Baznas recommends formation of two LAZ in West Java to optimise ZIS

The National Zakat Agency (Baznas) of the Republic of Indonesia has handed over Establishment Permit Recommendations for Zakat Management Institutions (LAZ) to the Rumah Quran Jatinangor Foundation and the Ummul Quro Bogor Foundation, as part of efforts to expand and optimise the management of zakat, infak, and sedekah (ZIS). Saidah Sakwan, Baznas RI’s Head of Organisation, Institutional, and Regional Development, stated in Jakarta on Tuesday that the more LAZ are formed, the wider the reach of zakat propagation and literacy within society. ‘The signing of the Integrity Pact is an important part of our collective protection efforts. We hope our LAZ colleagues will be able to collect large amounts and provide increasingly broad contributions to the community,’ she said. ‘I entrust this 3A principle to all LAZ. We hope to continue maintaining close relations, both in alignment of thought and alignment of movement. We must unify this frequency into a solid movement and consolidation,’ she added. Beyond strengthening governance, Saidah also encouraged the creation of various zakat education programmes, including zakat manasik (rites). She believes such education is crucial for building public awareness that zakat is part of a Muslim’s lifestyle. ‘This zakat manasik is actually very crucial for us to carry out. Going forward, our orientation must shift towards the awareness that zakat is a lifestyle. We want to build an awareness where a person feels uneasy if they have not paid zakat, just like when they are late performing their prayers,’ Saidah explained. Meanwhile, Suhandi, Head of the Social Propagation Division of the Ummul Quro Bogor Foundation, welcomed the receipt of the LAZ Establishment Permit Recommendation and the signing of the Integrity Pact. Similarly, Maimon Herawati, Chairperson of the Rumah Qur’an Jatinangor Foundation, affirmed her foundation’s commitment to continuing various existing programmes while strengthening governance after obtaining the LAZ formation recommendation. ‘Our hope is that guidance and direction from Baznas can continue to support the development of this institution so it becomes even better. We also hope this institution can operate in accordance with regulations, have legal certainty, comply with sharia, and remain based on the values of the Unitary State of the Republic of Indonesia (NKRI),’ she said.