For decades, ZAKAT collection and spending has been very opaque due to almost complete lack of transparency and accountability. Many people who are in need of assistance are often denied any funds due to reasons such as being single mothers, where the child was born out of wedlock. There are also stories of states competing for ZAKAT funds from corporations by offering “divine” discounts to attract their funds to the particular state religious department.
ZAKAT is usually collected by mosques and channelled through to their respective religious departments. ZAKAT is a mandatory payment of a portion of a person’s wealth, which can be used for specific reasons:
1. Those living without means of livelihood (Al-Fuqarā’), the poor
2. Those who cannot meet their basic needs (Al-Masākīn), the needy
3. To zakat collectors (Al-Āmilīyn ‘Alihā)
4. To persuade those sympathetic to or expected to convert to Islam (Al-Mu’allafatu Qulūbuhum), recent converts to Islam, and potential allies in the cause of Islam
5. To free from slavery or servitude (Fir-Riqāb), slaves of Muslims who have or intend to free from their master by means of a kitabah contract
6. Those who have incurred overwhelming debts while attempting to satisfy their basic needs (Al-Ghārimīn), debtors who in pursuit of a worthy goal incurred a debt
7. Those fighting for a religious cause or a cause of God (Fī Sabīlillāh), or for Jihad in the way of Allah by means of pen, word, or sword or for Islamic warriors who fight against the unbelievers but are not salaried soldiers, and
8. Wayfarers, stranded travelers (Ibnu Al-Sabīl), travelers who are traveling with a worthy goal but cannot reach their destination without financial assistance.
Source : Murray Hunter
Nafas losing money everywhere, no different than poor farmers – director
A member of the National Farmers Organisation (Nafas) board of directors has come forward to express his frustrations with the group.
The statement was released amid the controversy surrounding the alleged suspension of its general manager, Faris Arriffin, following allegations of fund mismanagement.
In a lengthy post, Mohamad Zamir Ghazali described the farmers’ association’s main body as failing in everything it does.
PM: Let MACC probe Nafas over padi fertiliser cartel claims
Investigations into the National Farmers’ Organisation (Nafas) over alleged cartel involvement in the distribution and supply of padi fertiliser contracts should be left to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim said authorities have the right to conduct inquiries into any government agency.
“Whoever it is without exception, if there is a case, the MACC will make a move. If it’s a criminal case, the police will go in. Iit doesn’t matter what department or rank, government-linked companies or private,” he said at the National Hawkers and Petty Traders Carnival 2024 (HPPK2024).
On Tuesday, MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki confirmed that it is investigating a cartel involved in the distribution and supply of padi fertiliser contracts linked to a ministry, with a total value of RM1.8 billion.
Breathe new life into Nafas, plead padi farmers
Che Ani, who is a spokesman for padi farmers in the Mada area, lamented that the quality of agricultural input supplied by Nafas – which is subsidised by the government, has been dwindling over the years.
He said padi farmers have been receiving subsidised fertilisers and pesticides worth up to RM1,400 per hectare through Nafas.
“I had always suspected something was amiss with Nafas. I wondered how Nafas recorded losses despite being the sole entity appointed by the government to supply subsidised agricultural input to the padi farmers.
“There were suggestions for the supply to be done through an open tender system, but the politicians argued that Nafas and the farmers would lose out.
“Ironically, padi farmers are made to spend an additional RM500 to acquire supplementary fertiliser and pesticide for each hectare of padi field to produce a good quality crop,” claimed Che Ani, without naming the politicians he was referring to.
He said padi farmers had to put up with the rising cost of agricultural input and dwindling yield due to the devastating impact of climate change.
“Hopefully, the government will clean up Nafas and the farmers will be getting a better supply of fertiliser and pesticide subsidised by the government,” he said.
Meanwhile, National Padi Farmers Brotherhood Organisation (Pesawah) chairman Abdul Rashid Yob called for a restructuring of Nafas.
“The Farmers’ Organisation Authority (FOA) as the registrar body should review the entire supply chain in the padi cultivation industry,” he said when contacted.
Rashid stressed the need to revamp the distribution and supply of agricultural input to ensure justice for padi farmers nationwide, since 95 per cent of Nafas revenue is from the fertiliser supply.
“We hope the investigation carried out by the MACC will create an opportunity for Nafas to operate without disruption from outsiders,” he said.
On Oct 29, it was reported that the MACC was investigating a cartel involved in the distribution and supply of padi fertiliser contracts linked to a ministry, with a total value of RM1.8 billion.
A day later, it was reported that the MACC detained a marketing executive from a company linked to a padi fertiliser procurement project valued at RM60 million.
Following the arrest, the graft buster had arrested four more individuals, including two former general managers of a public organisation to assist the probe.
The Coverage Malaysia