Less Fortunate Thankful For Receiving Alms
By Rosli Abidin Yahya

Bandar Seri Begawan - Hundreds of impoverished people in the Brunei-Muara District received their alms at the Ministry of Religious Affairs on Saturday.

On Thursday, they made enquiries at the Ministry of Religious Affairs after they realised that their names were not on the list of recipients for this year's alms even though they had received such payments in previous years.

Concerned officers asked them to come back on Saturday as they had to check why their names had been omitted from receiving alms this year.

The recipients thanked the Ministry of Religious Affairs for giving them a second chance to receive alms.

"We have been receiving alms for several years. However our names were omitted this year. Thanks to Allah, we were given the alms today," one of them said.

The number, of impoverished that will receive the tithe money for this year (2005/2006) is 1.6,534, comprising 3,856 heads of families and 12,678 dependents.

Each family will receive $1,300, while each dependent will receive $380. Apart from the impoverished; some 3,106 converts will also receive the alms.

Every head of newly converted families will receive $300, while each dependent will get $220. The total amount of distribution for the upcoming Raya to new converts is $248,120. The amount allocated for "Amils" or tithe collectors this year is $60,580.

Close to $10 million from the tithe-collection will be given to recipients this year, according to the Islamic Religious Council.  -- Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Click Here To Have Your Say On This Story

Brudirect.com News

Brunei's Fastest Growing Website with