Good Governance, Trust, Social Responsibility Essential For Cross-state Tithe Collection

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Cross-state tithe collection should be viewed from the perspective of good governance, trust and social responsibility to ensure that its benefits are channelled effectively to asnaf according to the needs of each state.

Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council Tithe Collection Centre (PPZ-MAIWP) chief executive officer Datuk Abdul Hakim Amir Osman said the laws and Islamic religious administration enactments of each state were not intended to create competition among tithe institutions, but to ensure that the collection and distribution were managed in an orderly, transparent and effective manner.

"Each state faces different socioeconomic challenges. This is why tithe collection is managed by authorised institutions, so that the funds received can be properly planned and allocated according to the actual needs of the local community.

"It is not about who collects the tithe, but how that trust is managed in the best possible manner for the benefit of the asnaf," he said in a statement today.

He said the Federal Territories faced increasingly complex urban poverty challenges, with some asnaf comprising people who were employed but still struggling with the high cost of living.

He said they included gig workers, food delivery riders, e-hailing drivers, contract workers and young couples living in People’s Housing Projects (PPR) who were forced to take on more than one job to support their families.

"Many see Kuala Lumpur as a city full of opportunities, but behind its development, many people are still working hard day and night, with some even taking on two or three jobs to make ends meet.

"They are not lacking in effort, but the high cost of living in the city presents far greater challenges," he said.

Abdul Hakim said job losses, health problems or emergencies could leave such groups dependent on tithe assistance, making every ringgit of tithe paid in the Federal Territories particularly significant to the local community.

To safeguard the trust placed in PPZ-MAIWP by tithe payers, he said the organisation also placed particular emphasis on governance and the quality of its collection channels, including the selection of agents and strategic partners.

He said every appointment underwent an assessment process to ensure that those representing PPZ-MAIWP fully understood the responsibilities and trust placed in them.

"This is not intended to restrict the role of any party, but to ensure that the payer experience, collection process and management of tithe funds remain at a standard that inspires public confidence.

"People are not merely paying tithe; they are entrusting their money to us. That trust must be safeguarded through a transparent, auditable system that complies with the law. That is why PPZ-MAIWP is extremely careful when appointing collection agents," he said.

Abdul Hakim said strengthening local tithe institutions did not mean overlooking the needs of Muslims in other states, but rather ensuring that each state had the capacity to safeguard the welfare of the communities under its respective responsibility.

He therefore urged Muslims in the Federal Territories to continue paying tithe through legitimate and official channels to ensure that the funds were managed in an orderly, transparent and effective manner.

"If every state safeguards the trust of its community well, the country's overall tithe ecosystem will become stronger. We want payers to have confidence that their tithe is managed properly and that its benefits reach those in need," he said.

-- BERNAMA