Bank Islam’s RM600,000 business zakat for S’wak includes funds for ‘asnaf’
KUCHING: Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd’s business ‘zakat’ (tithe) of nearly RM600,000 given to the Sarawak government includes the contributions for the local ‘asnaf’.
Under syariah, ‘asnaf’ is defined as a group of people entitled to receive ‘zakat’ such as the destitute, Muslim converts, zakat collectors, and those who are unable to settle their debts due to unfortunate circumstances.
According to Bank Islam acting chief executive officer Mohd Muazzam Mohamed, RM435,668.24 of the total zakat for the financial year ending 2017, was channelled to Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak ( TBS) while the RM160,000 was the additional contribution – arranged under the ‘wakalah’ (legal contract to undertake a task on behalf of a party) concept – for the ‘asnaf’ in Sarawak.
“This is our way of giving back to the community. As you know, Bank Islam has been in Sarawak for 32 years and the contributions today is the biggest contribution of zakat so far.
“This equals our principle of prosperity together. We firmly believe that while we strive to grow our business, it must benefit the community in equal proportion of that growth,” he told reporters after leading a Bank Islam delegation on a courtesy call to Chief Minster Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg yesterday.
Muazzam also pointed out that Bank Islam had carried out the ‘Amal Ikhtimah Pendidikan Jom Ke Sekolah’ programme in Sarawak, by sponsoring 200 ‘asnaf’ students from 10 schools.
The sponsorship covers books and school uniforms for the new school term next year.
On the courtesy call, Muazzam said Abang Johari had been informed about Bank Islam’s housing assistance project to assist the ‘asnaf’ in building their own houses.
He said this programme kicked off nationwide in 2008 – with a key objective of providing funds to the ‘asnaf’ for them to construct houses.
It is learnt that over the past 10 years, it has benefitted about 300 recipients.
“For next year, we propose to do this programme in Sarawak. For that, we will be working with relevant authorities in Sarawak, particularly the TBS, to identify the recipients,” he added.
Assistant Minister of Rural Electricity Datuk Dr Abdul Rahman Junaidi, Sarawak Islamic Council president Datu Misnu Taha, TBS chairman Datu Putit Matzen and its general manager Datu Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Nailie, as well as Bank Islam chairman Datuk Zamani Abdul Ghani were present to witness the presentation of the zakat.