Page 6 - Zakat in Malaysia

Y
ZAKAT IN MALAYSIASIA
ZAK
T IN MAL
A
A
ZAKAT ADMINISTRATION IN MALAYSIA

Zakat is constituted under the jurisdictions of the individual states in Malaysia. Whilst
Islam is the official religion, the Federal Government has limited authority in religious
affairs. Each of the 13 states in the country and the Federal Territories of Kuala Lumpur,
Labuan, and Putrajaya has its own Islamic Religious Council (IRC), resulting in a total of
14 IRCs in Malaysia. Since the IRCs are not part of the Federal or State Government, the
zakat affairs of each state and the Federal Territories are administered by the individual
Administration Enactment of each state and the Federal Territories.

Based on this approach, there are three (3) types of zakat administration structure in
implementing the zakat collection and distribution process. They are the ones that
are managed fully by SIRC, managed fully by corporate institutions and those that are
managed between SIRC and corporate institutions.

20 th century. Zakat
administration
started with the
establishment
15 th century. Islam of the Islami
started to spread Religious Council Kelantan
in Malaya. (MAI).
1400-1490 1900-1990 1915

Perak & Pahang Johor Perlis
Terengganu
1926 1925 1920

Negeri Selangor Sarawak
Sembilan & Kedah
1949 1950 1952

Pulau
Sabah Melaka Pinang
1959 1957 1955
Year of
Federal Independent.
Territories The Federal
Constitutuion
continues with the
1960 1971 1974 available system.
Religious authority is subject to the governance of the State Islamic Religious Council (MAIN)
whereas the Federal Territories are subject to the authority of the Yang di-Pertuan Agong
(Supreme Head or the King) of Malaysia.
History of the Establishment of the Islamic Religious Council in Malaysia

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