ISKANDAR PUTERI: More than RM19.9mil in zakat fitrah (tithe) payments were collected by the Johor Islamic Religious Council (MAINJ) in 2021, says state Islamic religious affairs committee chairman Mohd Fared Mohd Khalid.

       He added that for this year, MAINJ set a projected fitrah collection of more than RM18mil with an estimated 2.1 million Muslims in the state that were expected to make such payments.

       “The number of fitrah payers each year is increasing due to the result of new births and also those who migrated to Johor to work, among other reasons," he said,

       “MAINJ has set the zakat fitrah rates for this year at RM7 for those who consumed locally-grown rice and RM10 for those consuming imported rice,” he added.

       The Semerah assemblyman said this in a press conference on Monday (March 28).

       He also said that MAINJ has also appointed 1,648 amil (tithe collectors) throughout the state to make it easier for Muslims to make zakat fitrah payments.

       Mohd Fared added that besides paying zakat fitrah through amil or MAINJ counters, Muslims can also do online banking such as zakat Johor online payment through the Fastpay QR code or Tulus apps.

       “It is compulsory for Muslims to make the zakat fitrah payment and we encourage them to make the payment during early Ramadan to allow us to channel aid to the needy before Hari Raya Aidilfitri,” he said.