Yogyakarta (ANTARA) - The National Zakat Amil Agency (BAZNAS) of the Republic of Indonesia will collaborate with Islamic organization Muhammadiyah to distribute zakat for the development of superior human resources (HR) through education and scholarship programs.
"There are two important reasons for us to do this signing. First is to strengthen BAZNAS collaboration with Islamic organizations, especially with Muhammadiyah," BAZNAS Chairperson Noor Achmad informed after signing a collaboration agreement with Muhammadiyah here on Monday.
He said that as one of the largest Islamic organizations in Indonesia, Muhammadiyah is considered one of the nation's pioneers. Therefore, it is hoped that collaboration in the use of zakat funds would further increase efforts to advance the interests of the people.
Achmad further said that the second reason for signing the cooperation agreement was BAZNAS' confidence in what Muhammadiyah is doing. Under the collaboration, funds amounting to Rp10 billion are planned to be distributed to eligible recipients.
"Through these funds, we are confident in what Muhammadiyah is doing, and it is hoped that this can be developed and followed by others," he added.
BAZNAS expressed the hope that the collaboration will not only be carried out this year, but will continue in the years to come.
"In the coming year, we will develop more educational, economic, and other development scholarship programs for the people," he said.
In the meantime, the general chairperson of Muhammadiyah, Haedar Nashir, said that the collaboration would also strengthen various parties, both BAZNAS and other Islamic organizations, in efforts to empower the people, especially economically, educationally, socially, and in terms of health.
"So that the people will become more empowered, qualified, and will become the best people in the future because our obligation in religion, among other things, is to be able to create the best people," he added.
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He hopes that people's empowerment will increase the nation's competitiveness and become important capital for national politics.
"But, if the people are still powerless, they will only become partisans, or become constituents in the national political constellation. In fact, they are the holders of sovereignty," he added.
