Melaka: Melaka's zakat collection has reached RM112 million as of Nov 30 and is on track to achieve this year's target of RM152 million, says State Education, Higher Education and Religious Affairs Committee chairman Datuk Rahmad Mariman. He said the state was optimistic of reaching the target, given the annual trend of increased zakat payments in December.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, usually, payers will rush to fulfil their zakat obligations as Dec 31 approaches, because most contributors calculate their annual income at the end of the year. A significant rise in collections is often observed during this period. Last year, collections surged sharply in the final week and exceeded the target, reaching RM113 million. Authorities hope the same momentum continues and surpasses the target this time.

The remarks were made during the business zakat handover ceremony in Ayer Keroh, officiated by the Yang Dipertua Negeri of Melaka, Tun Mohd Ali Rustam, and attended by Chief Minister Datuk Seri Ab Rauf Yusoh and Zakat Melaka chief executive officer Datuk Mohamad Azmi Sabtu. At the event, 23 corporate agencies handed over a total of RM7.49 million in business zakat.

Rahmad emphasized the strong awareness among companies and individuals regarding their zakat obligation, which helped ensure that funds for the eight categories of asnaf could be distributed continuously and more comprehensively. He encouraged more companies and individuals to come forward as the year-end approaches.

As of Nov 30, income zakat remains the highest contributor with RM66.8 million, followed by business zakat with RM19.6 million and zakat on savings with RM16.4 million. Also recorded were zakat on gold and silver amounting to RM1.9 million, zakat on shares at RM441,224, livestock zakat at RM50,550, and agricultural zakat at RM46,414, involving 48,648 contributors. Zakat fitrah collections this year amounted to RM6.6 million, with 683,982 payers.