Anwar said the primary objective of zakat is to help the poor. As such, he said, state zakat authorities are obliged to prioritise the eradication of hardcore poverty.

“Zakat is not about generating revenue for the country. It is an institution dedicated to eradicating poverty,” he said when opening the Penang International Zakat Conference at Universiti Sains Malaysia here.

“I cannot accept the fact that there are people who remain in the hardcore poor bracket despite states collecting large sums as zakat.”

Since becoming prime minister in 2022, Anwar has made eradicating hardcore poverty one of his key missions.

Yesterday, the prime minister commended the success of efforts to eradicate extreme poverty in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan.

“Based on figures we have obtained, we have achieved 100% success in Kuala Lumpur, Melaka and Negeri Sembilan,” he said at the Associated Chinese Chambers of Commerce and Industry of Malaysia’s (ACCCIM) Chinese New Year celebrations in Kuala Lumpur.

Last December, Negeri Sembilan menteri besar Aminuddin Harun announced that his state had successfully eradicated hardcore poverty, with 3,530 households moving out of the lowest bracket of poverty.

The hardcore poor refers to households with a monthly income of less than RM1,169, while those in absolute poverty have an income of less than RM2,208.

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