Baitulmal hopes to collect RM50 million

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KUCHING: Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS) hopes to collect RM50 million this year.

Assistant Minister in the Chief Minister’s Department (Islamic Affairs) Datuk Daud Abdul Rahman said Baitulmal collected RM48 million last year, with RM16 million already disbursed to charity.

Daud said this after handing over funds from TBS yesterday.

“Despite the downturn of the economy, which has affected a lot of people, we are very grateful that the public were still able to donate.

“The RM48 million amount collected proved it. Therefore, I hope that we will be able to collect a total of RM50 million for this year,” he said.

Daud, who is also Baitulmal and Waqaf Board chairman, promised the money would be used wisely and targeted for RM26 million to be handed over to charity this year.

He said the monthly salary deduction from Muslims was the main contributor to the fund each year.

“Half of the total amount Tabung Baitulmal received each year was from the zakat. Another half was from businesses and other incomes.

“Looking back a few years ago, where we only received an average of between RM3 and RM4 million, the amount we collected today showed vast improvement not just in the population but also due to public awareness as well,” he explained.

Daud said the Islamic Council of Sarawak would hold more awareness programmes throughout the state on the importance of giving zakat.

The majority of   recipients from Tabung Baitulmal each year, he said, were students pursuing their education and hardcore poor families, patients requiring medical aid and healthcare, as well as victims of natural disasters.

He pointed out that poverty-stricken children were the most important group to aid, especially from the aspect of education.

The ceremony saw 102 recipients – individuals and organisation —  presented with assistance.

They included 92 students, who will be pursuing their education at tertiary institutions, who received RM138,757.

Three individuals received a total of RM7,488 under the Maahad Tahfiz Al-Quran aid, while another three were presented with thesis funds amounting to RM1,500.

Two others were given RM1,248 for medical expenses and a total of RM2,500 dispersed to two natural disaster victims.

Last year, TBS dispersed funds totalling RM23.2 million to 21,534 recipients – both individuals and organisations – through its three main programmes: ‘Program Mengukuhkan Tradisi Kaum’ (PMTK), ‘Program Mengukuhkan Kebajikan Ummah’ (PMKU), and ‘Program Mengukuhkan Institusi Islam’ (PMII).

The aid form can be downloaded from the TBS web at www.tbs.org.my or www.tabung-baitulmal-sarawak.org.my.

TBS also collaborated with the Kuching Specialist Centre (KPJ Healthcare Berhad) to open the state’s second Waqaf An-Nur
Clinic at Bandar Baru Semariang.

The clinic started operations last Dec 21 and caters to all races. Charges for each visit is only RM5, including consultation and medication fees.

In addition, those who wish to pay their tithes (zakat), make obligatory contributions, contribute Waqaf or apply for Baitulmal aid can also visit the Baitulmal branch at Jalan Sultan Tengah,  which opened on March 21, 2009.