We are proud President Yudhoyono as a role model has paid zakat through the official zakat collecting agency."Jakarta (ANTARA News) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid alms (zakat) on Wednesday through the National Zakat Agency (Baznas) in connection with the current holy month of Ramadhan.
Baznas board members led by its chairman, Didin Hafidhudin, were received by the President at the latter`s office to accept the alms that day.
Moslems who have the means are obliged to pay zakat.
Didin in a press statement praised the President`s action and hoped it would inspire others to do so.
"We are proud President Yudhoyono as a role model has paid zakat through the official zakat collecting agency. We hope his action would be followed by all people and message about zakat would spread wider across the country," he said.
Based on data zakat collected by Baznas in 2012 reached Rp2.1 trillion which was up almost 40 percent from the previous year which was recorded at Rp1.73 trillion, up 15.33 from 2010.
A total of 1.7 million people meanwhile have benefited from zakat distribution programs held by Baznas.
(Reporting by Panca Hari Prabowo/Uu.H-YH/B003)
Editor: Priyambodo RH
Copyright © ANTARA 2013
