By Sheeda Fathil
SHAH ALAM, Oct 16 — The total zakat collection has reached nearly RM750 million as of September, said the Selangor Zakat Board's (LZS) chief executive officer Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini.
This collection represents a five per cent increase compared to the same period last year.
“We hope that with the increased commitment and awareness from both existing and new payers in fulfilling their responsibilities, LZS can surpass last year’s total collection.
“InsyaAllah, we are targeting a higher collection, especially in December, through ongoing dakwah efforts. We hope more individuals and companies will come forward to pay zakat this year,” he said.
Sabirin was speaking to the press after the presentation ceremony of Permodalan Nasional Berhad's business zakat to the Sultan of Selangor Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah Alhaj at Istana Bukit Kayangan today.
He also encouraged the public to fulfil their responsibility of paying zakat, the fourth pillar of Islam, to assist more asnaf (eligible tithe recipients), the poor, and the needy.
The Selangor Islamic Religious Council has set a RM1.35 billion zakat collection target this year, based on LZS’s past achievements and capabilities.