Aug 13: While praising the efficiency of zakat collection in the country, PAS’s Tuan Ibrahim Tuan Man (above) however laments the scourge of red tape and bureaucracy in its distribution, causing much frustration to needy people who deserve help from the fund.
“What is happening is the zakat money is 'saved' well beyond the allowed period. Zakat money must be distributed annually to all the recipients as listed by Allah (in the Qur'an). This means every year the collection made must be fully distributed.
The saved zakat fund amounts to millions of ringgit and not fully distributed. This should not happen,” said the PAS information chief in an interview published in the latest print edition ofHarakah.
Tuan Ibrahim himself once headed a zakat collection centre for nine years.
But he pointed out that currently there was too much red tape, which has led to a situation in which needy groups are neglected.
“Bureaucracy must be overcome, as we only received information from the authorities and the list (of those qualified for zakat) must be sent to village chiefs, and there would be unfairness which took place in the course of this.
"There was also political interference causing those deserving the zakat not receiving anything,” he added.
Enter politicians
Tuan Ibrahim's view echoed the complaint by former Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin, who hit out at Islamic bodies in charge of zakat management in the country for failing to achieve the objectives of one of the five pillars of Islam.
Asri had also questioned how the zakat money was spent, and pointed out that zakat offices were luxuriously equipped when at the same time there remained many Muslim families below poverty level.
According to Tuan Ibrahim, some political figures took advantage of the needy groups in the distribution of zakat by handing out the money in a manner as if it was their own.
“I think the state religious enforcement must not allow any room for political forces to exploit the distribution of zakat to the needy. They should help the poor out of their own money," he stressed.
The Pahang PAS commissioner said when those deserving a share of the zakat money were neglected, there would be quarters who would fulfil their desperate need, and church groups were among them.
Tuan Ibrahim reminded Muslims the Prophet's saying that poverty could lead to disbelief, and the statement was true in the present Malaysian context when some poor Muslims were helped by churches, leading to worries among some quarters of the subtle propagation of Christianity.
"Muslims must prioritise the issue of poverty,” he said.
Proposals
One way to improve the distribution of zakat is to empower the collection centres to manage the funds.
“The collection centre in certain states do not have authority to distribute, they only have the authority to collect zakat, wheres the distribution is undertaken by the (Islamic) council," he explained.
He added that many people found it difficult to visit distribution centres, because they were not as widespread as collection centres.
Tuan Ibrahim also proposed a new mechanism to identify those who deserved zakat.
“Zakat distributors must get to the ground and visit those needy and evaluate whether they are qualified to receive zakat. Currently, the zakat centre only waits for a report but sometimes, it would not come.
"So, if the officers can go to the ground themselves, they can evaluate and ensure the assistance will reach the target group,” said Tuan Ibrahim.
Tuan Ibrahim's view echoed the complaint by former Perlis mufti Asri Zainul Abidin, who hit out at Islamic bodies in charge of zakat management in the country for failing to achieve the objectives of one of the five pillars of Islam.
Asri had also questioned how the zakat money was spent, and pointed out that zakat offices were luxuriously equipped when at the same time there remained many Muslim families below poverty level.
According to Tuan Ibrahim, some political figures took advantage of the needy groups in the distribution of zakat by handing out the money in a manner as if it was their own.“I think the state religious enforcement must not allow any room for political forces to exploit the distribution of zakat to the needy. They should help the poor out of their own money," he stressed.
The Pahang PAS commissioner said when those deserving a share of the zakat money were neglected, there would be quarters who would fulfil their desperate need, and church groups were among them.
Tuan Ibrahim reminded Muslims the Prophet's saying that poverty could lead to disbelief, and the statement was true in the present Malaysian context when some poor Muslims were helped by churches, leading to worries among some quarters of the subtle propagation of Christianity.
"Muslims must prioritise the issue of poverty,” he said.
Proposals
One way to improve the distribution of zakat is to empower the collection centres to manage the funds.
“The collection centre in certain states do not have authority to distribute, they only have the authority to collect zakat, wheres the distribution is undertaken by the (Islamic) council," he explained.
He added that many people found it difficult to visit distribution centres, because they were not as widespread as collection centres.
Tuan Ibrahim also proposed a new mechanism to identify those who deserved zakat.
“Zakat distributors must get to the ground and visit those needy and evaluate whether they are qualified to receive zakat. Currently, the zakat centre only waits for a report but sometimes, it would not come.
"So, if the officers can go to the ground themselves, they can evaluate and ensure the assistance will reach the target group,” said Tuan Ibrahim.
Taken from Harakah
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