SHAH ALAM, Feb 20 — Some 61 per cent of 75,000 poor and hardcore poor families receiving assistance from the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) are concentrated in four districts: Petaling, Klang, Hulu Langat and Gombak.
LZS chief executive officer Mohd Khaidzir Shahari the rising cost of living and the gap between income and expenses are among the reasons more families are requiring assistance.
He said a portion of them are migrants from other states who moves to Selangor in search of livelihoods, driven by the rapid growth of the industrial sector and small and medium enterprises.
“Of the more than 75,000 poor and hardcore poor families, 61 per cent are concentrated in those four districts as the locations are among the fastest-developing in Selangor.
“Differences in the cost of living between districts affect the balance of household income and expenses, causing some families to fall into the asnaf category,” he said.
According to data shared by LZS to Media Selangor, Petaling has the highest number of poor families at 13,611, followed by Klang (12,605), Hulu Langat (11,780), and Gombak (7,916).
Khaidzir said assistance is determined through physical visits, surveys and by calculating the basic needs threshold that takes into account current living costs as well as the household’s dependency structure.
Attention is also given to elderly individuals with health issues and to converts facing challenges, by placing them in special institutions to safeguard their welfare and safety.
Khaidzir said LZS also adopts a ground outreach approach, through its Skuad Jejak Kemiskinan that was introduced in 2011, to identify and assist asnaf who have been left out or are not receiving aid.
“Sometimes misunderstandings occur when influencers arrive first. There are also cases where zakat aid has already been provided but not publicised, out of respect for the applicant’s privacy and dignity,” he said.
