LIMBARUH HIJAU OCTOBER 25, 2006: With proper distribution of tithe or 'zakat', Brunei does not have to dig deep into its government coffer to finance its charitable endeavor to help the poor.
“Our tithe collections can overcome any problem. This is our specialty," His Majesty the Sultan and Yang Di-Pertuan of Negara Brunei Darussalam pointed out in his Hari Raya titah aired by RTB on the eve of the big day.
His Majesty also expressed his hope that the appropriate authorities responsible in managing the tithe will truly fulfill the responsibilities.
"The proper distribution of tithe undoubtedly can lead to a better image as well as blessings to the country", said the ruler.
Zakat is the fourth pillar in Islam and is mandatory for every Muslim who owns wealth on which zakat is payable.
Therefore, the titah of His Majesty, reiterating on the importance of having excellent ‘zakat’ collection and distribution system, is very timely in light of the increasing numbers of poor people in the country.
This year there are about 9968 poor people in the Brunei-Muara district, 3477 in Kuala Belait, 2315 in Tutong and 774, Temburong, according to the Islamic Religious Council at the Religious Affairs Ministry.
A total of 2325 convert heads of families are also eligible to receive their zakat this year.
It was estimated that about $10 million worth of tithe money should have already been distributed to all the eligible recipients this year before the Hari Raya
And this year a total of 283 ‘amils’ (zakat collectors) have been appointed to receive the zakat in 134 areas throughout the country.
The zakat received will be put in ‘Baitulmal’ where it will later be distributed to those in need, particularly those categorised as ‘fakir’ (exceptionally poor), the needy who needs assistance to supplement their income, newly converts, ‘musafir’ (travellers), those striving in the way of Allah, debtors (on the brink of financial disaster), slaves who desire to buy their freedom and the ‘amils’.
The issue at hand now, following the titah of His Majesty on zakat, is on the current system of zakat collection and its distribution.
Clearly His Majesty could see that while there is already a system in place there is still plenty of rooms for the relevant agencies to put in place, particularly the distribution system, a better one.
NDP couldn’t agree more with His Majesty.
NDP strongly believes that with an excellent zakat collection and distribution system in place, poverty in our oil-rich nation with its estimated USD 24,000 GDP per capita can be completely eradicated.
In line with this, NDP in its recently launched Manifesto has put forward a recommendation that our zakat collection and distribution system should be widen to include a program aimed at eradicating poverty in the country.
The program should not only stop at handing out the zakat to the recipients but should be extended to cover counseling, skill training and other support services to ensure these recipients would eventually be able to stand on their own feet and become a zakat payer instead.
Under the current system, the tithe will not be given to eligible recipients in lump sums, however, they will receive it every month over one year with an aim to encourage them to save.
According to the Islamic Religious Council a total of 3856 heads of families this year will each receive $1300, while 12,678 dependents will get $380 each.
Meanwhile a total of 2325 convert heads of families will each receive $300 and 781 dependents $220.
Our hope is that the recipients would spend the money wisely; on the other hand, is this system comprehensive enough or is it already geared towards uplifting the misfortunate from their state of poverty?
Last year the total numbers of recipients was estimated at about 25,000 or double the figure of recipients for this year.
One would wonder what happened to the other halves who are not receiving their ‘zakat’ this year.
Have they been taken out of the list because they are no longer categorized as the poor? |
