THE ROLE OF ZAKAT DISTRIBUTION AMONG MUALLAF (NEW CONVERT) IN REDUCING POVERTY IN SELANGOR, MALAYSIA

This study attempts to examine the effectiveness of zakat distribution as a mechanism to poverty reduction among the New Converts (Muallaf) in the state of Selangor, Malaysia. As one of the several instruments by Islam, zakat is important to combat and improve welfare in the society. The target population of this study is the zakat recipient among the New Converts in Selangor. 78 respondents were randomly selected from Selangor Zakat Centre (SZC) zakat recipient’s list from the New Converts category for nine districts of Selangor. In depth interview were used to gather the data. Method of data analysis is through regression analysis. Results indicate that only family size, gender (male), income and expenditure variables have a significant effect from zakat distribution while age, status, race, previous religion, highest education, job and region variables did not have any significant effect from zakat distribution among the new converts. Thus, zakat distribution is significant in reducing poverty burden among the new converts by increasing their income and positively improves; their budget for expenditure. Thus, these statistical measures have proven the positive role of zakat in reducing poverty among the new converts. However, to make zakat distribution provides significant impact on the quality of life among the new converts, immediate actions need to be done to ensure that at least their needs are satisfied and adequate.