KUALA LUMPUR – Personnel from the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP), who were tracking down a family supposedly in need of zakat aid, could only react in disbelief upon discovering that they are living in a plush private residential complex.
In a Facebook post, Baitulmal MAIWP said it had acted on public feedback before mobilising its officers in an attempt to identify the affected family.
“As soon as we arrived at the location, we were shocked to find out the value of the property there.
“Practically, a family embroiled in financial difficulties would not be able to live in such a luxury home,” it said.
According to the religious body, further investigation found that the family is indeed paying rental, and that the property is not an inheritance.
It stopped short of naming the property in question or the rental amount.
However, a check by The Vibes found that the rental rate for a unit there could go as high as RM3,000 a month, with a 500 sq ft studio unit also costing around RM1,500.
In its post, Baitulmal MAIWP said residents claimed that many chose to stay there despite their finances due to comfort and safety factors, apart from the complex being located close to school.
“We advise those who are in dire financial straits to be prepared to downgrade your lifestyle.
“We should be wiser in differentiating between needs and wants, in line with our current financial capability. MAIWP is always available to provide aid to help reduce your burdens,” it said.
The post, which was uploaded on Thursday morning, has since garnered over 2,500 reactions, 900 shares and 700 comments at the time of writing.
The majority of comments concurred that the lifestyle of individuals should befit their income and took the family to task for supposedly abusing the zakat assistance.
While some attempted to defend the affected family, claiming they could have lost their job or income due to the recent pandemic, many responded saying that the family should not have then maintained a luxurious lifestyle. – The Vibes, September 2, 2022
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