'Pay zakat early, don't wait until the last minute'

SHAH ALAM - Muslims in this state are advised not to wait until the last minute to pay for all types of compulsory zakat , including zakat fitrah to avoid congestion at the payment centre.

Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) Colllection Division chief Muhd ​​Fikri Naim Harun said Selangor had set three fitrah rates this year, according to the rate since 2018, which ia RM7, RM14, and RM22.

He said the zakat rates were set based on the price of rice, the grade and type of rice consumed at weight of one baghdad bushel which equals to 2.6 kilograms of rice.

However, he said zakat fitrah payments above the minimum rate was encouraged voluntarily and without coercion to help more asnafs ( the poor) who need financial assistance.

"A total of RM30 million aid had been distributed in preparation of Ramadan and Syawal this year, but at the same time the number of asnaf groups continues to grow.

"If we keep (the amount of aid) at that amount, then the amount of aid the asnaf group receives will be reduced," he said when met by Sinar at the Selangor Zakat Building here.

He added that the B40, M40 and T20 categories in the state were quite significant and the pay collection was expected to increased if payments were made according to the prescribed categories.

He said, according to the potential payment of B40 groups who pay RM7, they can collect RM11.97 million, while if M40 groups pay RM14 then the accumulated total is RM23.94 million.

Meanwhile, as much as RM17.85 million can be collected for T20 groups who pay RM21.

"If everything goes smoothly , we can collect as much as RM53.76 million. That is the actual potential of zakat fitrah payments collected according to the rate. Currently we have only received as much as RM33 million.

"If we can collect more than RM53 million, the asnaf groups will receive more Ramadan and Aidilfitri aids or more asnafs can receive the aid," he said.

In addition, Fikri said a total of 2,642 Amil Fitrah Assistants (those employed to administer Zakat funds) were placed in mosques and suraus, 17 in higher education institutions, 92 in maahad tahfiz and private religious schools and 154 at selected employers' counters for payment of zakat fitrah and property.

"I encourage everyone to pay zakat online as it is easier, faster and there is no need to queue or find parking space to pay zakat at the counter.

"Online transaction method has become a norm in the community and is mubah according to syarak (shaking hands or saying akad while paying zakat is not mandatory)," he said.

However, he advised the public to make payments in advance to avoid online congestion traffic like what happened last year following the announcement of Hari Raya one day before the expected date.