House Of Representatives Commission VIII: Proposed Use Of Zakat For MBG Program Only Triggers New Polemics

JAKARTA - Member of Commission VIII DPR RI from the PKB faction, Maman Imanul Haq, assessed that the proposal to use zakat for the Free Nutrition Eating Program (MBG) only triggers new polemics.

According to Maman, stakeholders should focus on perfecting the management of the MBG program, which is considered to be still lacking.

"After more than a week of running, the MBG program is considered to still have many shortcomings, both from the variety of menus and the nutritional balance of each dish. All stakeholders should focus on perfecting program implementation, not even triggering a new polemic that does not need to be like making use of zakat for MBG because it is neither the foundation of syar'i nor the sociology," said Maman, Friday, January 17.

As is known, the proposal to use zakat for the MBG program was first submitted by the Chairman of the DPD RI, Sutan B Najamudin. This proposal aims to increase involvement in programs that are the flagship of President Prabowo Subianto's administration.

However, Maman explained, the allocation of zakat funds is strictly regulated in Islamic law. According to him, zakat funds are used to support eight asnaf (groups) according to the Shari'a provisions.

The eight asnaf are poor, poor, amir, musilaf, people who are in debt, slaves who want to liberate themselves, ibnu sabil and fisabililah.

"This provision is also strengthened by Law Number 23/2011 concerning Zakat Management. So it cannot be used haphazardly," explained the PKB legislator.

In addition, said Maman, zakat also has a different system because it has been regulated sharia by religion. He considered that the use of zakat funds should still be focused on programs that are more specific to empower groups receiving zakat.

For example, helping the poor and poor, or empowering mustahik so that they can switch to muzakki (zakki givers zakat).

"The use of zakat for programs that are general in nature and involve all people who do not belong to the category of zakat recipients, violates the principles of zakat management," said Maman.

This, added Maman, is different from the MBG program, which is a government program that is systematically designed and has been budgeted at IDR 71 trillion from the State Revenue and Expenditure Budget (APBN).

Maman emphasized that the APBN comes from more appropriate financing for general programs and targeting the wider community, including health programs and nutrition improvement.

"So there is no need to use zakat funds," he concluded.