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UUM Gives Special Focus On Yearly Zakat Collection
"This year, I hope the zakat collection will increase from the previous year and will continue to increase from year to year in line with the increment we receive from our salaries each year," said the Vice Chancellor, Prof. Dr. Ahmad Bashawir Abdul Ghani at a ceremony which marked the launching of the Zakat collection and presentation of letters of promotion at the Foyer of the Chancellery yesterday.
According to him, as capable Muslims, zakat fitrah (tithes) is a duty which obliges all the people who are obligated to pay, to do so at a very minimal rate at the arrival of the holy month of Ramadan until the morning of Shawwal.
Realising this fact, the university will focus on carrying out the collection of zakat fitrah (tithes) at all departments and last year alone UUM managed to collect zakat fitrah (tithes) amounting to MYR50,000 and presented it to the Kubang Pasu District Zakat Board for collection and then redistributed in the same year.
"Because of zakat fitrah (tithes), the poor can also celebrate the upcoming Aidilfitri joyously, especially for the children when they can buy new clothes and delicious food.
"In this regard, I urge all UUM members of staff pay zakat fitrah (tithes) to authorized amil and hopefully our fasting practices will be complete with the existence of zakat fitrah (tithes) issued later," he said.
The Vice-Chancellor reiterated that at the university, zakat contributions has helped many less fortunate students and he expressed hopes that more conglomerates in Malaysia would be able to pay their zakat so that universities could channel it (tithes) to poor and new students alike, as well as members of staff who are regarded as asnaf.
At the function, the Vice-Chancellor received zakat contributions valued at MYR55,000 from Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad which was presented by the Chairman of the Independent Board of Directors, Dato' Zamani Abdul Ghani.
In addition, the Vice-Chancellor also presented letters of promotion to 20 academic staff comprising Professor VK7, 12 Assoc. Prof. (DS54), four senior lecturers (DS52) and three language instructors (DG44).