JAKARTA - The National Board of Zakar (BAZNAS) has just initiated zakat services for the President, Vice-President and Working Cabinet Ministers at the Government Palace, during Ramadan 1440 H. This idea was also welcomed by the Minister of State Secretariat, Pratikno.

BAZNAS Chaiman, Bambang Sudibyo, conveyed this idea during an audience held with the Minister of State Secretary at the Office of the Presidential Secretariat, Jakarta, on Wednesday (10/4). In the audience, Bambang conveyed the readiness of BAZNAS to serve state officials in paying their zakat.

"BAZNAS is ready to provide the best service for the muzaki at the Government Palace. Towards this Ramadhan, BAZNAS continuously improve zakat payment services so that Muzaki can feel easier and more comfortable in paying zakat ", said Bambang said on Wednesday (10/4).

Like the last Ramadan, leaders of state institutions, leaders of State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), and echelon I officials of Ministries and Institutions (K/L), are also planned to participate in performing their zakat together with the president.

BAZNAS prepares more than 10 zakat counters, using cash payment method and bank transfer method through Electronic Data Capture (EDC) tools. BAZNAS has also sent a letter of appeal to all BAZNAS province in order to provide zakat payment services to their respective regional heads in the month of Ramadan.

He is grateful that the zakat payments of these state officials have continued to be a tradition since 2016, thus becoming a role model for Indonesian community. "The president and officials at the central level perform their zakat through BAZNAS, as a form of uswatun hasanah of the Muslim leaders in fulfilling their obligations," Bambang said.

No less important, BAZNAS also has programs for zakat distribution and utilization, to channel the zakat funds collected. This programs cover various fields of needs such as economics, health, education, humanity and social programs.

In the event of zakat payment services in this palace, BAZNAS will also report the national zakat management under the coordination of BAZNAS to President Joko Widodo as in accordance with the Act No. 23 of 2011 concerning Zakat Management.

"BAZNAS maintains its performance transparency by consistently publish our activities to the public through mass media, and we report it to the President every year," said Bambang.

 

source: republika.co.id