Zakat in Malaysia -- present and future status

Malaysia's system of zaka has certain features as well as room for improvement. Five topics are of note: Malaysia's current methods of zaka payment and distribution; the position of zaka in the Malaysian economy; the institutions involved in the administration of zaka funds and the difficulties associated with the collection of zaka; religious councils and their role in zaka disbursement; and some suggestions for making the zaka system of Malaysia run better. These suggestions include a transition stage to centralize zaka collection, incorporation of zaka into Malaysia's fiscal system, and using zaka to fund public schools. The Islamic system carves out a specific place for the state. The modern ministry of finance is analogous to the bayt al-mal .