Ministry Of Religion Believes If Zakat Is Optimally Managed, There Will Be No Poor People

Director General of Islamic Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religion Kamaruddin Amin. (ANTARA/HO-Kemenag)

JAKARTA - Director General of Islamic Community Guidance of the Ministry of Religion (Kemenag) Kamaruddin Amin believes that if Zakat, Infak, and Sedekah (ZIS) funds are able to be absorbed and managed optimally, then there will be no more poor people in Indonesia.

"There should be no poor people in Indonesia, if we all give good zakat," said Kamaruddin as quoted by ANTARA, Tuesday, July 16.

Kamaruddin is of the view that the collection and distribution of zakat can be one of the instruments in alleviating poverty in Indonesia.

According to him, the potential for zakat in Indonesia reaches IDR 400 trillion per year. However, the zakat that has been collected at this time has only reached IDR 31 trillion per year.

Zakat compiled and managed by Baznas and LAZ is distributed into the form of productive empowerment. Baznas for example, the non-structural philanthropic institution has various community empowerment programs.

Baznas provides capital, training, and assistance to the poor through Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). Through these efforts, underprivileged people are expected to improve their economy.

"By involving Baznas and LAZdi throughout Indonesia, zakat will become an instrument to alleviate poverty in Indonesia," said Kamaruddin.

Previously, Vice President Ma'ruf Amin asked that the distribution of zakat be right on target, especially in programs related to poverty alleviation.

"Make sure the distribution of zakat is right on target and right on benefits with an accurate database, especially in programs related to poverty alleviation," said the Vice President.

The vice president also asked for the benefit of zakat in poverty alleviation efforts not only directed at overcoming zakat (recipients of zakat) from the extreme poverty line, but also empowering Badminton to transform into muzakki (payers of zakat).

"The distribution of zakat needs to be encouraged to be more productive and provide sustainable benefits for the community through the community's economic empowerment program, such as providing micro and small business capital," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.