The increased amount will enable the state government to help more poor and needy people, said Mentri Besar Datuk Abdul Ghani Othman.
“Four or five years ago, the state collected about RM40mil in tithe, mostly from individual Muslims.
“Of late, there seems to be an increase in awareness among companies on the obligation to pay the zakat, and this has helped increase our collection,” Abdul Ghani said after presenting Hari Raya aid to more than 600 people at Kampung Tanjung Gading near here on Monday.
Abdul Ghani, accompanied by his wife Datin Paduka Prof Jamilah Ariffin, said the tithe collection would be distributed among deserving groups under Islamic law.
Apart from providing financial aid to the poor, the tithe collection would also be used to construct houses and repair damaged homes.
He added the state, with some 2,000 poor families, would be outlining several measures to totally eradicate extreme poverty by 2010.
On Ramadan, Abdul Ghani said Muslims in the state had a unique culture of reciting the Quran every night after the Terawih prayers held at mosques or surau.
He said the state planned to post qualified people who were proficient in Arabicto all districts.
SOURCE: THE STAR, SEPTEMBER 16, 2009
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