SHAH ALAM, Sept 3 (Bernama) -- Raja Muda of Selangor Tengku Amir Shah Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah today received business zakat (tithe) payments totalling RM11.48 million from 44 companies for the Selangor Zakat Board (Zakat Selangor).
Zakat Selangor said in a statement that the ceremony held at Kelab Shah Alam also gathered about 200 zakat contributors from various backgrounds, particularly young entrepreneurs.
It marked the second collaboration between Zakat Selangor and the Raja Muda of Selangor Foundation (YRMS) in engaging zakat payers, especially from the corporate sector and entrepreneurs, while supporting foundation initiatives in potential development, education and entrepreneurship for the B40 group and asnaf (zakat recipients).
In addition, five companies were recognised as recipients of the Zakat Selangor Muzakki Recognition Initiative (IKTIRAF), namely D'Herbs Holdings Sdn Bhd, Bawal Sdn Bhd, Eskayvie Sdn Bhd, Wawa Global Sdn Bhd and V'Asia Health & Beauty.
Meanwhile, YRMS received RM400,000 in wakalah (agency) funds, namely RM300,000 from Worldwide Holdings Berhad and RM100,000 from Tenaga Nasional Bhd, to support its welfare, education and development programmes.
Zakat Selangor chief executive officer Mohd Khaidzir Shahari said the IKTIRAF initiative aimed to encourage more local companies to pay business zakat consistently while boosting collections, which had significant growth potential compared to other zakat types in the state.
"Statistically, business zakat is an area that can still grow. Through IKTIRAF, we recognise companies that pay business zakat exceeding RM20,000 under tiered categories ranging from Bronze to Diamond for payments of RM1 million and above," he told reporters after the event.
Also present were Zakat Selangor chairman Tan Sri Syed Anwar Jamalullail, YRMS chairman Raja Tan Sri Arshad Raja Tun Uda, Zakat Selangor deputy chairman Tan Sri Ambrin Buang and Selangor Mufti Datuk Dr Anhar Opir.
Mohd Khaidzir said companies awarded the IKTIRAF recognition received the right to display the label on their products for 18 months, which would be automatically renewed upon paying zakat the following year.
He noted that using the label not only added value to local products but also helped consumers identify companies that contributed back to the asnaf welfare ecosystem in Selangor.
"So far, 44 out of 200 companies invited in the initial phase have completed the onboarding process on the special IKTIRAF portal. Participation from other companies will be done in phases," he said.
Meanwhile, Mohd Khaidzir said Zakat Selangor was targeting RM234 million in business zakat collections this year as part of its overall zakat collection and distribution target of RM1.37 billion for 2026.
He said the target reflected the vital role of the business sector in strengthening the zakat ecosystem in Selangor.
He added that the primary goal was not merely reaching the figure, but ensuring more companies and entrepreneurs understood their duty to pay zakat, thereby fulfilling the fourth Pillar of Islam.
"This is the beauty of the zakat system. It is not just an obligation to be fulfilled, but a social instrument with far broader benefits.
"Zakat helps meet basic needs, provides housing, and funds education and healthcare, while opening avenues for asnaf to improve their living standards," he said.
-- BERNAMA