TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo along with state officials, ministers, and working cabinet members have paid zakat (alms) today to the National Alms Agency (Baznas) at the State Palace, Jakarta.
“As a Muslim, paying zakat is implementing the beauty of Islam as a religion that is rahmatan lil alamin [a blessing and mercy to the universe],” said Jokowi in his speech.
Read: Jokowi: Bylaw on Zakat for Muslim Civil Servants Not Yet Final
Jokowi said paying zakat was an act of devotion by sharing prosperity, brotherhood, and happiness to mustahiq (zakat recipients or the needy) in the Ramadan month. He hoped the zakat would complement fasting and loyalty to God Allah SWT.
Baznas, in tandem with national lender BRI Syariah, have opened 30 counters for zakat payment. President Jokowi and Vice President Jusuf Kalla paid their zakat at counter 3 and 4 worth Rp50 million. House of Representatives (DPR) speaker Bambang Soesatyo also paid Rp50 million for zakat.
Read: Potential of National Zakat Reaches Rp217 Trillion
Baznas head Bambang Soedibyo said its regional agency established the program of zakat payment simultaneously for regional heads, regional working units (SKPD) heads, and region-owned enterprises (BUMD).
According to Bambang, zakat has further contributed to and synergized with the government’s programs in alleviating poverty. He mentioned the Center for Strategic Studies at Baznas in 2017 showed the distribution and empowerment of zakat had successfully increased the income of the needy by 27 percent per year.
FRISKI RIANA