Answer to Oral Question PL257

QUESTION

Yang Berhormat Awang Haji Mohamad Danial @ Tekpin bin Ya'akub

YANG BERHORMAT AWANG HAJI MOHAMAD DANIAL @ TEKPIN BIN YA'AKUB asks the MENTERI HAL EHWAL UGAMA to state whether the Ministry is planning to introduce an online method such as a zakat collection system through direct payment and online payment, which receives encouraging response every year? What are the efforts and plans to expand this method to the public?

ANSWER

Yang Berhormat Menteri Hal Ehwal Ugama

Online Zakat Fitrah collection is one of the initiatives implemented by the Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama as an effort to support the Digital Transformation Plan and is also in line with the needs of current digital technological developments. Beginning in 2021, the Majlis Ugama Islam Brunei (MUIB) introduced online zakat fitrah collection through the Islamic banking platforms of Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam (BIBD) and Perbadanan Tabung Amanah Islam Brunei (TAIB), and through the applications of the telecommunications companies Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd. (DST), Progresif Sdn Bhd., and subsequently followed by Imagine Sdn. Bhd. in the following years, as service providers for online fitrah payment for their respective customers to become Amil Majlis Ugama Islam.

Likewise, at its Fifth (V) Meeting for the Year 1445H/2024M on 10 June 2024, MUIB decided to agree that the online Zakat Harta payment service for DST be implemented according to the conditions and regulations set for it.

From the records of total zakat fitrah proceeds for the year 2024, an amount of $328,866.63 in zakat fitrah was collected online. This amount shows a significant increase since it was first introduced in 2012 with total online collection amounting to $247,432.57. Likewise, online zakat fitrah collection increased by 9.60% compared to the total online zakat fitrah collection in 2023, which amounted to $300,059.50.

The Kementerian Hal Ehwal Ugama through the Department of Zakat, Waqaf and Baitulmal (JUZWAB) plans to implement and have its own online zakat collection system, but at present its implementation is still at the discussion and early planning stage. The policy plan drafted and proposed includes the development of the JUZWAB Portal which will enable zakat payers (muzakki) to:

• Register and make zakat payments online through an e-payment gateway,
• Perform akad zakat digitally,
• Strengthen the management of the 'Amil System,
• Receive receipts and financial reports automatically.

This plan will be developed in three phases:

First Phase – Online zakat and waqaf collection system (digital portal, e-payment, e-amil, automatic receipts), Second Phase – Online application management and assessment system and zakat distribution to eligible asnaf through integration of the Sistem Kebajikan Negara (SKN) application system, Third Phase – Development and empowerment programme for asnaf through a digital system and Research, Planning and Development Monitoring of Projek Rumah asnaf who are eligible.

The main focus at this stage is to finalise the technical and operational planning, hold further consultations with stakeholders, including strategic partner agencies, financial institutions and technology providers, and plan a small-scale pilot phase before full implementation. The Ministry hopes that this digital method will facilitate the public and improve the transparency of zakat collection and distribution. This matter is being given serious attention so that its future implementation will truly be beneficial and safe for all parties.

Several initiatives have been and are being implemented by JUZWAB in increasing public understanding and awareness to pay zakat through these methods by using the Ministry's website platform and JUZWAB's Facebook and Instagram social media @juzwab, which has been operating since the establishment of JUZWAB. Social media is one of JUZWAB's platforms in publicising zakat collection and distribution results, services, work activities and the Department's achievements (milestones). In addition, other efforts such as government print media platforms will continue to be intensified.

Meanwhile, the Online Savings Money Zakat Harta Payment Service in collaboration with DST as the appointed amil has already agreed to further enhance the promotion and marketing of the zakat harta wang payment service through the MyDST notification feature, namely PushApps notifications, to be implemented consistently and in a planned manner. Marketing efforts and zakat literacy regarding this obligation to pay zakat will be further strengthened and expanded together with various other agencies.

For shared information, with Allah's permission, the Berzakat Campaign through advertisements and promotions is also currently being intensified by JUZWAB together with the Pusat Da'wah Islamiah through the Da’wah and Lecture Section, the Public Relations, International and MABIMS Division of KHEU (BPAAM); the TV, Radio and Commerce Section, Radio Televisyen Brunei (RTB) towards enhancing the campaign to publicise the obligation of fulfilling zakat in a strategic and planned manner for the immediate, medium and long term by using various types of media channels such as Media Broadcasts, TV Ticker Messages, Infographics, RTBGo Podcasts, Creative Short Videos and so on as well as through the system of da’ie, lecturers and social media.