MASZLEE HOPES BOOKS FROM ZAKAT COLLECTION CAN BE DISTRIBUTED TO NEEDY NON-MUSLIM AS WELL

Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik launched the Zakat Semarak Ilmu Program in Putrajaya today with Secretary-General of Education Ministry Datuk Dr Mohd Gazali Abas (2nd, right) and Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council Zakat Collection (PPZ-MAIWP) Chairman Che Mat Che Ali (right)

PUTRAJAYA: Education Minister Dr Maszlee Malik hopes that the distribution of books purchased through zakat collection under the Zakat Semarak Ilmu programme could one day include the non-Muslims in the asnaf (those who qualify as zakat recipients) group.

Asnaf is a segment of people, consisting of eight sub-segments, who are qualified to receive zakat.

Speaking at the launch of the Zakat Semarak Ilmu programme, here, today, Dr Maszlee recalled how he had asked for books to be given to asnaf students through zakat last year.

"Now we have started in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur, maybe after this we can go to other states; Selangor, Johor, Negri Sembilan, Melaka and every state in Malaysia," he said.

The Zakat Semarak Ilmu Programme was organised by the Zakat Collection Centre of the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (PPZ-MAIWP) and the Malaysian Institute of Translation and Books (ITBM).

The programme gathers zakat from employees in the Education Ministry and ITBM where the collection would be used to buy books for asnaf students in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

On the programme's potential, Dr Maszlee expressed hope that it could be expanded to ensure all asnaf students in the country would be able to enjoy its benefits.

“After that, maybe we can spread the help to, not only the Muslim asnaf, but also the non-Muslim asnaf group.

“So, I hope ITBM can cooperate with the Zakat (Collection Centre) and then Zakat can give help to the non-Muslims from the B40 group so as to help empower their education for the sake of the country’s development," he said.

"I met with my constituents in Simpang Renggam and when we talked about the B40 group, it involves all races and religions and the same goes in helping through giving zakat, the spirit of giving zakat is to help even the non-Muslims," he said, referring to the Zakat Semarak Ilmu programme.

This year, the programme managed to garner RM700,000, for 4,600 asnaf students in Putrajaya and Kuala Lumpur.

According to Dr Maszlee, the programme was also in line with the #MalaysiaReads initiative as well as his ministry’s efforts in ensuring the lives of B40 families would be improved through education.

“Islam stresses on education in order for its followers to gain benefits from this world and the hereafter and thus, I am happy that the zakat collected has managed to help asnaf students.

“I hope all of us will continue to invest in education which will ensure the country’s future.

“For the youths, I hope you will be eager to learn all the knowledge hidden in books because you are what you read,” he said.

Of the total zakat collected, RM350,000 was contributed by the ministry through MAIWP, RM50,000 contributed by PPZ-MAIWP and the remaining RM300,000 contributed by the ministry through ITBM.

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