Kota Kinabalu: Bank Kerjasama Rakyat Malaysia Berhad (Bank Rakyat) has handed over more than RM1.7 million in business zakat for 2024 to the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis).
Assistant Minister to the Chief Minister (Religious Affairs) Datuk Ruslan Muharam said the zakat amounting to RM1,727,120 marked an increase compared to RM1,352,340 in the previous year.
“This increase clearly demonstrates that Bank Rakyat’s business continues to grow, thereby benefiting the eight categories of asnaf, namely the poor (39.15 per cent), the needy (11.37pc), zakat administrators or amil (8.17pc), new converts (mualaf, 2.79pc), those in bondage (al-Riqab, 18.77pc), debtors (gharimin, 0.7pc), wayfarers (ibnu sabil, 0.64pc) and those striving in the path of Allah (fisabilillah, 18.35pc).
“We also believe that this zakat will help those affected by disasters in Sabah,” he said when met after Bank Rakyat’s 2024 Business Zakat Handover Ceremony at Istana Seri Kinabalu here Thursday.
Head of State Tun Musa Aman witnessed the handover ceremony.
Ruslan further urged more traders and entrepreneurs to fulfil their zakat obligations so that those in need can be assisted collectively.
“These collections will also be channelled towards education, particularly for the children of asnaf pursuing higher studies, to secure their families’ future,” he explained.
The zakat contribution was presented by Bank Rakyat CEO Ahmad Shahril Mohd Sharif to Muis CEO Datuk Ramlan Awang Ali.
