Tabung Haji (TH) depositors have no reason to worry about the status of their zakat payments as the obligations were properly fulfilled in accordance with Shariah principles, Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Religious Affairs) Dr Zulkifli Hasan said.
He said TH’s Shariah Advisory Committee had ruled that zakat payments made on behalf of depositors before the introduction of the wakalah concept in 2019 were valid and complied with Shariah requirements.
“The Shariah Advisory Committee (JPS) TH in its meeting on Sept 2, 2020 was of the view that the status of zakat payments for depositors in the years before the wakalah concept was introduced in 2019 was valid and complied with Shariah principles,” he said.
According to Bernama, Zulkifli said the National Fatwa Committee for Islamic Religious Affairs had also ruled in 1979 that TH itself was not subject to zakat but was required to pay zakat on behalf of its depositors. TH had consistently fulfilled the obligation based on the ruling.
For the 2016 to 2019 period when the Wadiah Yad Damanah contract was used, he said TH paid business zakat collectively on behalf of depositors based on the pool of depositors’ funds that were invested.
The matter was subsequently presented to the National Islamic Religious Affairs Council’s Muzakarah Committee and endorsed in June 2024, before its view was submitted to the Conference of Rulers in October 2024.
“Therefore, depositors need not worry because all matters relating to the settlement of your zakat have been carried out by TH in an orderly manner and in accordance with Shariah principles,” he said.
Zulkifli added that TH was also finalising improvements to its hajj management policies, particularly eligibility and waiting periods, with the revised framework expected to be announced soon.
