Kuala Lumpur:The Federal Territories Zakat Collection Centre (PPZ-MAIWP) has provided wakalah contributions amounting to RM70,000 to 14 media welfare organizations and surau to aid media practitioners in need.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Dr. Zulkifli Hasan, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), emphasized that these contributions demonstrate PPZ-MAIWP’s commitment to the welfare of media practitioners, including support staff who face various life challenges. He noted that media professionals often encounter financial difficulties, such as covering medical treatment expenses and fulfilling their children's educational needs.
The contributions were announced during the PPZ-MAIWP 2026 Media Appreciation Ceremony, which was attended by several dignitaries, including PPZ-MAIWP chairman Datuk Ahmad Azam Ab Rahman and Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) chairman Datuk Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Kabeer. Malaysian National News Agency (Bernama) chief executive officer Datin Paduka Nur-ul Afida Kamaludin received the contribution on behalf of Bernama.
The media organizations and clubs benefiting from these contributions include Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), Media Prima Bhd, Malaysia Gazette, and the National Union of Journalists Malaysia (NUJ). Zulkifli highlighted that eligible media organizations could also utilize the Employer Wakalah facility to apply for a portion of the zakat paid through employees' salary deductions, to support eligible asnaf, including their own workforce.
In addition to the organizational contributions, zakat contributions were presented to four media practitioners to assist with their financial and medical needs, including the cost of prosthetic limbs. Among the recipients were retired Bernama TV cameraman Suhaimi Mahadi and Wisma Bernama security assistant Mohd Nur Hadith Zaini, who received RM8,000 and RM8,500, respectively.
The event was attended by approximately 250 media practitioners, in recognition of the significant role media personnel play in disseminating information about zakat.