ONLINE zakat (tithe) collection and the number of contributors recorded by Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council’s Zakat Collection Centre (PPZ-MAIWP) has shown a significant increase as the country battles the Covid-19 crisis.

PPZ-MAIWP chief executive officer Ahmad Shukri Yusoff said the collection of online zakat fitrah  payments has to date amounted to RM2.47 million with 105,895 contributors, compared with the online collection during Ramadan last year of nearly RM410,000 with 17,965 contributors.

“Meanwhile, the online payment for zakat harta (property tithe) has also shown some increase although many still choose to pay at the counter,” he said during the launch of the zakat payment campaign “Segerakan Zakat Anda, Raih Pahala Berganda” in conjunction with the 10 last days of Ramadan at Wisma PPZ-MAIWP in Kuala Lumpur today.

He said although this year’s Ramadan has been celebrated differently, there is more awareness among Muslims to fulfil their duty of paying zakat.

“PPZ-MAIWP has high hopes that Muslims who have yet to perform their duty do so soon as possible within the last 10 days of Ramadan, so that it can be distributed to those in need,” he said.

Shukri said based on MAIWP’s data, about 18,000 people were recently added to the asnaf (needy) category as their life has become more difficult due to the movement control order (MCO).

He said the MCO, which came into force on March 18 and was aimed at curbing the Covid-19 outbreak, had affected the economic sector and caused many to lose their jobs and sources of income.

Meanwhile, for this year, the Federal Territories introduced two zakat fitrah rates – RM5 and RM7. To facilitate the zakat payment, PPZ-MAIWP has provided several channels as listed below:

– Nine PPZ-MAIWP counters (six in Kuala Lumpur, two in Putrajaya and one in Labuan) with operating hours of between 8.15am and 4.30pm every day;
– Various payment methods, such as by cash, cheque, debit card and Islamic banking credit card;
– Payments through the Zakat Harta portal at fitrah.zakat.com.my for debit cards and Islamic banking credit cards
– Zakat collection agents
– Online banking
– MyEG www.myeg.com.my
– Pos Online
– PayHalal
– eWallet through UMobile and Boost
– JomPay at iRakyat. – Bernama, May 14, 2020.