President of the Republic of Indonesia, Joko Widodo, the ministers of Working Cabinet and the state officials will pay their zakat through BAZNAS as what they did last year. The zakat payments will be made at the State Palace on the first week of Ramadan.

This was stated in the meeting of the Minister of State Secretary (Mensesneg), Pratikno, and the leaders of BAZNAS on Thursday (27/4). Attending the event were Vice Chairman of BAZNAS, Zainulbahar Noor, some BAZNAS Members and Head of BAZNAS Secretariat.

"The president is very supportive toward this event. We scheduled since long ago with more participants who will pay their zakat," said the Minister of State Secretary.

BAZNAS also opened a zakat payment service in Ramadan last year at the Palace joined by the Ministers, echelon 1 officials and other officials. From the zakat service last year in the Palace, the collected fund were Rp 1.9 billion. Among the funds were humanitarian funds that come from non-Muslim officials.

Meanwhile, Zainulbahar Noor said that BAZNAS is preparing for the zakat service at the Palace in Ramadan this year with better and adequate preparation. This year BAZNAS will involve officers from several banks to help the payment service, so that it can go straight into the system and be more secure.

In addition to zakat payments through BAZNAS outlets at the State Palace, there will also be Launching of Zakat Inclusion Program which encourage the collection of zakat in Indonesia to be more optimal by inviting all parties to come to support the program.

BAZNAS also prepared various programs for collection and distribution of zakat during Ramadan 1438 H.

(Source: http://pusat.baznas.go.id | Transl: amelya/puskasbaznas.com)