KUCHING: Tabung Haji (TH) presented zakat amounting to RM1,030,264.85 for the financial year of 2016 to Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak at Astana Negeri Kuching in Petra Jaya here, yesterday.
The zakat was handed over by TH Deputy Chief Executive Officer Dato’ Badlisyah Abdul Ghani to Head of State Tun Pehin Sri Haji Abdul Taib Mahmud.
According to Badlisyah the payment of zakat for Sarawak recorded an increase of 2.02 per cent compared to RM1,009,905.14 in 2015.
He added, as an Islamic institution, TH emphasised on economic sustainability of the community in which the payment of zakat served to enhance the welfare of society and would help improve the economy needy group.
“The payment of zakat to Zakat Collection Centres throughout the country is carried out so that the money can be fully utilised to assist eligible recipients and thus help towards the sustainability of the programmes to be implemented by the state Zakat Collection Centre,” he said.
The total payment of zakat in 2016 continued to increase by 1.69 per cent and was equivalent to RM60.3 million compared to the previous year’s RM59.3 million.
With this increase, TH will further enhance the distribution of zakat directly to needy recipients across the country through the Iqra’ Programme, Ehsan Programme, Baiti Programme and Mobility Programme.
These programmes are expected to benefit more directly to the target groups.
Also present were Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak General Manager Datu Haji Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Nailie, Sarawak Islamic Religious Department Director Haji Ismail Haji Hanis as well as Sarawak Islamic Council President Datu Misnu Taha.
