Mohd Arifin: Federal, state GLCs must pay business zakat

KOTA KINABALU, Oct 29 -- All federal and state government-linked companies (GLC) in Sabah are urged to pay business zakat to the Sabah Zakat Centre (PZS) to help more people affected by COVID-19 in the state.

Sabah Special Functions Minister Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif said a larger funds would enable more target groups to be given assistance as well as expanding further the distribution of aid.

"Under the COVID-19 Special Assistance Programme, PZS has channelled assistance to the Sabah State Health Department, Cluster hospitals, COVID-19 State Disaster Management Committee, mosques, zakat recipients and frontliners.

“I urge GLCs including the federal GLCs operating in Sabah to come forward and pay their business zakat to PZS.

"This is important so that we can help the target groups and also widen the assistance we provide," he told reporters after launching the Maulidur Rasul Celebration Programmes at Wisma Majlis Ugama Islam Sabah, (MUIS) here, today.

Earlier, Mohd Arifin launched four programes in conjunction with this year's celebration, namely, Maulidur Rasul Segment on radio, Sabah Islamic Religious Affairs Department (JHEAINS) Prihatin programme, Nusantara Islamic Calligraphy (Khat) Competition and Borneo Jawi Calligraphy (Khat) Competition.

Mohd Arifin said the Nusantara Islamic Calligraphy (Khat) Competition, held for the fifth time this year, was open to all ASEAN countries, while the Borneo Jawi Calligraphy (Khat) Competition, which was held for the first time, was open to Sabah, Sarawak and Brunei.

He said the two competitions were organised by MUIS and JHEAINS with the aim of upholding calligraphy and Jawi writing in Sabah, Borneo and the entire archipelago.

“In addition, the JHEAINS Prihatin Programme allocates RM400,000 to be distributed to 36 districts in Sabah. For this programme, we use the allocation that should have been been used for the Maulidur Rasul celebration in all districts.

"It (this allocation) is to be contributed to those who are identified as in dire need of aid in all the districts," he said, adding, no procession was held to celebrate Maulidur Rasul at the state and district levels in compliance with instructions and standard operating procedures set by the authorities.

-- BERNAMA