Moslems told to pay alms

Moslems told to pay alms

JAKARTA (JP): Governor Surjadi Soedirdja transferred yesterday
more than Rp 1.8 billion collected by Bazis, the board overseeing
Islamic alms collection, to charity groups.

The money would be used to help house orphans and the elderly,
assist small traders and to build mosques and other religious
projects in greater Jakarta.

In his address at City Hall, Surjadi called on Jakarta Moslems
to improve their social awareness by paying the alms through the
board.

Chairman of the board Somad Muin said in his report that until
Dec. 10 last year the board had collected Rp 4.73 billion from
Moslem philanthropists. "Until Dec. 26 the board has donated a
total of Rp 1.19 billion for more than 360 mosques, 461 women's
prayer groups and 230 foundations and other educational
organizations."

Yesterday the governor also signed an agreement with PT
Unilever and PT Tafakul Keluarga for the companies to donate a
portion of their product costs to the fund raising drive. Under
the agreement, anybody buying a Unilever product will donate Rp
250 to Bazis to help orphans.

PT Unilever produces food products and cosmetics and PT
Tafakul is an insurance company. (ste/sur)