Kota bharu: In this digital era, almost everything can be done at one's fingertips, including fulfilling the obligation to pay zakat, the third pillar of Islam. Through digital channels, zakat payments can be made quickly without having to visit zakat collection centres, which would naturally involve additional cost and time.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, in the Federal Territory, Pusat Pungutan Zakat-MAIWP (PPZ-MAIWP) provides various digital payment channels, including the PPZ-MAIWP Portal, Digital Zakat Counter (KZD), internet banking, e-Wallets and online portals, as well as e-Mandate and auto-debit. Although the variety of channels gives payers more options to fulfil their obligation, security aspects must also be given due attention in tandem with the growth of such digital transactions.
As payment transactions become increasingly easy to carry out via smartphones and online platforms, what risks might payers face, and to what extent can they identify whether their transactions are truly secure? Users must not only ensure that the payment amount entered is correct, but also make sure they are accessing a legitimate payment channel rather than fake links or websites and manipulated QR codes.
Universiti Kebangsaan Malaysia (UKM) Centre for Cyber Security, Faculty of Information Science and Technology lecturer Assoc Prof Dr Masnizah Mohd said digital zakat payments were generally safe if carried out through official platforms and channels with good security controls. She noted that technologies such as data encryption, identity verification and transaction monitoring could help protect users' information and money, but scams exploiting human negligence still needed to be monitored.
Masnizah highlighted that users must ensure that payments are made through official channels, while zakat institutions must continue to strengthen the monitoring and detection of suspicious transactions. Awareness, education, and vigilance are crucial in protecting users from becoming victims of phishing, fake links and websites, and impersonation of zakat institutions.
Masnizah, who is also the Deputy Director (Strategy and Applications) of the Digital Technology Centre (DigitalUKM), UKM, warned that social media platforms posed risks through links or QR codes that appeared to be official payment channels. Users accessing such links could be directed to fake websites resembling official sites to steal banking information, while QR codes could misdirect payments to unofficial accounts.
She emphasized that users should not assess the security of a link, website, or QR code based solely on its appearance and advised verifying payment channels through official sources before any transaction. Masnizah also recommended that zakat payment platforms incorporate layered defences and allow users to verify recipient names and transaction amounts before approval.
For zakat payer Mohd Aliff Ashraf Ismail, the variety of digital payment channels provided by PPZ-MAIWP makes it easier to choose a suitable method to fulfil his zakat obligation without visiting a physical counter. Despite the convenience, he stressed the importance of ensuring security by verifying transactions through official channels and checking payment details.
Siti Khadijah Afiyah Muhammad Syafiq, another zakat payer, appreciated the flexibility provided by options such as internet banking and e-Wallets, particularly for young users accustomed to online financial transactions. However, she advised caution to ensure platforms are official and warned against links, QR codes, or payment instructions from unknown parties, emphasizing the protection of personal information as a priority.