Upholding Trust in the Selection of BAZNAS Leadership

Not all positions are born from political contestation. Some arise from the trust of the people, such as the leadership of the National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS). The selection process for the leadership of BAZNAS Bengkulu Province for the 2026–2031 period, which has been ongoing since May and concluded yesterday with the final interview stage by the national BAZNAS team, is therefore not simply about choosing five individuals to fill posts. It is about selecting those who will bear the public’s trust in managing zakat, infaq, and alms funds for the next five years.

Trust is the primary foundation of zakat management. The public fulfils their zakat obligations not solely out of religious duty, but also because they are confident that this trust will be managed professionally and distributed to those entitled. When trust grows, the potential of zakat expands. Conversely, when trust declines, no matter how great a region’s zakat potential, it will be difficult to realise it for the benefit of the community.

For this reason, the selection process for the BAZNAS leadership in Bengkulu Province deserves appreciation. The administrative stages, competency selection, public testing, and interviews demonstrate an effort to build a more open and competency-based system as regulated by Minister of Religious Affairs Regulation Number 10 of 2025. Under this regulation, the BAZNAS leadership comprises three elements: religious scholars, community figures, and professionals.

However, good governance does not stop at procedure. The core value that must be upheld is ensuring that every decision is truly based on integrity and the welfare of the institution. In Islam, trustworthiness does not only mean being capable of carrying out duties, but also safeguarding the trust given without being influenced by personal or group interests.

In this context, integrity becomes a non-negotiable requirement. Competence is indeed important, but competence without integrity will only produce fragile governance. Conversely, integrity will become the foundation for professionalism, accountability, and public trust. An institution that manages public funds needs leaders who are not only adept at making decisions but also serve as role models in compliance with rules and ethics.

There is one characteristic of BAZNAS that often escapes public attention. Its leadership is not built on a single figure but on collective and collegial leadership. The five leaders bear joint responsibility for every strategic decision. This means that the success of BAZNAS is determined more by the ability to build consensus, complement each other, and maintain unity than by individual excellence alone. Decisions are not authoritarian dictates of the chairperson, especially if the chairperson is part of a newly elected regional head’s campaign team. All decisions are made through deliberation and consensus among the five leaders.

Therefore, the selection process should not only seek individually superior candidates but also consider the balance of competencies within the leadership team. A combination of sharia understanding, managerial skills, experience in community empowerment, financial governance, and public communication will become a great strength when united in a spirit of service, not domination.

The ongoing public testing phase also holds significant meaning. The public should not use it as a space to build support for certain individuals or to bring down other candidates. Public testing is an opportunity to ensure that those who will receive the trust truly have a good track record, a commitment to serving the community, and a willingness to place the interests of the institution above personal interests.

Ultimately, the success of BAZNAS Bengkulu Province will not be measured by who occupies the chairperson’s seat, but by how much benefit from zakat can be felt by the community. The trust of leadership will find its meaning when zakat is able to bring hope to the poor, open pathways for economic empowerment, expand access to education, and strengthen social solidarity.

This selection process is an opportunity to strengthen public trust in zakat management. Therefore, every stage must be carried out with full responsibility, making integrity the commander, competence the measure, and the welfare of the people the ultimate goal. When trust is placed above all interests, God willing, BAZNAS Bengkulu Province will not only become a trusted institution but also an instrument that delivers social justice and blessings to the community.