"As usual, I have met my obligation to pay tithes in the holy month of Ramadan. I paid both zakat fitrah and income zakat," the president said. Zakat fitrah is a tithe in form of rice or money paid toward the end of the fasting month. Income zakat (zakat maal) is a tithe usually paid by rich people.
According to the head of state, he paid Rp1,496,250 as zakat fitrah on behalf of 21 people, including the members of his nuclear family and his mother Siti Habibah as well as those working for his household and living at his house. The president also paid Rp21,819,115 as zakat maal.
After paying the tithes, the president gave directives to Baznas Chairman Didin Hafidhuddin at his house. Also on hand on the occasion were other Baznas executives -- Teten Kustiawan, Husein Ibrahim, Naharus Surur, Achmad Subianto and Ahmad Mukhlis Yusuf.
Yudhoyono usually pays tithes at the his office in Jakarta but this year it was done at his home because he had just arrived from a five-day Ramadan safari in West Java and Central Java.
(T.D013/Uu.KR-LWA/HAJM/O001)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2011
