Tabung Haji says zakat paid on depositors' behalf follows Syariah

PETALING JAYA – Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH) has stressed that the payment of zakat on behalf of its depositors is carried out in line with Syariah principles and through a valid, recognised process of ijtihad.

TH said it welcomed the media statement issued by Pahang Mufti Professor Datuk Dr Asmadi Mohamed Naim, which explained in detail how TH's zakat payments are made in accordance with Islamic law.

According to TH, Asmadi — a former commissioner of the Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) into TH — had set out the process of managing zakat payments on behalf of depositors in order to give a clearer understanding to the public and to TH's more than 9.8 million depositors.

"TH is committed to complying with zakat operations and governance guided by the approved Zakat Guidelines.

"(It is also) monitored by the TH Syariah Advisory Committee, which comprises experts in Syariah and Islamic finance," it said in a statement. (Translated from Malay.)

Call for continued confidence

TH also expressed hope that depositors would continue to lend their support and remain confident in the fund's management of the trust placed in it.

The payment of zakat on behalf of depositors is among the governance practices that have drawn public attention, and TH views the Pahang Mufti's explanation as helping to provide clearer understanding to the public.

In its statement, TH did not indicate any change to its current zakat arrangements, instead emphasising compliance with the approved Zakat Guidelines and oversight by its Syariah advisory committee.