PETALING JAYA: Do not cheat or break the trust of Muslims paying their zakat (tithes), as such a crime is unforgivable, says the minister concerned.

       Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Datuk Dr Mohd Na’im Mokhtar said he was saddened to hear of companies appointed to collect tithes that instead misappropriated the funds dutifully paid by Muslims.

       He said Muslims paying zakat hand it to these agents in the hope that the collection would go to the right people.

       “I have been informed of allegations against a company that was appointed as a zakat collection agent.

       “We will wait for police to complete the investigations. We have full trust in the authorities.

       “It is sad that there are those among us who are willing to abuse the trust given to them.

       “Misappropriating zakat is a betrayal of the trust placed by those performing their religious obligations...such a crime is not acceptable,” he added yesterday.

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       The minister was commenting on the case of a company being investigated by police for allegedly misappropriating nearly RM10mil in tithes collected.

       On Thursday, Bukit Aman Commercial Crime Investigation Department (CCID) director Comm Datuk Seri Ramli Mohamed Yoosuf said the company appointed to collect tithes was believed to have failed to deposit the tithes between March and September last year.

       He said throughout last year, his department investigated four criminal breach of trust cases – two in Selangor and one each in Terengganu and Perak.

       Ramli said the total losses in these cases amounted to RM9.714mil, with the Perak case alone accounting for RM9.629mil.

       Mohd Nai’m said his ministry would keep close tabs on the agents appointed, as cases of zakat misappropriation will also blemish the hard work of the government.

       Zakat administration in Malaysia comes under the purview of the respective state religious councils.

       However, in several states, the administration of zakat has been privatised, with special zakat institutions having been set up.

       Starting with the Zakat Collection Centre of the Federal Territory in 1991, other institutions later formed include the Selangor Zakat Board, Penang Zakat Management Centre, and the Pahang Zakat Collection Centre.