LTH hands over RM1 mln in zakat to Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak

KUCHING: Lembaga Tabung Haji ( LTH) handed over RM1,030,264.85 in ‘zakat’ (tithes) for last year’s full-financial period to Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak ( TBS) yesterday.

The cheque was presented by LTH deputy chief executive officer Datuk Badlisyah Abdul Ghani to Yang di- Pertua Negeri Tun Pehin Sri Abdul Taib Mahmud at a simple ceremony in Astana Negeri here.

The board’s zakat for Sarawak recorded an increase of 2.02 per cent over the RM1,009,905.14 obtained for fiscal year 2015.

According to Badlisyah, LTH as an Islamic institution, emphasises economic sustainability of the community and thus, the contribution of the zakat serves to enhance the social welfare of Muslims by way of helping improve the economic activities of the recipients.

“The payment method via zakat collection centres nationwide is implemented so that the money can fully benefit only the eligible individuals,” he added.

For the record, the RM60.3 million in zakat collection for last year represented an increase of 1.69 per cent over the RM59.3 million recorded in 2015.

“With such growth, LTH will continue to distribute the tithes to eligible recipients across the country through programmes like Iqra, Ehsan, Baiti and Mobiliti,” said Badlisyah.

The handover at Astana Negeri was witnessed by state Islamic Affairs Department director Ismail Hanis, TBS general manager Datu Mohd Shibli Mohd Nailie, Sarawak Islamic Council chairman Datu Misnu Taha, as well as officials from TBS and LTH.