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Jokowi, Kalla each pay Rp 45 million 'zakat'
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President Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla pay their zakat (alms) to officials of the National Alms Agency at the State Palace on Wednesday. (Presidential Office/Laily Rachev)
P
resident Joko “Jokowi” Widodo and Vice President Jusuf Kalla paid their zakat (alms) to officials of the National Alms Agency at the State Palace on Wednesday.
This is the second year agency officials collected zakat directly from the President, Vice President and Cabinet members at the State Palace, as well as echelon I officials at government institutions and ministries, from whom a total of around Rp1 billion (US$75,300) was collected.
Read also: VP reminds businesspeople to pay zakat
Jokowi and Kalla paid Rp 45 million, 2.5 percent of their cumulative wealth within a year. Alms from Muslims function as a religious contribution to help alleviate poverty.
After handing over their zakat, Jokowi jokingly said, “Pak JK [Kalla] paid more than I did.”
Agency chairman Bambang Sudibyo said there was potential to collect zakat of Rp 90 trillion every year, but the agency only collected Rp 5 trillion last year because many paid zakat through unofficial agencies. “This year, our target is Rp 6 trillion.” (bbs)
