Zakat Distribution in Achieving Sustainable Development Goals and Assisting Those Affected by Covid-19 in Kedah

Abstract

The world communities have implemented various efforts to address the spread of Covid19. including Movement Control Order (MCO). Among the effects of the MCO if it prolongs are retrenchment, shutting down of the operations of the company due to the reduction in domestic and foreign demand, high cost to the government to meet the needs of the people, foreclosure, pressure on all oil-producing countries due to lack of demand and the food crisis. The general objective of this study is to analyze the role played by Kedah State Zakat Board (KSZB) in achieving sustainable development goals and alleviating the burden faced by those affected by the Covid-19 crisis as well as discussing how to increase zakat collection to help reduce the anticipated deficit faced by KSZB during and post Covid19 crisis. This study reveals that zakat distribution in the state of Kedah was in line with SDGs and there is great potential to achieve the SDGs. This study reveals that KSZB launched a system called AsnafCare so that the community can work together to crowdfund in the effort of providing food supplies to those who have been cut off from food following the Movement Control Act. However, its success still depends upon the amount of zakat collection. To increase zakat collection, this study proposes that the methods of promotions and marketing be diversified to shift the attitude towards the compliance behavior of zakat.