Letter: The Pasuruan tragedy

The Jakarta Post | Sat, 10/04/2008 8:36 AM | Reader's Forum

We have to learn from the tragedy in Pasuruan, East Java, which killed 21 people, representative of a social strata in the country.

Pasuruan’s tragedy happened because the fund distribution system was not carried out with good management and it appears the donor wanted to display his generosity, giving less attention to the security aspects.

To prevent a similar incident from happening again, it is better if all funds coming from religious taxpayers or the obligatory alm (zakat) be collected by Badan Amil Zakat (the bodies tasked to collect and distribute the religious tax), which exist in ever regent/municipality.

The national potential of the obligatory alm is Rp. 19 trillion (US$2 billion) per year.

If the body could collect a significant amount of money, it could set up a program to empower poor people. It should have a list of prospective fund receivers, who are able to carry out productive activities such as agriculture, trading and craft/small industries.

After distributing the funds, the body needs to monitor whether the recipients are using the funds according to the program. In addition, the body needs to make public an annual financial report under government control.

The program could be expected to alleviate poverty in the country.

ABDUL RAHIM
Tangerang, Banten

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