Kuala Lumpur: The Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) has announced a target of RM1.341 billion for zakat distribution in 2025, focusing on empowering asnaf (eligible recipients) and enhancing human capital through education. This ambitious goal marks a significant increase from the RM1.156 billion allocated to eight asnaf groups in 2024.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs), Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar, detailed the allocation breakdown, stating that RM1.110 billion will be dedicated to the Empowerment and Well-being of Asnaf, while RM230.63 million will focus on the Empowerment of Human Capital Through Education. This announcement was made during a press conference outlining the zakat collection and distribution performance for the Federal Territories in 2024.
Additionally, MAIWP has set aside RM407.37 million for the Welfare Assistance Cluster and RM50.28 million for the Housing Assistance Cluster. Further allocations include RM187.34 million for the Education Cluster, RM191.74 million for the Community Development Assistance Cluster, RM63.64 million for the Economic and Asnaf Assistance Cluster, and RM65.31 million for the Medical Assistance Cluster. These funds aim to comprehensively address the needs of every asnaf group.
An extra RM197 million has been designated for the Wakalah distribution, and RM177.99 million for Amil distribution, to bolster the management and delivery of zakat funds. Mohd Na’im expressed the hope that these efforts will continue to bring benefits to the community in the Federal Territories.
For 2025, the MAIWP Zakat Collection Centre (PPZ) has set a target of RM1.216 billion for total zakat and waqaf collection, with an anticipated 1.897 million payers. MAIWP also aims for a 5 per cent increase in the number of recipients, reaching a total of 284,683, including 34,651 household heads.
Mohd Na’im highlighted several factors contributing to the increase in distribution and recipients, including the rise in zakat collections in 2024 and improvements in the distribution process. He noted the impact of the rising cost of living, particularly in the Federal Territories, on the increasing number of zakat recipients.
The total zakat collection on wealth and fitrah in the Federal Territories for 2024 amounted to RM1.133 billion, a 10 per cent increase from RM1.031 billion in 2023. The number of zakat payers also grew by two per cent, from 1,864,703 in 2023 to 1,835,902 in 2024.
Mohd Na’im emphasized the importance of integrity in managing zakat funds and urged those involved in the approval and distribution process to view zakat funds as a trust. He warned against manipulation or misuse, stressing that even a single sen misappropriated could lead to negative consequences.
He reiterated that the rightful owners of zakat funds are the people within the eight asnaf categories and that 100 per cent of the funds must reach these recipients. The categories include various groups supported through initiatives such as Zakat Assistance Schemes, Al-Wakalah, Educational and Welfare Institutions, Islamic Infrastructure, Infrastructure Maintenance Expenditure, and Amil in the Federal Territories.
Mohd Na’im also praised the creative efforts of PPZ-MAIWP in increasing zakat collections, including the introduction of new channels like crypto investments and online platforms. He expressed hope that these innovations would further enhance zakat collections in 2025.
Present at the event were MAIWP chairman, Syed Kamarulzaman Syed Kabeer, and PPZ-MAIWP chairman, Datuk Seri Amrin Awaluddin.