Ke Mana Perginya Duit Zakat?

By Editor III On Nov 7, 2024

(MH) : For decades, ZAKAT collection and spending has been very opaque due to almost complete lack of transparency and accountability. Many people who are in need of assistance are often denied any funds due to reasons such as being single mothers, where the child was born out of wedlock. There are also stories of states competing for ZAKAT funds from corporations by offering “divine” discounts to attract their funds to the particular state religious department.

ZAKAT is usually collected by mosques and channelled through to their respective religious departments. ZAKAT is a mandatory payment of a portion of a person’s wealth, which can be used for specific reasons:

1. Those living without means of livelihood (Al-Fuqarā’), the poor

2. Those who cannot meet their basic needs (Al-Masākīn), the needy

3. To zakat collectors (Al-Āmilīyn ‘Alihā)

4. To persuade those sympathetic to or expected to convert to Islam (Al-Mu’allafatu Qulūbuhum), recent converts to Islam, and potential allies in the cause of Islam

5. To free from slavery or servitude (Fir-Riqāb), slaves of Muslims who have or intend to free from their master by means of a kitabah contract

6. Those who have incurred overwhelming debts while attempting to satisfy their basic needs (Al-Ghārimīn), debtors who in pursuit of a worthy goal incurred a debt

7. Those fighting for a religious cause or a cause of God (Fī Sabīlillāh), or for Jihad in the way of Allah by means of pen, word, or sword or for Islamic warriors who fight against the unbelievers but are not salaried soldiers, and

8. Wayfarers, stranded travelers (Ibnu Al-Sabīl), travelers who are traveling with a worthy goal but cannot reach their destination without financial assistance.
It took the Pertubuhan Peladang Kebangsaan or National Farmers’ Federation (NAFAS) scandal, which the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is now investigating to highlight the abuse of ZAKAT.

The investigation of NAFAS began with irregularities involved with fertilizer distribution to padi farmers by contractors. However, now it has widened to the area of ZAKAT, which NAFAS gained access to.

It is alleged that between 2016-2018 RM 2.9 million ZAKAT funds intended to assist 900,000 or more farmers has been diverted to political parties, service centres, and agencies. While, the fat cats have been living luxurious lives, farmers’ children have been forced to discontinue studies at university, because of droughts, floods, and other events causing low yields to their parents padi crops.

Its further alleged that RM 50 million had been used to

1. Purchase the Nafas headquarters in Damansara

2. Buy palm fields in Sungai Karap, Miri

3. Steel purchase of 40,000 tonnes does not follow specifications worth RM70 million

4. Bukit Bintang Farmers Wisma Renting

5. Purchase of multipurpose bio steel, and

7. A factory purchase of Nafas Feedmill Sdn Bhd in Muar.

Some notes itemizing other disbursements are listed below: