The Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM) is confident of reaching its RM260 million tithe collection target despite a mere 13 days remaining till year-end.

Its president Datuk Shaikh Harun Shaikh Ismail said the confidence stems from the tithe collection in 2022 which reached RM228 million in the last few days of the year.

He said as of Dec 16, the collection was nearly RM200 million, and the balance is likely to be achieved in the remaining two weeks.

“Usually many tithe payors will do their duty at the end of the year, and they would also want to enjoy the tax deductions from the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN),” he told reporters after flagging off the Asnaf group special aid distribution convoy (KAHA 2023), here today.

This year, MAIDAM has distributed RM17.15 million in tithes to an estimated 24,500 heads of households from the asnaf and poor groups, through KAHA 2023, he said.

“KAHA was introduced last year. It is a motorcycle convoy that is held simultaneously throughout Terengganu and is one of the ways MAIDAM distributes tithe aid.

“The programme also helps dispel negative public perception that MAIDAM only knows how to collect tithes but does not distribute it,” he added.

Source: BERNAMA News Agency