Kota Kinabalu: The Sabah Zakat and Fitrah Division will be further strengthened by expanding branches at the district level to collect zakat from the agricultural sector in the state.
The Minister responsible for Islamic affairs in Sabah, Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, said his party welcomes the proposal submitted by Bugaya Assemblyman Jamil Hamzah regarding zakat in the agricultural sector.
“We will expand and broaden the branches of the Sabah Islamic Religious Council (Muis) zakat centre. So far, we have established them in major towns including Kota Marudu, Tawau, Sandakan, Beaufort, Keningau, and Lahad Datu. InsyaAllah, we will expand further.
“The purpose is, as suggested earlier, to increase awareness among people to pay zakat and help the relevant asnaf (beneficiaries).
“We indeed have plans this year to open several more branches, and the response to this matter has been very good and encouraging. We will promote it further with various programmes in the districts,” he said.
Mohd Arifin, who is also State Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, said after tabling the Bill to amend the Zakat and Fitrah Enactment 1993 in the State Legislative Assembly sitting on Thursday.
Mohd Arifin, when tabling the Bill, said the amendment to the enactment involves only two clauses.
“As usual, Clause 1 of this Bill provides for the short title and commencement of this Bill.
“Clause 2 aims to amend subsection 2(1) regarding definitions in the parent Enactment by replacing the definition of ‘Court’ with the definition of Syariah Court established under the Syariah Courts Enactment 2024.
“In the definition of ‘Council’, by replacing the words ‘Administration of Islamic Law Enactment 1992’ with the words ‘Sabah State Islamic Religious Council Enactment 2004 [No. 5 of 2004]’.
“In the definition of ‘Secretary’, by replacing the words ‘Administration of Islamic Law Enactment 1992’ with the words ‘Sabah State Islamic Religious Council Enactment 2004’,” he said.
Meanwhile, Jamil, who participated in debating the Bill, suggested that zakat collection be further expanded in the agricultural sector in the state.
“Many of our community who are farmers have oil palm plantations but do not pay agricultural zakat.
“So there we might have a lot of loss, that is, the worship is not carried out, doing business and farming but the worship of zakat is neglected.
“My purpose in raising this matter is so that our community implements the worship of zakat,” he said.
Previously, the amendment to the Zakat and Fitrah Enactment 1993 and the amendment to the Waqf Enactment (Sabah State) 2018 which were presented were unanimously approved through a voice vote in this State Legislative Assembly sitting.
