Jakim Covid-19 fund not only for Muslims, says minister

CORONAVIRUS | De facto religious affairs minister Zulkifli Mohamad Al-Bakri has reiterated that the "Musa’adah Covid-19" fund launched yesterday was not only for Muslim recipients.  

Taking to Twitter, the former Federal Territories mufti said he had never stated that the fund by the Islamic Affairs Department (Jakim) was set-up only for Muslim recipients as erroneously reported by an online portal.

"I have never said that the #MusaadahCovid19 fund is only for Muslims.

"I repeated it several times, this fund is for anyone who needs help, including frontliners and others," said Zulkifli who shared a link to a video of his press conference when launching the fund in Putrajaya yesterday afternoon.

Aside from groups eligible to receive zakat assistance, Zulkifli said agencies under his purview have to date donated more than RM20 million to the homeless, frontliners and students, regardless of religion or race.

"I will not tolerate any statements that do not reflect my stand in the six years that I have been a civil servant, particularly on issues involving race and religion," stressed Zulkifli who requested a correction and an apology from the online portal.

As for the newly launched fund, Zulkifli said the money collected would be utilised to help those affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, particularly civil servants and Jakim cadre officers on duty during the movement control order.

He noted that others identified to receive assistance include those exposed directly to the infection such as the teams who handle the deceased, hearse drivers and grave-diggers.

Keep up with the latest information on the outbreak in the country with Malaysiakini's free Covid-19 tracker.

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