Ketum Muhammadiyah Calls Zakat For Free Nutritious Eating Needs To Be Discussed

Chairman of the Muhammadiyah Central Executive Board (PP) Haedar Nashir said that the proposal to use zakat for the Free Nutrition Food (MBG) program still needs further discussion.

"It is better to discuss it with the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas), then zakat institutions managed by community organizations (ormas)," he said when met after attending Tanwir 1 Aisyiyah as reported by ANTARA, Wednesday, January 15.

Haedar explained, if it is needed for the progress of the nation, then zakat for MBG is actually not a problem, but must continue to be discussed regarding its management because it involves accountability of people's funds.

"For the nation, there is no problem, but the management and achievements must be discussed, because Baznas has its own regulations for the funds used, because they involve the accountability of the people's funds," he said.

According to him, zakat for MBG is not enough just to implement ideas and then implement them without involving comprehensive talks or studies.

"It needs to be discussed whether our organizations that have competence are able to manage them well," he said.

Haedar also said that MBG as President Prabowo Subianto's flagship program has achievements that need to be considered, namely growing Indonesian children who are healthier, more nutritious, and further away, related to programs that are fostering the health of the nation, as well as education.

"In addition, growing food sovereignty, so you have to go upstream. Indonesia has triumphed in terms of food self-sufficiency, now is the time for the Free Nutrition Food program to foster this sovereignty," he said.

Previously, the Chairman of the DPD Sultan B Najamudin suggested that the government open up opportunities for financing the Free Nutrition Food Program through ZIS funds, because it assessed that the DNA (molecule chain containing genetic material) of Indonesians has the nature of mutual cooperation.

"I still see that there is DNA from our country, DNA from the Indonesian people is generous, mutual cooperation. So, why don't we take advantage of this too?" said the Sultan.

In addition to the value of mutual cooperation, he views that financing the MBG Program through zakat can also help ease the government's budget to meet the budget for the program.