THE SHIFTS IN ZAKĀH MANAGEMENT PRACTICES IN MALAYSIA: WHAT HAS ACTUALLY BEEN HAPPENING?

Zakāh management in Malaysia has evolved during the era of globalization. Zakāh, which had previously been under the administration of the Religious Councils, is now being managed more professionally through corporatized bodies. While from the aspect of zakah collection the zakatable wealth has been expanded, its mechanism has also been improved through the use of current technology for the convenience of zakāh payers. As for the distribution of the fund, the eight groups of recipients have been redefined to suit the current situation in which the disbursement scheme has now been diversified including consumption as well as capital allocation. Indeed, all of these shifts in the practice of Malaysian zakāh represent a broader meaning. Accordingly, this article tries to offer some explanation and delineate what is behind these changes.