GEORGE TOWN, Oct 13 (Bernama) -- Women in Penang paid a total of RM48.92 million in zakat (tithe) across five categories last year, highlighting their role in contributing to the state’s zakat collection.
Deputy Chief Minister I Datuk Dr Mohamad Abdul Hamid said that of the total, RM39.25 million was contributed through zakat on income, paid by 21,002 women, accounting for 51.86 per cent of all contributors in that category.
He said the other four categories were zakat on savings, gold, Employees Provident Fund (EPF) savings and shares, with the total excluding zakat on business.
“A total of 2,721 women, or 54.93 per cent of all contributors in the savings category, recorded payment of RM6.86 milion, while women accountd for 71.95 per cent of contributors paying zakat on gold, amounting to RM1.51 million.
“For zakat on EPF savings and shares, women contributed RM1.05 million and RM250,000 respectively. These figures clearly illustrate that working women and career professionals play a significant role in strengthening the state’s zakat resources,” he said when officiating the 2026 Professional Women’s Gathering (HWPro) here today.
Mohamad, who is also Penang State Islamic Religious Council (MAINPP) president, said MAINPP Zakat disbursed RM200.11 million to 45,831 individual and institutional recipients last year, an increase of about 23 per cent compared with the previous year.
He said the cumulative zakat distribution for this year stood at RM143.14 million as of Sept 30, with RM80.63 million channelled to the asnaf fisabilillah, RM29.54 million and RM17.45 million to zakat recipients categorised as poor and hardcore poor respectively.
“MAINPP also allocated RM22.36 million for higher education scholarships this year, while RM2 million has been set aside for the Mutiara Academic Excellence Programme (MPDCA) involving 7,4032 pupils and students from 109 schools statewide,” he added.
“In addition, RM180,000 has been allocated to fund 10 asnaf students to undergo an 18-month training programme at the Penang Skills Development Centre (PSDC) in industrial automation and mechatronics.
Organised by MAINPP Zakat, HWPro 2026 brings together women from various fields of expertise, services and leadership, serving as a platform for knowledge sharing, networking and uniting their commitment to contribute to societal advancement.
The event also witnessed the handover of a zakat wakalah contribution of a van worth RM164,000 from the National Higher Education Fund Corporation (PTPTN) to MAINPP Zakat, with Penang PTPTN director Muhammad Muhsin Abdul Rahman presenting it to Mohamad.
-- BERNAMA