Zakat money used to pay duo's legal fees

KUALA LUMPUR - An admission that money collected under Zakat had been used to pay for legal fees involving a minister and another official has threatened to erupt into yet another financial scandal.

Speaking to reporters at the parliament lobby today, Machang member of parliament Saifuddin Nasution urged the government to explain why it took RM32,000 from the zakat collection of the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) to pay for legal fees involving minister in the Prime Minister's Department Jamil Khir Baharom and director general of the Federal Territory Religious Department (JAWI), Che Mat Ali.

In January last year, Khir and Che Mat were named as respondents in a suit by Opposition Leader Anwar Ibrahim against the authorities 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.

"What I have raised (in parliament) is the use of zakat fund from MAIWP amounting to RM32,000 to pay for lawyer fees on behalf of the minister and the JAWI head," said Saifuddin, who is also PKR secretary general.

L-R: Che Mat Ali and Jamil Khir Baharom

Yesterday, deputy minister in the PM's Department Mashitah Ibrahim admitted that the payment was made using money from Zakat.

Saifuddin also questioned the action by Che Mat, who is MAIWP's secretary, in approving the release of the zakat money to pay for legal fees involving him.

"So MAIWP secretary Che Mat Ali applied for the fund from Che Mat Ali himself, who approved it. This is wrong," he stressed.

He said the use of the money also did not fulfil the strict Shariah requirement that zakat money be used only on eight categories, or asnaf.

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.

“Are the minister and JAWI chief among the eight?" asked Saifuddin, who added he would write to the Public Accounts Committee (PAS) to take immediate action.

- Harakahdaily