Karawang Regency Government Implements ASN Salary Cuts For Zakat

Sekda Karawang Acep Jamhuri. (ANTARA/HO-Pemkab Karawang)

KARAWANG - The Government of Karawang Regency, West Java has automatically cut salaries or allowances for all state civil servants (ASN) by banks to be allocated as zakat.

"This provision for cutting salaries or ASN allowances is regulated in the Perbup (Regent Regulation) regarding the Management of Zakat, Infak and Alms of the Karawang ASN," said Secretary of the Karawang Regency Government, Acep Jamhuri, quoted by ANTARA, Monday, October 9.

He said that for the time being his party was intensively socializing the provisions of zakat, infaq and alms of ASN in the Karawang Regency Government.

According to Acep, the salary cut or honorarium was applied to explore the potential for zakat, infaq and alms from ASN, RSUD employees, Karawang Lung Hospital employees, and employees of Regional Owned Enterprises (BUMD) in Karawang.

Furthermore, zakat, infaq and alms of the ASN are managed transparently by the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) Karawang.

"So every ASN, employees of the Karawang Hospital as well as employees of the Lung Hospital and BUMD employees in accordance with the Perbup, are required to pay zakat through salaries and other allowances of 2.5 percent," said the Regional Secretary.

Technically, he said, the heads of regional apparatus organizations (OPD) submitted a notification letter to the bank, which in this case BJB, with a copy of the Karawang Regency Government.

In the letter, it was stated that the bank was welcome to cut 2.5 percent of the salaries or allowances of the employees which were automatically intended for zakat.

What if there are ASNs who object to cutting salaries or allowances for zakat?

Acep said that for ASNs who object to the policy of cutting salaries or allowances for zakat, they can report it to the bank. Furthermore, 2.5 percent of the salary or allowance has been deducted.

According to Acep, in encouraging development in Karawang, three fundings were used, namely from the APBD, central or provincial assistance, including CSR and community funds.

"This community is included in the category of people's funds that are more practical, efficient and simple. For example, there is an urgent handling of disasters, people's funds can be utilized," he said.

He said the Perbup was made to encourage the Karawang Baznas to have more quantity and quality in the management and distribution of zakat, so that the target of zakat at the end of this year which reaches around Rp. 1 billion can be realized.