SHAH ALAM, 21 Jan: The amount of Zakat and Fitrah in Selangor for 2013 exceeded the target with a total collection of RM517.4 million compared to RM451.3 million in the same period the previous year.
This was announced by the Chief Executive Officer of the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS), Mohamed Izam Mohamed Yusof, at a special press conference held at the Sultan Idris Shah Building.
He said that total collection surpassed the RM470 million target set by the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS), with an increase of 14.6 percent and a difference of RM66.1 million.
He said from the amount, RM497.9 million was collected from property Zakat, while RM19.6 million was from the Fitrah Zakat.
“The amount of Zakat payers for last year was 233,371 people (an increase of 10.9 percent) compared to the previous year. From the amount, 41,533 people were new LZS payers,” he said.
Meanwhile, he said, for 2013, the Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) through LZS collected RM19.6 million in Fitrah Zakat compared to RM18.8 million in 2012.
He added that LZS targets RM530 in Zakat collection for 2014 by taking in account the growing awareness of paying.
He added that 309 families have been found and registered as fakir (poor) and miskin (needy) in Selangor to receive various assistance for 2013 through 52 quests undertaken by the Skuad Jejak Kemiskinan (SJK).
For 2013, a total of 250 recipients for the zakat assistance for 2012 managed to leave the asnaf categories. They consist of beneficiaries of business capital assistance provided by LZS.
Meanwhile, 783 families who were recipients of Zakat for 2012 also leaved the asnaf category as a result of periodic investigations carried out by LZS using the fakir and miskin determination line, the Al-Kifayah Limit.
“LZS found that education is an important medium to empower recipients, especially the second generation of children.
“A variety of educational assistance was provided, including schooling assistance for the children of fakir and miskin for the 2014 session.
“A sum of RM20 million is distributed to 37,646 fakir and miskin students, including for pre-schools, primary and secondary schools across Selangor,” he said.
LZS is also funding 4,567 asnaf students who are pursuing studies in various fields in institutes of higher learning.
In 2013, LZS collected property Zakat amounting to RM497.9 million, compared to RM432.2 million in the previous year.
The largest amount collected by segments was contributed by the Income Zakat (RM308.5 million), followed by Business Zakat (RM92.7 million), Property Zakat (38.7 million and Savings Zakat (RM33.8 million).
Meanwhile, RM9.7 million was collected from Stock Zakat, RM7.9 million for EPF Zakat, RM2.9 million for Crops, RM2.46 million for Gold and Silver Zakat, RM1.2 million for Qada Zakat and RM0.02 million for Livestock Zakat.
