Pressure mounts on duo to answer zakat abuse

Dec 28: Pressure is mounting on minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom and Federal Territory Religious Department (JAWI) director general Che Mat Ali over the duo's use of zakat funds to pay for legal fees.
 
L-R: Che Mat Ali and Jamil Khir Baharom

In June this year, an admission by deputy minister in the PM's Department Mashitah Ibrahim that some RM32,000 from zakat funds was paid towards legal fees involving the duo prompted Machang member of parliament Saifuddin Nasution to question the ease in which zakat money could be abused. The matter was later brought to the Public Accounts Committee.
The legal fees pertained to a suit by PKR de-facto leader Anwar Ibrahim against Khir and Che Mat for delaying action over his application on qazaf (false accusation of illicit sex according to Shariah) against Saiful Bukhari Azlan, whose claim of being sodomised resulted in the ongoing sodomy trial.

Last November, the Auditor-General confirmed that the duo, alongside Shariah chief prosecutor Shamsuddin Hussain had taken out RM63,650 from zakat funds to pay law firm Zainul Rijal Talha & Amir for legal services rendered in the suit.

The Auditor-General also stated that in January 2010, Che Mat had approved RM31,500 to be paid from zakat funds as the government's grant had yet to be released. Later that year in April, another RM32,150 from zakat money was used by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), of which Che Mat was the secretary, to settle the legal bill.

Although MAIWP received the government's grant in June 2010, the repayment to the zakat account was only done in December 2010.

"Is it that easy for MAIWP to use zakat money paid by Muslims and specified for use strictly for those deserving zakat?" asked PKR communications director Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad in a statement today.
'Double standard'
Earlier, former city Criminal Investigation Department chief Mat Zain Ibrahim in an open letter to inspector general of police Ismail Omar accused the authorities of practising 'double-standard' in punishing those who abused zakat funds.

Mat Zain was referring to one Redzuan Mohd Said, a former Imam from Johor, who was sentenced to four years' jail and whippings for misappropriation of zakat funds amounting to RM19,510.

"Is there any difference between an ordinary amil (zakat collector) who commits a crime, and a minister and director general of JAWI?" asked Nik Nazmi.

He urged Jamil Khir "not to keep mum" and to immediately come clean with an explanation to Muslims.

Zakat, a tax calculated annually and imposed on eligible Muslims, is the third pillar in Islam and often mentioned alongside Prayer and Fasting in the Qur'an.

According to Zakat laws in Islam, the eight categories deserving help from the fund are (1) destitutes, (2) those in poverty, (3) those tasked with zakat collection, (4) those who embraced Islam and needing help, (5) bonded slaves, (6) those who borrowed for basic needs and unable to pay such debts, (7) those who fight in jihad, and (8) those who are stranded during a journey.