ACT's Response To Allegedly Misappropriating Funds, BAZNAS: Don't Panic, We Are Transparent

President Joko Widodo when handing over zakat to Baznas, 12 April 2022 (Photo: BPMI Setpres/Lukas)

JAKARTA - The National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) asked the public to continue to spread kindness and not to get involved in a case that happened to one of the humanitarian institutions.

BAZNAS as a non-structural government agency tasked with managing zakat, infaq and alms funds, will continue to provide zakat services so that they are safe and on target.

"BAZNAS refers to 3A as a pillar of its institutional governance, including Safe Syar'i, Safe Regulations, and Safe NKRI. We always strive to maintain public trust, because it is the main key to the success of various programs launched by BAZNAS for the welfare of the people," said Main Secretary of BAZNAS, Dr. Ahmad Zayadi, MPd in Jakarta, Wednesday 6 July quoted from the official website of the Ministry of Religion.

Since its establishment in 2001 to 2021, the financial reports of the National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS) have always received the WTP (Unqualified) predicate from the Public Accounting Firm (KAP) AR Utomo. WTP opinion is the highest in the audit of financial statements from independent auditors of KAP.

"This financial report audit is one of BAZNAS' efforts to continue to maintain public trust. We want the public to be calm and not panic, that BAZNAS as an institution appointed by the government to manage zakat, infaq and alms funds, is always transparent in managing people's funds. BAZNAS financial reports can also be seen on the official BAZNAS.go.id website," said Zayadi.

Then in 2021, BAZNAS has again received the ISO 37001: 2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certification within the scope of the BAZNAS Operations Directorate. This is BAZNAS's effort to implement ISO Anti-Bribery to encourage honest, accountable and transparent zakat management.

"This SNI ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System Certificate ensures that zakat management at BAZNAS is carried out in an accountable and transparent manner and prevents corruption and anti-bribery within the RI BAZNAS institution," he said.

In addition to the Operations Directorate, BAZNAS has also expanded the scope of the SNI ISO 37001:2016 Anti-Bribery Management System certification to the Directorate of Distribution and Utilization, the Directorate of ZIS and DSKL Collection, the Secretariat of Baznas Non-ASN, and the Directorate of Compliance and Internal Audit.

These efforts also made BAZNAS able to win the 2021 Public Information Openness Award (KIP) with the title "Towards Informative" and managed to collect 87.11 points. This award shows the commitment of BAZNAS in its efforts to continue to build public trust.

Transparency efforts are also carried out by BAZNAS RI down to the provincial and district/city levels. BAZNAS RI continues to encourage BAZNAS at the provincial and district/city levels as well as Amil Zakat Institutions (LAZ) throughout Indonesia, to implement orderly financial management in accordance with the rules.

"As a coordinator, BAZNAS wants to always ensure that the 3A and transparency principles run well, even to the provincial and district/city levels. We hope that the community will continue to walk hand in hand with BAZNAS to help others, and please always supervise BAZNAS in managing people's funds so that they continue to be trustworthy and can achieve the vision as the main institution for the welfare of the people," concluded Zayadi.