PANGKALPINANG – Maiti (64) couldn't hold back her tears when she received business capital assistance and a tent from PT Timah’s Zakat Collection Unit (UPZ) at Al Furqon Mosque, Timah Bukit Baru Complex, Pangkalpinang, on Thursday (19/9/2024).
The distribution of business capital assistance and tents for 39 mustahik (zakat recipients) in the Bangka Belitung Islands Province was symbolically handed over by PT Timah's HR Director Hendra Kusuma Wardana, Bangka Belitung Baznas Chairman Mulyadi, PT Timah UPZ Secretary Tantra Pratama, and the Al Furqon Mosque Council.
For decades, Maiti has been selling children's snacks in Kampung Opas and relies on this business to meet her daily needs.
For Maiti, this is the first time she has received assistance to expand her children’s snack business. Every day, she carries her goods to sell near schools, and in the afternoon, she sells them from her home.
"Alhamdulillah, this really helps me with my business. I've been selling children's snacks like pempek and tekwan for over 30 years. I used to sell in-school canteens, but now I can't afford the rent, so I sell on the side of the school. In the afternoon, I sell at home," she said.
She plans to use assistance from PT Timah UPZ to increase her business capital, and the tent provided meets her needs perfectly.
"I hope PT Timah and the employees who provided this assistance stay healthy. Thank you for helping this old lady. I never expected to receive such a blessing today," she said tearfully.
PT Timah’s HR Director, Hendra Kusuma Wardana, expressed his appreciation for UPZ PT Timah, which has collected employees' professional zakat and distributed it to the beneficiaries.
Hendra hopes that more PT Timah employees will contribute their professional zakat through UPZ PT Timah, allowing more mustahik to benefit from the zakat funds.
"I also encourage PT Timah employees to pay their zakat through recognized Zakat Bodies such as Baznas or UPZ. This is a small but significant action among many that we can take. Thank you to UPZ PT Timah for collecting these funds. It’s like using roads in a local area but paying taxes elsewhere; ideally, pay your zakat where you live," he explained.
Looking ahead, he hopes that the zakat recipients can grow their businesses, becoming economically independent and spreading benefits to those around them.
"I also hope that today's mustahik will one day become muzaki (zakat givers), ensuring this program remains sustainable and continues to provide benefits," he added.
Meanwhile, Bangka Belitung Baznas Chairman Mulyadi praised UPZ PT Timah for collecting and distributing business capital to mustahik to help them achieve economic independence.
"We appreciate UPZ PT Timah for collecting and distributing funds to mustahik. We hope that the collection and distribution of zakat will be effective in improving the mustahik's economic situation," he said.
He also advised the mustahik to use the zakat-based assistance strictly for business purposes and not for primary needs.
"This assistance comes from zakat, so both the donors and the recipients must honor this responsibility. Use it for business capital to grow, not for primary needs," he advised.
Mulyadi also mentioned that Bangka Belitung Baznas provides guidance and mentorship to zakat beneficiaries to help them develop their businesses.
"We don’t want their businesses to fade away, so I remind the beneficiaries to uphold this responsibility because zakat can grow and develop. Use it for business capital, and hopefully, it will grow and benefit not only the mustahik but also others from the development of zakat funds," he emphasized. (*)
