TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) has launched digital zakat (alms) payment system and online zakat calculator, in cooperation with MatahariMall.com.
“Baznas don’t want to get left behind in pursuit of innovation. Indonesia has 255 million population, but curiously, there are 300 million cell phones [in active use]. Why don’t we [serve zakat collection] via the digital world?” Baznas collection, communication and information coordinator Arifin Purwakananta said in Jakarta yesterday.
Arifin wishes to ease the process of paying zakat in Indonesia. He realizes that collaboration with e-commerce company MatahariMall.com will help Baznas reach its objectives: transparency and accountability. The cooperation will also be developed in the collection of infaq, shadaqah and qurban.
“Last year, we have a similar program: Amal Fitri. But we have been searching for a more scalable one at the national level. Apparently, we have met our match: Baznas,” MatahariMall.com CEO Hadi Wenas says. Hadi claims that his company will not seek to profit from the program.
Earlier last year, Baznas launched the Indonesia Digital Zakat initiative through online zakat collection which is integrated into a management system known as SiMBA. The process begun with the digitalization of nationwide zakat data adopted simultaneously in 34 provinces in Indonesia.
AGHNI ADI | ALI HIDAYAT
