Indonesian Government Urges Optimisation of Zakat for Community Welfare

Jakarta — The Acting Deputy IV of Indonesia’s Government Communications Agency (Bakom RI), Adita Irawati, has stated that zakat plays a strategic role in supporting the government’s efforts to reduce poverty and improve community welfare.

In a discussion titled “Zakat Strengthening Indonesia” held in Jakarta on Monday, Adita noted that the government is working towards achieving several national development targets in the 2024–2029 period, including economic growth of up to eight per cent and the elimination of extreme poverty.

Adita added that zakat is more than merely an obligation for Muslims; it can also serve as an important instrument for building social justice and national solidarity. “In this context, the work of Indonesia’s National Zakat Management Agency (Baznas) plays a very strategic role in supporting the achievement of these objectives,” she said.

Adita assessed that Indonesia’s zakat potential, which reaches hundreds of trillions of rupiah, remains underutilised. She noted that Indonesian society actually possesses a high level of generosity, and in recent years has been ranked as the world’s most charitable nation according to the World Giving Index.

“Our nation has consistently been ranked as the most charitable for seven consecutive years. This is recognised by the World Giving Index,” she stated.

Adita therefore recommended that success in garnering public support depends greatly on effective communication in conveying messages about the importance of social solidarity. She shared her personal experience in fundraising activities through charity runs conducted to assist communities, including providing access to clean water in eastern Indonesia.

As such, she believes campaigns and literacy efforts regarding zakat must be strengthened through collaboration among various stakeholders, including the mass media. Adita added that Bakom RI is prepared to work with Baznas and the media to expand literacy and campaigns on zakat’s impact on national development.

“Good public communication, packaging messages about zakat which is truly needed by our society, its role in alleviating poverty, its role in addressing social problems in our community — these must continue to be campaigned,” said Adita Irawati.