Plunge in zakat fund reviewed
Zakat debate: Minister of Religious Affairs Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Haji Mohd Zain bin Haji Serudin chaired the meeting regarding zakat at the Jame Asr Hassanil Bolkiah in Kiulap. Picture: Fahmi Abas
Friday, October 26, 2007
THE sharp drop of $10 million in this year's zakat collection was the main issue in the discussion among the members of the religious ministry led by Religious Affairs Minister Pehin Jawatan Luar Pekerma Raja Dato Seri Utama Dr Ustaz Hj Mohd Zain Hj Serudin yesterday.
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in his Hari Raya titah had expressed concern over the drastic fall in tithe collection from $18.9 million in 2005 to $8.8 million in 2006, and called for the concerned authorities to identify the causes and rectify things.
Imam Haji Muslim Haji Abdul Razak, who heads the Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Serusop, suggested the drop could be a result of slow economic activity.
He said, "Zakat Harta or property tithe depends on how much an individual earns. It is possible that low returns or profits may have led to the decrease in tithe collected."
Imam Haji Muslim advised the relevant officials to conduct studies on economic activities during the last year, as this could help in explaining why there was a sudden drop in the collection of tithe.
He added that this matter should be taken seriously, not only by government officials but also by the public.
The significant fall has raised eyebrows not only amongst relevant religious officials but also the public.
His Majesty in his titah had also mentioned some of the probable reasons for the decrease in collection like economic factors, a lack of confidence in the zakat distribution system.
His Majesty had also expressed concern that society's confidence in the stability of zakat mechanism in the sultanate may waver. "A lack of confidence in this is worrying and if unattended, it will spiral even further down," His Majesty had warned.
The meeting was held at the multi-purpose hall of the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah and was also attended by the Acting Director of the Department of Mosque Affairs, Haji Abdul Kahar Haji Hussin.
The Brunei Times
His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Brunei Darussalam in his Hari Raya titah had expressed concern over the drastic fall in tithe collection from $18.9 million in 2005 to $8.8 million in 2006, and called for the concerned authorities to identify the causes and rectify things.
Imam Haji Muslim Haji Abdul Razak, who heads the Mohamed Bolkiah Mosque in Serusop, suggested the drop could be a result of slow economic activity.
He said, "Zakat Harta or property tithe depends on how much an individual earns. It is possible that low returns or profits may have led to the decrease in tithe collected."
Imam Haji Muslim advised the relevant officials to conduct studies on economic activities during the last year, as this could help in explaining why there was a sudden drop in the collection of tithe.
He added that this matter should be taken seriously, not only by government officials but also by the public.
The significant fall has raised eyebrows not only amongst relevant religious officials but also the public.
His Majesty in his titah had also mentioned some of the probable reasons for the decrease in collection like economic factors, a lack of confidence in the zakat distribution system.
His Majesty had also expressed concern that society's confidence in the stability of zakat mechanism in the sultanate may waver. "A lack of confidence in this is worrying and if unattended, it will spiral even further down," His Majesty had warned.
The meeting was held at the multi-purpose hall of the Jame' Asr Hassanil Bolkiah and was also attended by the Acting Director of the Department of Mosque Affairs, Haji Abdul Kahar Haji Hussin.
The Brunei Times
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