UMT | Portal Rasmi Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

More effective, recipient-friendly zakat management

More effective, recipient-friendly zakat management

Wednesday, 17/02/2021

Share This Article :

Covid-19 infection rate has been on the rise, and therefore various sectors have been ordered to temporarily halt their operations. Many businesses subsequently have been forced to close permanently by the inability to bear operational costs, resulting in many workers losing their source of income. This has contributed to an increase in the number of poor families under the B40 group.  

As highlighted recently in several viral video clips, students from these families are faced with many challenges. As most live in rural areas, they have difficulty to continue their learning. They lack adequate facilities to participate in online classes.

In a proactive effort to promote Islamic values, Sultan Mahmud Islamic Centre (PISM) of UMT has offered these affected students financial assistance.

Ustazah Faizah Ismail, deputy director of PISM, said that the centre has provided financial assistance throughout 2020 to 4321 students.

“All kinds of tests have been faced by the country following Covid-19 pandemic, and the effect is also felt by students,” she said. “Alhamdulillah, PISM has transformed its student financial aid application system management.”

Student financial aid given to 4321 students in 2020 represents an increase of 150% from 2019 and amounted to RM805,250.00.00.

Ustazah Faizah said that the money came from zakat donation and Student Development and Welfare Fund (TPKP), with each contributing 75% and 25% respectively.

“We use My Ihsan platform to help students complete their application and conduct online interviews,” she said. “This transformation has helped speed up the application process.”

In addition to discussing zakat contribution with corporate bodies, PISM also provides several forms of zakat distribution.

PISM is actively promoting a programme called Wakaf Ilmu as another donation method to enable the public to donate in more than one way.

“This is a new initiative to help students,” Ustazah Faizah said. “This year, PISM is launching a special campaign with a theme Wakaf: The Road to Heaven, and it will increase its effort to encourage UMT staff and local communities to contribute to UMT Wakaf Ilmu Fund. The aim is to have UMT staff agree to monthly salary deduction, which may be as low as RM1.”

“PISM is committed to carrying out efforts to help poor UMT students through zakat donation. Paying zakat from ones’ income is a must for those who work and meet the conditions. Therefore, PISM is doubling its effort on the Tax to Zakat campaign to encourage UMT staff to pay zakat through monthly scheduled zakat deduction and subsequently return the portion (2/8) to UMT for distribution to students,” she said.

To date, through Wakaf Ilmu initiative, PISM has successfully provided various facilities for use by students and the public.

 

“Donations from UMT staff and local communities were used to cover 80% of the total purchasing cost of 13 water filters,” Ustazah Faizah said. “The first seven units were placed at seven strategic locations, which are Sultanah Nur Zahirah Library, Student Complex, Centre for Research and Field Services, Centralized Lecture Complex, Institute of Oceanography and Environment, Faculty of Ocean Engineering Technology and Informatic, and Faculty of Business, Economy, and Social Development. The other six will be placed at Faculty of Science and Marine Environment, Faculty of Fisheries and Food Science, Academic and Quality Management Centre, Residential Colleges, Old Lecture Complex, and Tengku Muhammad Ismail Sports Complex.”

She added that PISM also managed to provide two vans of the model Cam Kingo 3.0L with 15 passenger capacity to be used by UMT staff and local communities for relevant programmes.

“Of the van’s total purchasing cost, 45% came from donations by 40 UMT staffs who have made monthly salary deduction to Wakaf Ilmu Fund since five years ago,” Ustazah Faizah said. “The vans’ number plates, UMT2015 and UMT2017, were purposely selected to symbolize the establishment years of UMT Mosque and UMT Wakaf Ilmu Fund.”

 

For further information, please contact:

Ustazah Faizah Ismail
Deputy Director, Sultan Mahmud Islamic Centre
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu

Tel : 019-9389629

 

Published by:

Corporate Communication Centre
Universiti Malaysia Terengganu