JAKARTA (March 18, 2023) — Ministry of Social Affairs continues to synergize with zakat management institutions, one of which is the National Board of Zakat (Baznas). This synergy is carried out through the establishment of a Zakat Collection Unit (UPZ) within the Ministry of Social Affairs in accordance with Baznas' duties as a coordinator of Zakat collection in Ministries/Institutions, SOEs, or private companies. 

To support this, Baznas issued a Decree (SK) for Ministry of Social Affairs regarding the Establishment of UPZ within the Ministry of Social Affairs at the Baznas RI Headquarters (17/3). In the Decree, the UPZ management within the Ministry of Social Affairs is stated by involving employees and the Technical Implementation Unit (UPT) of the Ministry of Social Affairs. The decree was symbolically handed over by the Head of Baznas RI for Collection H. Rizaludin Kurniawan to the Senior Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs for Social Welfare Technology Asep Sasa Purnama who was present on behalf of Minister Risma.

"Thank God, this afternoon, the Ministry of Social Affairs received the UPZ Decree. Hopefully, the implementation and utilization of zakat within the Ministry of Social Affairs can be carried out successfully and full of blessings," said Asep Sasa at the Baznas RI Headquarters.

Asep revealed that, with a breakthrough from the Baznas Program that can help solve social problems, the Minister of Social Affairs Risma provides full support, especially in the implementation of the UPZ program within the Ministry of Social Affairs.

"The Minister of Social Affairs strongly supports this implementation and hopes that the implementation can be optimal and maximum," said Asep Sasa.

With a vast population in Indonesia, the potential of zakat that is properly managed through the collection and utilization in a directed, integrated, and sustainable manner will help a lot in handling social problems, especially poverty. 

With the similarity of programs from Baznas and the Ministry of Social Affairs, it is hoped that synergy can continue to be improved and synchronized with government priority programs such as efforts to alleviate extreme poverty.

On the same occasion, the Special Advisor to the Minister of Social Affairs for Partnerships and Foreign Institutions Faozan Amar also expressed his hope that the Baznas program can be synergized with the empowerment program for vulnerable groups. 

"Hopefully this will be a very positive synergy because the Ministry of Social Affairs and Baznas have the same task in alleviating the poverty issues. The Social Affairs Minister always says that the biggest enemies of Indonesia are poverty and ignorance. Therefore, the PKH program is to overcome poverty and ignorance," said Faozan.

Baznas RI is a non-structural government institution that supports the government for the effective and efficient management of zakat, infaq, and alms in the community. Then from this management, it is hoped that it has an impact on the welfare of the community and help Ministries/Institutions such as the Ministry of Social Affairs, to overcome poverty. 

"Poverty alleviation and community welfare are the Ministry of Social Affairs' business. We help and are ready to receive direction from the Ministry, Minister, Special Advisor, and Senior Advisor on the way to alleviate poverty," said Rizaludin Kurniawan. 

In addition to Asep Sasa, Faozan Amar, and Rizaludin Kurniawan, present on the occasion were the Head of the OSDM Bureau as well as the Chairman of UPZ Baznas at the Ministry of Social Affairs Suratna, the Chairman of Baznas RI Zainulbahar Noor, the President Director of Baznas RI Arifin Purwakananta, the Director of Agency Collection Faisal Qasim, and the Director of Studies and Development Muhammad Hasbi Zaenal.


Public Relations Bureau

Ministry of Social Affairs of the Republic of Indonesia