KUCHING: There are still some companies in the state that have not yet paid their business zakat (tithes), said Tabung Baitulmal Sarawak (TBS) general manager Datuk Abang Mohd Shibli Abang Mohd Nailie.
According to him, most of the business zakat they have received so far were paid by large companies from Peninsular Malaysia.
“Although, the amount of business zakat collection we receive is large, the number of payers is small.
“Most companies in Sarawak still have moderate awareness related to the payment of their business zakat in which the companies that have paid their (business) zakat comprise shareholders or board members who are aware of the obligations of this matter.
“For information, entities carrying out Islamic Banking and Takaful business also need to pay their business zakat,” he said at a press conference at Dewan Majma’ Tuanku Abdul Halim Mu’adzam Shah here yesterday.
In the same ceremony, GITN Sdn Bhd paid their business zakat for this year, amounting to RM80,000.
Its chief executive officer Badrul Hisham Bahari said apart from helping drive the country’s economy, the payment of business zakat would be able to help TBS to provide financial assistance, especially to the asnaf (poor) and the needy groups.
For the record, business zakat collection received by TBS from January to November this year amounted to RM14.4 million, involving 280 employers.
