Still reeling from several cases of mismanagement and abuse of zakat funds, another instance of zakat abuse threatens to erupt into the open following a revelation of a plan to use zakat money to purchase a landmark hotel in Kuantan, Pahang.
PAS Youth chief Nasrudin Hassan Tantawi said he had received tip-off from sources close to the Pahang Islamic Affairs Council (MAIP) alleging a plan to spend RM50 million from zakat funds to purchase the MS Garden Hotel at the heart of the town.
“I hope the authority will investigate this matter, and ensure that it will not happen as many in Pahang deserve zakat,” he wrote on his Facebook page yesterday, calling for stern action against those involved.
According to Zakat laws in Islam, the eight categories deserving help from the fund, or asnaf, 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 in the way of God, and (8) those who are stranded during a journey.
As such, Nasrudin, who is also Pahang PAS deputy chief, said the zakat fund should not be used to purchase the hotel even for investment purposes.
“Even in the name of developing Muslim economy, one cannot use zakat when the government has other sources of income because the fund must be channelled directly to the asnaf.
"In Pahang, there are still many Muslims under the hardcore poor category as well as those needing financial help to further their studies," said Nasrudin.
He warned that investing using zakat money was not allowed as there was an element of risk in any investment.
"In fact zakat fund must reach the asnaf.
"Islamic scholars agree that zakat fund cannot be used even to build mosques because it is not one of the asnaf unless the government has no other income to build a prayer place for Muslims,” stressed Nasrudin.
Task force formed
Nasrudin also announced the formation of a task force by his wing to monitor misappropriation of zakat money.
The Anti Misappropriation of Zakat Fund taskforce will be headed by Federal Territory PAS Youth chief Kamaruzaman Mohamad to monitor and investigate alleged abuses of zakat "so that the zakat fund can be saved from greedy authorities", said Nasrudin.
He added that the task force was mooted by his informants who alerted him about the hotel purchase plan.
Nasrudin also appealed to the public to contact him immediately to help the task force detect zakat abuse, as well as provide concrete evidences.
"We don’t want people to call this a slander,” he said.
-Harakahdaily
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