The chairperson of the Federal Territories Zakat Centre (PPZ-MAIWP) has said Malaysian Muslims would be committing a sin by giving alms, or the Islamic act of zakat, directly to the poor, and not through federally-mandated agencies (such as his own).
Chairperson Che Mat Che Ali said that Muslims in Malaysia would be more prone to give alms – or at least, more alms – to “cute widows” and “eloquent speakers”, instead of those who are truly in need.
“You have to pay (the zakat) to the leaders. But some pay this way (directly to the needy), it is valid but sinful.” Che Mat told a press conference in KL, as quoted by The Malaysian Insider‘s Anisah Shukry.
He stressed that paying alms to government-controlled zakat collection centres would ensure that the funds would be distributed equally and fairly to those who really needed it.
“(With direct payment), if there are five people there, someone would give zakat to just those five people. If we see someone is eloquent, we see that the person is a rather cute widow, we give them lots of zakat.
“When in truth, there are so many more people we are managing through our Baitulmal, through our database system.”
He added that directly giving alms would result in only the most appealing or the loudest receiving aid, while those who were not as adept at asking for help would be deprived of alms.
“This often happens, injustice in terms of distribution. So just hand the money over to the government. We don’t help just a few, but all who need it. Everyone gets it.”
Che Mat also said the Malaysian government’s system of zakat collection and distribution was “the best”, and that Malaysian Muslims should not seek out the needy on their own.
