Muslims in Sabah can now pay “Zakat Fitrah” (fitrah tithe) for the fasting month of Ramadan via online, which was initiated following the implementation of the Movement Control Order (MCO) to contain the spread of Covid-19.
State Law and Native Affairs Minister Datuk Aidi Moktar, who disclosed this, said the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) had included fitrah tithe in the existing e-Zakat system for online banking via several appointed banks and online payment gateways or service provider applications.
He said the online collection began on April 24 and, as of Thursday, a total of RM185,000 had been collected from 7,000 people.
“The e-Zakat is an existing system for Muslims or companies to pay business tithe (Zakat Perniagaan), property tithe (Zakat Harta) and salary tithe (Zakat Gaji) since 2005,” he told a press conference at Wisma Muis, here, Thursday.
Aidi said the online payment of fitrah tithe can be made through Maybank, Bank Islam, Agrobank, CIMB and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN), or they can pay via the existing online payment getaways such as SnapNPay and MyeG, adding paying via Boost and Jom Pay will start next week.
“Apart from these options, Muis is facilitating Muslims to pay fitrah tithe by providing a drive-thru counter at a strategic location, which is Wisma Muis, as a pilot project to monitor and see its effectiveness,” he said.
He said the drive-thru would be located at the main compound of the building facing the Covid-19 screening counter in the premises, and will begin operations on Monday (May 4) on daily basis from 8am till 5pm.
Aidi also said Muis would continue to re-appoint 39 tithe collectors or “amil” and 1,930 representatives of the “amil” throughout Sabah to collect fitrah tithe from Muslims during this Ramadan month. He said the appointed tithe collectors and “amil” representatives will open up collection counters at strategic locations that will be identified by the local authorities (PBT) or owners of premises.
He added Muis would issue letters of approval to the tithe collectors and “amil” representatives.
“They will also be equipped with face masks, hand gloves and sanitisers when dealing with Muslims paying tithes at their counters,” he said.
“Another option for those who don’t have online banking is the tithe collection counters at the Muis headquarters here and branch offices in Sandakan, Tawau, Beaufort, Keningau and Kota Marudu,” he added.
Aidi said these counters would operate from 8am to 5pm from Monday to Friday. He also said those who wish to pay tithes at the counters will undergo body temperature check and if any payer is detected to have high fever, he or she would be advised to get treatment at the hospital or clinic.
In another development, Aidi said 325 Sabahan students studying in Egypt will remain there and advised not to return home, as they will be facing exams in the universities in May. However, he said, if the students wish to return to Sabah, then they have to bear the airfare on their own.
Source Daily Express