Waiting for Company Commitment in Zakat Distribution |
Amidst the poverty rate in Aceh which reached 12.64 percent as of September 2024, zakat from private companies is expected to be one of the sources of financing to reduce poverty. Many companies in Aceh have not entered the realm of zakat mal, even though there is a legal basis, both Qanun Number 3 of 2021 concerning Baitul Mal and other technical regulations.
Not satisfied with that, the Aceh Government has also written to State-Owned Enterprises (BUMN), Aceh-Owned Enterprises, heads of vertical agencies, heads of private businesses, and Baitul Mal Aceh. The contents appealed to these institutions to form zakat collection units and deposit them to Baitul Mal Aceh. The Aceh Government has conveyed this appeal since August 2022.
The results were not very encouraging. Until three years later, in February 2025, companies that exploit wealth in Aceh, which provide welfare for their employees from Aceh's natural resources, have not yet distributed zakat to Baitul Mal Aceh. Some of them are large companies with large capital and involve high technology, such as Pertamina EP Rantau Field in Aceh Tamiang—just to mention one example.
State-owned companies such as Pertamina should be more aware and support Aceh's special status in enforcing Islamic law, including in paying zakat to Baitul Mal. Their neglect not only shows disrespect for regional regulations in the field of zakat, but also shows an attitude of not caring about the fate of the Acehnese people who still live below the poverty line.
It is ironic that Aceh seems to prove the truth of the natural resource curse where areas that have natural resources have many people living in poverty. In fact, it is clear that paying zakat is an important instrument in the Aceh Government's efforts to reduce poverty, in addition to taxes that have been widely corrupted by its management officials.
The attitude shown by Pertamina EP Rantau and a number of other companies also proves their arrogance in not wanting to cooperate with the Aceh Government and other institutions to reduce poverty. Companies can no longer argue that they do not know about the existence of these regulations. In addition to those who have been exploiting natural resources in Aceh for decades, the Aceh Government has also sent letters. Now, a number of members of the Aceh DPR and academics are again shouting to remind the company to pay zakat mal.
The company should follow in the footsteps of PT Arun NGL when it was still operating in Lhokseumawe. The company, whose shares are also owned by Pertamina, has managed zakat well even before the regulation existed. PT Arun's zakat agency at that time had an ongoing program to help the poor, orphans, and micro, small, and medium enterprises. Once again, the natural gas liquefaction company has done this at a time when regional regulations on zakat did not yet exist.
Now, the government and people of Aceh are waiting for the company's good intentions to pay zakat. The Aceh DPR should summon the company to ask about their commitment. Don't just suck up Aceh's wealth, but ignore its people.
On the other hand, Baitul Mal also needs to continue to improve the management of zakat management and distribution by involving technology so that it is more honest and accountable. This is important to increase public trust in Baitul Mal so that there is no doubt about handing over the management of zakat to this institution.[]
