Zakat collection and disbursements

Response to parliamentary question on zakat collection and disbursements

Questions

Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs whether bankrupts are being assisted within the eight categories of asnaf and, if so, how are they assisted.

Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs (a) for each category of asnafs (zakat beneficiaries), what is (i) the number of recipients receiving the zakat (ii) the total amount of zakat allocated and (iii) the percentage of zakat allocated respectively; and (b) for the zakat collected in 2018, 2019 and 2020, what is amount and percentage of the undisbursed zakat respectively.

Mr Muhamad Faisal Abdul Manap: To ask the Minister for Social and Family Development and Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs with the online collection of zakat, how does MUIS determine the appointment of Amils (zakat administrators).

Response

Mr Masagos Zulkifli, Minister-in-charge of Muslim Affairs & Minister for Social and Family Development:

1. From 2018 to 2020, the Islamic Religious Council of Singapore (Muis), collected an average of $47.4 million in zakat from the Muslim community. Details of zakat collection and disbursements to the various asnaf, or zakat beneficiaries, over the past years are publicly available in the Muis Annual Reports.
2. Muis disburses zakat to the eight asnaf, in consultation with the Zakat & Fitrah Committee. The Committee, which comprises community leaders and religious scholars, considers disbursing zakat for various purposes such as social development and assistance for the poor and needy, religious programmes in mosques and madrasahs, asatizah development, youth engagement and amil management.
3. Muis and our mosques provide financial assistance to families and individuals under the “fakir miskin” asnaf, which refers to the poor and needy, or the “gharimin”, which refers to those who are in debt and require assistance to meet basic needs. Applicants with per-capita-income of $400 or less, would qualify for zakat financial assistance. Of the total zakat collected, more than 45% was provided to these asnaf, benefitting about 7,000 households each year.
4. Muis does not have a specific scheme to help persons who are bankrupt but refers them to relevant organisations, including the Debt Advisory Centre by AMP, Credit Counselling Singapore and Legal Aid Bureau.
5. The appointment of amils is authorised by the Zakat & Fitrah Committee on a yearly basis and they generally refer to our mosques that administer the zakat. Prior to the appointment process, all zakat authorised centres must submit an application form to nominate at least two zakat officers to handle the collection of zakat and undergo training programme organised by Muis. All zakat authorised centres are also audited to ensure that they abide by the rules and regulations set by Muis. With the introduction of online zakat collection, the scope of amil has expanded to include providing religious advice on zakat and guiding the community on zakat calculation and online payment.
6. Overall, Muis has been disbursing more than 95% of the zakat collected, with the balance set aside as cashflow reserves. This is to ensure that there is continuity of programmes and disbursements year on year.