreading the false information to others.

"LZS requests all parties not to spread information without referring to the board first. For inquiries and more information, please call the Selangor Zakat Line at 1-800-88-5353 or visit our website at www.zakatselangor.com.my and Facebook page 'LembagaZakatSelangor.MAIS'," the statement said.

Regarding the zakat aid for education which was also spread via social media, LZS said it provided the assistance on an annual basis through the 'Bantuan Umum Pelajaran' (educational assistance) (BUP).

It said application for BUP was opened to Malaysian Muslims who were born and lived in Selangor, or had been a resident in the state for no less than three years.

According LZS, the application was subjected to the guidelines and criteria set by the board.

"For the children of the poor and needy, monetary assistance is granted through the BUP," the statement said.

The application for BUP is opened from January to March for students in pre-school, primary, secondary schools, as well as higher education institutions (IPT).

From July to September, it will only be for IPT students.

However, BUP applications for first year university students would be opened all year round, and applicants could only apply once a year, it said.

According to LZS, the BUP contribution was to help ease the financial burden of parents who had to bear the cost of their children's schooling each year, as well as university students within the country and abroad.