BUKIT MERTAJAM, Feb 10 (Bernama) — Penang Zakat (ZPP) has recorded RM150.14 million in zakat or tithe collection last year, compared with RM147.23 million in 2021, an increase of 1.97 per cent.

The Penang Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) president Datuk Ir Ahmad Zakiyuddin Abdul Rahman said the total amount included the property and personal tithes collection.

“ZPP recorded a good performance in managing the collection and distribution of zakat in 2022. A total of RM155.18 million was distributed throughout last year, which is an increase of 9.11 per cent compared with the distribution in 2021, which is RM142.22 million.

“The amount of distribution last year actually exceeded the collection of this ZPP, because the surplus from 2021 was carried over to last year and distributed to the needy. I would like to thank all the zakat payers in Penang for their support,” he said at a press conference, here today, which was also attended by ZPP chief executive officer Datuk Amran Azali.

Ahmad Zakiyuddin said that property tithe collection last year was RM143.55 million, a 2.76 per cent increase, compared with 141.21 million in 2021, while personal tithe collection last year was RM6.6 million, compared with RM6.02 million in 2021, an increase of 9.5 per cent.

Ahmad Zakiyuddin, who is also Deputy Chief Minister I, said starting in January, ZPP also improved three zakat distribution schemes through a new adjustment of the consolation amount rate, which is between RM100 and RM700, according to the schemes.

Meanwhile, he said MAINPP, through the ZPP Humanitarian Aid Fund, will contribute RM250,000 to help earthquake victims in Turkiye.

He said that a special donation collection fund will also be launched for the same purpose in all mosques statewide for two Fridays, on Feb 17 and 24.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency