The 6% increase in zakat collection is attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic 

by FAYYADH JAAFAR / pic source: zakatselangor.com.my

LEMBAGA Zakat Selangor (LZS) has recorded RM993 million zakat collection and RM922 million in zakat distribution, marking a new record for both categories by the board. 

The 6% increase in zakat collection is attributed to the impact of the Covid-19 pandemic, which affected employment and income for countless individuals. 

“LZS currently serves more than 60,000 asnaf, fakir and poor families, as well as more than 6,000 muallaf individuals, and these figures are expected to grow in the coming years,” said Tan Sri Datuk Seri Syed Anwar Jamalullail, chairman of LZS in a press conference yesterday. 

“LZS distributed RM922 million of zakat to the various groups of asnaf in 2021, representing an increase of 6.3% compared to the previous year. LZS collected a total of RM993 million for the year 2021, which is 8.8% higher than the amount collected in 2020,” he added. 

According to Syed Anwar, the Covid-19 pandemic has caused a significant deterioration in public finances, with over 100,000 Malaysians having lost their jobs since the start of the lockdown period in early 2020. 

As a result of the significant economic challenges and over 100,000 jobs lost by Malaysians since the beginning of the pandemic, LZS made proactive efforts to support communities in need. 

In supporting the Asnaf community, LZS has comprehensive zakat distribution programmes which 

are segmented into social development, educational development, religious institution development, human development and economic development. 

Among LZS’ initiatives are Zakat Selangor Peduli, which is a continuation of the Special Assistance Covid-19 (BKC19) and Alternative Assistance for Affected Persons spearheaded by LZS during MCO 1.0 and MCO 2.0. In total, RM63 million in zakat was contributed towards assisting those affected by Covid-19 in 2021, including RM1 million of Amil management funds to support frontliners, hospitals and vaccination centres. 

In line with carrying out its duties as the state’s leading Islamic institution in caring for Muslim communities, an additional RM25 million was also distributed in the last quarter to assist flood victims in Selangor. This assistance includes immediate assistance worth RM350,000 in the form of dry food and basic necessities to flood victims, in addition to the assistance of RM600 channelled to 29,720 flood victims through the LZS Peduli initiative. 

Through this initiative, LZS also helped repair houses and institutions such as mosques, surau, and religious schools affected by the floods. 

“In line with carrying out its duties as the state’s leading Islamic institution in caring for Muslim communities, an additional RM25 million was also distributed in the last quarter to assist flood victims in Selangor,” Syed Anwar added. 

This assistance includes immediate assistance worth RM350,000 in the form of dry food and basic necessities to flood victims, in addition to the assistance of RM600 channelled to 29,720 flood victims through the LZS Peduli initiative. 

Through this initiative, LZS also helped repair houses and institutions such as mosques, surau, and religious schools affected by the floods. 

“Moving forward, LZS will continue to improve its operations in order to enhance the services pro-vided to fulfil the growing needs of the asnaf,” Syed Anwar explained. 

He said LZS has recently embarked on a digitalisation journey, which kicked off in 2021 with completion targeted for 2025. 

“Through our Digitalisation Journey, LZS will utilise a new, more robust digital framework, which will boost its operational efficiencies and ultimately, enhance the services provided to the asnaf and Muzakki.” 

“This digitalisation journey will also enable LZS to better connect with the asnaf as it will allow us to deploy staff to the ground and have a closer engagement as well as look into the needs of the asnaf more effectively.” 

Since its establishment over 25 years ago, LZS has recorded a steady increase in the number of stakeholders served. The number of asnaf in Selangor is expected to grow at an average rate of 6% from 2021 onwards, reaching over 105,000 families by 2030.