Menko PM expects new Baznas chief to manage ZIS more productively

Jakarta — The Coordinating Minister for Community Empowerment Abdul Muhaimin Iskandar has expressed hope that with the election of a new chairman of the National Zakat Board (Baznas), Sodik Mudjahid, the organisation can become more productive in managing zakat, alms, and voluntary donations (ZIS).

“Congratulations to Pak Sodik Mudjahid on becoming the new Baznas chairman. We hope this new momentum will also bring our collaboration to greater productivity in the coming days,” said Coordinating Minister Muhaimin Iskandar at an event entitled “Warm Corridors, Cross-Faith Harmony Collaborative Joyful Ramadan, Empowered Indonesia through Spreading Hope Ramadan (THR)”, in Jakarta on Thursday (12/3).

According to him, the social potential of zakat, alms, and voluntary donations is substantial and must be managed properly to help the lives of the poor and extremely poor, and to empower them.

“There are at least 23 million people who remain unprosperous, still in positions of economic difficulty. This is our responsibility and forms part of the 8.25 per cent of our nation’s population still experiencing poverty, and 0.85 per cent still in extreme poverty,” said Muhaimin Iskandar.

According to him, the Spreading Hope Ramadan (THR) programme forms part of efforts to strengthen national collaboration in combating poverty through optimising the potential of zakat and community philanthropy.

In implementing this programme, his office is partnering with 184 Zakat Distribution Institutions (LAZ) and 234 philanthropic organisations that are part of the Empowered Indonesia platform.