The "zakat aid" that was distributed by Batu Kawan MP Kasthuriraani Patto recently was only in the form of approval letters, the Penang Island Zakat Management Centre (ZPP) said.
Clarifying the matter, its chief executive officer Amran Hazali said for this year's Ramadan assistance, they no longer distribute food packs, cash vouchers or money transfers into recipients' bank accounts.
Instead, the RM100 assistance is credited into recipients' identification cards (IC), which they can use to purchase daily necessities from selected shops.
"What was delivered by the MP was not cash vouchers, but only approval letters.
"This year, ZPP is using a new system which allows aid recipients to purchase their necessities from over 30 shops that we have appointed, up to the amount of RM100 by only using their IC.
"The shops are equipped with a device that can deduct the amount purchased, with the data kept inside the respective IC," he told Malaysiakini today.
According to Amran (above), some 12,000 recipients had been selected to receive the Sumbangan Bantuan Nur Ramadan provided by ZPP across the state.
Yesterday, Kasthuriraani resorted to removing photos from social media where she was seen distributing Ramadan aid to needy families in her constituency.
This came after users questioned why she, as a non-Muslim, was handing out the aid which came from the tithe management agency.
Cashless transactions
According to Amran, the approval letters they issued were given to service centres at parliamentary and state constituencies in Penang, for distribution to recipients in the respective areas.
It is up to the service centre on how it will deliver the letters, whether straight to each recipient or by holding a ceremony.
A copy of the letter, which was sighted by Malaysiakini, only informs recipients of the financial assistance that they have been selected for.
It stated that each would receive aid of RM100 to buy a 5kg pack of rice, and other basic items at panel shops listed in the letter.
"The redemption period starts from April 13 until May 11," the letter said.
Explaining the process behind the programme, Amran said each state constituency and parliament offices would register candidates - around 200 for each constituency - to receive the aid.
ZPP would then check on their eligibility, and once approved, their respective letters would be sent to the offices for distribution.
No political interference
According to Amran, ZPP introduced improvements to its aid delivery system after facing trouble when non-Muslim people's representatives were involved in delivering assistance, which some regarded as insensitive.
Last year, they credited cash assistance into recipients' bank accounts, before switching to the latest method.
Amran said that they had also faced problems before when ZPP used Whatsapp messaging to notify recipients, as some had forwarded the message to others including those ineligible for aid, and created confusion.
"So now we use letters," he added.
Asked whether ZPP plans to avoid involving politicians in its tithe management affairs, Amran said it depends on the agency's board of directors.
"However, so far there has been no political interference in zakat distribution.
"ZPP tries its best to avoid getting involved in any events that directly involve political parties.
"However, if it is held in the capacity of the people's representatives, we have no problem as long as the people are well informed that the aid they are getting comes from tithe funds," he added. - Mkini
No comments:
Post a Comment
Note: Only a member of this blog may post a comment.