By: Zaidul Khair bin Jungkim
KOTA KINABALU: September 4, 2026 — The Sabah Islamic Religious Council (MUIS) has set a zakat collection target of RM140 million for this year.
State Minister of Local Government and Housing, Datuk Mohd Arifin Mohd Arif, said that as of August, MUIS had collected RM95 million, with employment zakat contributing the largest share at 47 per cent.
Business zakat accounted for 27.12 per cent of total collections, he said, adding that MUIS hopes more business entities, including Government-Linked Companies (GLCs), will come forward to fulfil their business zakat obligations.
“We hope more businesses, including GLCs, will pay their business zakat,” he told reporters after a courtesy call by THP Sabaco Sdn Bhd on Sabah Yang di-Pertua Negeri Tun Musa Aman at Istana Seri Kinabalu on Thursday.
Arifin, who is also the state Religious Affairs portfolio holder, said zakat collections are distributed to asnaf (eligible recipients), including for the educational development of Sabahan students abroad.
“Nearly 200 Sabahan students are being sponsored by MUIS to pursue their studies in Egypt, while more than 20 Sabahan students have received scholarships to Jordan,” he said.
He emphasised that MUIS ensures zakat funds are managed transparently and responsibly before being channeled to eligible asnaf, including the poor, the needy, and new converts to Islam.
Source: JAPEN
