STATE "ZAKAT" BOARD TO CONTRIBUTE RM1 MILLION TO PALESTINIANS IN GAZA

SHAH ALAM, Jan 19 (Bernama) -- The state of Selangor Zakat (Tithe) Board
will contribute RM1 million (US$279,191) to help the Palestinians in war-torn
Gaza following Israel's invasion of the enclave for the past three weeks.

Selangor Islamic Religious Council (Mais) chairman Mohamad Adzib Mohd Isa
said the contribution would be channelled through Asnaf Fisabilillah and would
be handed over by the Sultan (Ruler) of Selangor, Sultan Sharafuddin Idris Shah,
to Yayasan Amal Selangor (Selangor Charity Foundation).

"We hope this contribution can help lessen the sufferings of the
Palestinians after 20 days of facing Israel's military onslaught on Gaza," he
told a press conference, here, Monday.

Mohd Adzib said the Selangor Zakat Board (LZS) would also placed donation
boxes for the Palestinian war victims at 22 of its branches for one month from
today to make it easier for people to donate.

He said contributions for the Palestinians could also be made through the
board's portal at www.e-zakat.com.my.

On another matter, Mohd Adzib said LZS recorded the highest zakat collection
in the country last year at RM244.4 million, exceeding the target of RM200
million, and an increase of 21 per cent over the RM202.1 million collected in
2007.

He said zakat from income recorded the highest collection at RM130.7
million, followed by zakat from business (RM46.1 million), zakat from property
(RM24.3 million) and zakat from savings (RM22.1 million).

He added that the zakat also came from the Employees Provident Fund
contributions, shares, agriculture and livestock ventures and other sources, all
amounting to RM8.9 million.

Mohd Adzib said the board targeted zakat collection of RM235 million this
year.

In conjunction with LZS' 15th anniversary of its establishment, an awareness
campaign on zakat aimed at increasing the collection would also be carried out
throughout this year, he said. (US$1=RM3.57)
-- BERNAMA