Baznas Urges Zakat Collection Units in West Java to Unify Vision for Community Empowerment

The National Amil Zakat Agency (Baznas) is encouraging all Zakat Collection Units (UPZ) across West Java to unite their vision in order to realise zakat, infak, and sedekah management that has an impact on the welfare of communities in the region.

Chairman of Baznas RI Sodik Mudjahid, in a statement in Jakarta on Friday, expressed his support for the collaboration effort. This is because data shows West Java Province has a zakat potential of Rp30.69 trillion, amid conditions where 3.55 million people, or 6.78 percent of its population, remain in the poor category.

“Between UPZ units we collaborate, UPZ with LAZ (Amil Zakat Institutions) collaborate, UPZ with Baznas collaborate. Nothing is heavy if we carry out cooperation, and everything becomes heavy when working alone,” he said.

He revealed that Baznas West Java has established 52 active UPZ units, dominated by the foundation and higher education sectors.

Furthermore, Chairman of Baznas West Java Anang Jauharuddin highlighted the strategic role of UPZ units at the higher education level in assisting students who face education financing constraints.

Anang emphasised that the presence of zakat collection institutions on campus must provide concrete impact and not merely be an administrative formality, especially for mustahik (zakat recipients) within the campus area.

Meanwhile, Assistant for Government and People’s Welfare of the West Java Provincial Secretariat, Asep Sukmana, stressed the importance of cross-sector collaboration with Baznas to tap into the zakat potential of Rp30 trillion to support the acceleration of development and improvement of the Human Development Index in the region.

According to him, optimal management of community funds will make a real contribution to resolving various social and educational issues in West Java.

“This zakat potential is also a potential that can certainly contribute to West Java’s development,” said Asep Sukmana.