This (zakat potential) exceeds the existing social assistance funds, exceeds the total assistance fund, unexpected expenditure in the regional budget (APBD)
Jakarta (ANTARA) - Home Affairs Minister Muhammad Tito Karnavian has asked regional governments to optimize the role of the National Alms Agency (Baznas) in supporting poverty eradication programs in Indonesia.

If all regional governments optimize the role of Baznas by convincing people to pay zakat (alms), poverty eradication efforts can be maximized because the amount of zakat funds would exceed social assistance funds, he said.

"This (zakat potential) exceeds the existing social assistance funds, exceeds the total assistance fund, unexpected expenditure in the regional budget (APBD)," he said in a written statement received on Tuesday.

He made the statement while chairing the Coordination Meeting for Regional Inflation Control at the headquarters of the Home Affairs Ministry here on Monday (April 10, 2023).

Karnavian explained that zakat has a big potential to support poverty eradication programs; thus, it must be optimally utilized.

The large potential of zakat needs to be used to help low-income people or eligible zakat beneficiaries to meet their needs, he said.

The minister also urged all regional heads to establish cooperation with Baznas in managing zakat funds. That way, he said, the zakat that Baznas has accepted can be distributed promptly to eligible beneficiaries.

According to the minister, there are several indicators for the mapping of zakat potentials.

"There are several indicators for the mapping of zakat potentials, such as agricultural zakat, deposit zakat, corporate zakat, and income zakat, including salaries (from working) as state officials," he expounded.

Earlier, the secretary of the Directorate General of Islamic Community Guidance at the Ministry of Religious Affairs, Muhammad Adib, said that the decline in the poverty rate is an indicator of the success of zakat.
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Zakat, infaq (voluntary charity), and sadaqah (simple alms) funds have very vast potential, he highlighted. If those funds are managed and distributed well, accountably, and are right on target, they can help improve the welfare of the community.

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Translator: Tri Meilani, Raka Adji
Editor: Sri Haryati
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