Kedah Sets Zakat Fitrah Rates At RM9, RM15 And RM23
ALOR SETAR, Jan 27 (Bernama) -- The Kedah Zakat Board (LZNK) has set three zakat fitrah rates of RM9, RM15 and RM23 for this year, based on the price and grade of rice commonly consumed by Muslims in the state.
LZNK chairman Datuk Seri Norizan Khazali said the rates were also determined based on the weight of one Baghdad bushel, which is equivalent to 2.6 kilogrammes (kg) of rice.
“The zakat fitrah rates set are RM9 for local rice, RM15 for imported rice and similar varieties, and RM23 for basmati rice and the like.
“The rates were determined after obtaining the consent of His Royal Highness the Sultan of Kedah, and Muslims are encouraged to pay zakat fitrah according to the type of rice that forms their daily staple,” he told reporters when announcing the 2026 Kedah zakat fitrah rates here today. Also present was LZNK chief executive officer Datuk Syeikh Zakaria Othman.
He said the board is targeting zakat fitrah collections of RM13.5 million this year, compared with RM12.9 million last year, with the proceeds expected to be distributed to 27,300 asnaf, including the poor, hardcore poor, mualaf and fisabilillah.
“To facilitate public participation, LZNK has provided 23 online payment channels for zakat fitrah this year, including the official LZNK portal and application, e-wallets and internet banking,” he said.
“A total of 2,788 amil (tithe collectors) and 183 appointed agencies are also using digital payment methods such as QR codes and the MyAmil system. Payment receipts will be issued digitally, while the manual coupon collection method will still be available through selected amils only,” he said.
Meanwhile, Zakaria said the increase in the zakat fitrah rate compared with last year was driven by factors such as the rise in the prices of goods, including rice.
“We understand that the zakat fitrah rate in most other states will also start between RM9 and RM10, except for one state which may maintain the rate of RM7 for local rice,” he said.
Meanwhile, total zakat and other revenue collections in Kedah last year reached RM322.86 million, an increase of RM18.05 million or 5.92 per cent compared with 2024, surpassing the target of RM318.88 million.
A total of 187,160 zakat payers were recorded last year, including 42,174 new payers, with 87.34 per cent of the collection received through cashless transactions, reflecting the effectiveness of the digitalisation initiatives implemented by LZNK.
LZNK also channelled RM346.14 million to eight asnaf groups across the state, while total alms collections amounted to RM584,302.66 from 8,820 donors.
-- BERNAMA
