President Jokowi Launches Zakat Payment System Through Laku Pandai

President Jokowi pays zakat to the BAZNAS employee at a counter at the State Palace, Jakarta, on Wednesday (14/6)

President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo on Wednesday (14/6) at the State Palace launched zakat (Alms) payment system through Laku Pandai (branchless banking). The National Alms Agency (BAZNAS) in collaboration with the Financial Services Authority (OJK) has launched zakat inclusion which includes in the zakat collection program through Laku Pandai agent as an innovation in developing zakat collection in Indonesia.

President Jokowi, accompanied by Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Head of OJK Board of Commissioners Muliaman Hadad, and Chairman of BAZNAS Bambang Sudibyo pressed a button to mark the launching.

In his remarks, the Head of OJK Board of Commissioners Muliaman Hadad said that zakat is related to financial inclusion because both of them have important roles in poverty alleviation.

“The President and Vice President, OJK, and BAZNAS have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) and cooperation agreement on the synergy between zakat inclusion and financial literacy as well as inclusion program,” Muliaman said.

The signing of the MoU is an effort to develop the potential of zakat on a broader scale by providing a more widespread access and an easier way, particularly by using various financial services.

With information technology, as many as 328,466 branchless banking agents are available to implement the financial inclusion program. The program is also carried on by 19 conventional banks and 2 sharia banks spreading throughout 508 regencies/cities in Indonesia’s 34 provinces.

“Laku Pandai is also used to distribute sosial assistance. Currently, approximately 1,660 Laku Pandai agents concurrently serving as e-warung agents are in the service of 100 families receiving these assistances,” Muliaman added.

The involvement of Laku Pandai agent in the implementation of zakat is expected to bring several benefits. First, it can simplify the payment process of the zakat payers (Muzakki) and assist the process of zakat distribution to the recipients in their local areas. Second, it provides wider and various accesses to the payment and distribution of zakat, infaq, and sadaqat by involving lot of Laku Pandai agents. Third, it increases the financial inclusion of the people by opening financial service access and products to the Muzakki and Mustahik. Fourth, it widen the function of Laku Pandai in giving financial education, particularly to the agents in order to mentor and empower local residents.

Bambang Sudibyo in his report said that with the issuance of Law Number 23 of 2011 on Zakat Management, the state is included in the zakat collection.

“Thus, zakat collection and distribution should become the concern of the state,” Bambang said.

Also on that occasion, the Chairman expressed his greatest appreciation to the President, Vice President, ministers, echelon I officials, and the Heads of State-owned Enterprises who have paid their zakat to BAZNAS as a manifestation of the provisions in that Law.

Bambang reported that in the zakat collection, BAZNAS provides various innovations in zakat services to make it more easier, such as through bankings, counters, and jemput zakat (pick up zakat at muzakki’s place). Bambang also said that BAZNAS has collaborated with State Postal Service firm PT Pos Indonesia in developing a more massive zakat inclusion in Indonesia.

“Currently, BAZNAS is proactive to provide digital zakat service in several platforms and e-commerce portals in order to make zakat payment more easier, not only for all Indonesians living in this country, but also Indonesians living abroad,” Bambang explained.

On the same occasion, President Jokowi, along with Vice President Jusuf Kalla, Minister of State Secretary Pratikno, Cabinet Secretary Pramono Anung, Minister of Public Works and Public Housing Basuki Hadimuljono, Minister of Agriculture Amran Sulaiman, Minister of Religious Affairs Lukman Hakim Saifuddin, Presidential Chief of Staff Teten Masduki, Attorney General Prasetyo, Indonesian National Police Chief General Tito Karnavian, as well as a number of Heads of BUMN, echelon I officials of the ministries and BUMN, and the guests attending the event paid zakat to BAZNAS through counters available at the State Palace.

As many as 30 BAZNAS counters which accept zakat, infaq, sadaqat payment in cash or through bank transfer are available in the State Palace.

Also attended the event were the representative of Laku Pandai agent, including the representative of North Jayapura Subdistrict, Papua Province (BRI agent); Pantai Lango District, Penajam Subdistrict, East Kalimantan Province (BNI agent); Bleke Hamlet, East Praya Subdistrict, West Nusa Tenggara Province (Bank Mandiri agent); and the representative of Kentong Village, Bloza Regency, Central Java Province (BTN agent). (FID/RAH/EN) (RA/MMB/YM/Naster)