Zakat rates for 2015 maintained
KOTA KINABALU: The Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) has decided to maintain last year’s zakat rates for 2015, which is RM7 for each Muslim in Malaysia.
Its manager, Datuk Mohd Suhaili Said, said fee collections would be carried out by Amil (zakat collector) or Amil representatives appointed by the Sabah Zakat Centre (PZS) in each district.
“A total of 36 zakat collectors and 1,911 representatives have been appointed to coordinate and collect the tithe during the Ramadan month.
“The rate charged is based on a 2.7 kilograms measurement of rice eaten by the majority of the people in Sabah,” he told the media in a tithe rate announcement and zakat collector briefing press conference here yesterday.
Suhaili said this year’s collection is estimated to be the same as 2014, which was RM8.8 million in zakat fitrah and RM55.4 million in zakat harta.
“The collection of zakat for the whole of last year amounted to RM52.8 million, RM44.1 million zakat harta while RM8.6 million of zakat fitrah was collected.
“This year we expect to achieve the targeted zakat collection due. As of this May, we have managed to collect a total of RM19.2 million from the collection of zakat harta,” he explained.
He said Muis had also allocated RM9.3 million to be distributed to target groups during the month of Ramadan later this year.
He said the RM8.2 million would be distributed to 40,586 poor and Muslim converts for the Shawwal (Hari Raya) celebration.
“A total of RM1.1 million will be distributed to 1,911 zakat collectors as wages for their collection and distribution of zakat fitrah work during the month of Ramadan this year,” he said.
According to him, based on current discussions, the projected collection of Zakat in 2016 would amount to RM65 million.
Meanwhile, he said the increase in zakat collection depended on the country’s economic stability and the frequency of awareness campaigns related to the obligatory worship throughout the country.
In addition, he said it was also due to the efficient management of the Amil and Amil appointed representatives.
At the same time, Suhaili said this year the number of collectors had decreased from 1923 to 1911.
“So far, three zakat collectors have been terminated immediately as a result of not handing over the collection to the head of zakat collector, and the receipt was also not given to those making payment for zakat,” he said.
He also stressed that those caught posing as zakat collectors could be convicted under Section 67 of the Zakat and Fitrah Enactment.
He said offenders would be liable to a fine of not more than RM5,000 or up to three years’ imprisonment, or both.
Also present at the press conference were Sabah Attorney General Datuk Mariati Robert and MUIS Supreme Council member Aminuddin Yaakud.