Jakarta (ANTARA) - Vice President Ma'ruf Amin has asked the National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) to prioritize the extremely poor in the distribution of zakat (alms) assistance.

"I urge Baznas to prioritize and cover the extremely poor people through (effective and efficient) distribution," the Vice President said in a virtual speech on the 22nd anniversary of the agency here on Tuesday.

So far, the agency has contributed to improving people's welfare by distributing aid to the community, he noted.

"Baznas has also participated in conducting the government's important mission of improving people's welfare," he said.

Amin then urged the agency to consistently build public trust so as to encourage more people to pay their zakat so that it could be shared with beneficiaries.

At the end of his speech, the Vice President congratulated the agency and said he expected it to continuously manage national zakat in a professional manner.

"This noble task of managing zakat, infaq and charity, which are collected on a national scale, should consistently be conducted in a trustworthy and professional manner. Happy 22nd anniversary to Baznas," he remarked.

Baznas chairperson Noor Achmad lauded the agency's improvement, saying it was owed to the collaboration of many stakeholders, such as its members, community organizations, as well as media, all of whom took part in contributing to the agency's progress.

"We have to be honest that Baznas is not big because of anyone (in particular), but because it was the work of all (stakeholders), from the beginning until now," he said.

"Ranging from mass organizations to the journalists, they are the forces, one unified as one, so that Baznas can become as big as it is today," he added.

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Translator: Rangga Pandu A J, Mecca Yumna
Editor: Sri Haryati
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