"FAKIR MISKIN" AND "FITRAH" (Particulars)

Inche Rahmat Bin Kenap Al-Haj asked the Minister for Social Affairs (a) who are the people classified as "Fakir Miskin" who are entitled to receive assistance from the "Fitrah" collected by the Majlis Ugama Islam; (b) how many Muslims are given this assistance and of these how many are also receiving Social Welfare assistance; and (c) what action has been taken against Muslims who have not paid their "Fitrah" last year and how many are involved.

Inche Othman Bin Wok: Mr Speaker, Sir, the Member for Geylang Serai is aware that the exercise of Fitrah is a requirement in the tenets of Islam and is now a common feature in many countries with Muslims. The disbursement of Fitrah is governed by Muslim law which specifically provides for the definition and qualification for the Fakirs and the Miskins who generally may be said to be the deserving and the very deserving of the Muslims for collective financial assistance by Muslims as a whole towards the end of Ramadan, the month of the fast. The basis for this in Singapore is determined by the Majlis Ugama Islam who are also responsible for the collection and distribution of Fitrah. The Majlis Ugama Islam applies a means test on applicants who claim to be either Fakir or Miskin. They are registered yearly with details of their incomes before payments are made.

In 1970, $73,912 was paid out from the Fitrah Account to 18,478 Muslims classified as Fakir or Miskin. They were each given $4.00. It is not possible to ascertain how many of the 18,478 Muslims who are classified in this category are also on public assistance.

In 1970 also, a total of 649 Muslims were reported by the Amils as having defaulted in the payment of Fitrah. Letters were sent out requesting them to call for an interview. Investigation revealed that in most cases failure to pay was due to poor financial circumstances. A few claimed preference to pay during the last three days of Ramadan but fell ill and were accordingly unable to comply with the law; some removed to new addresses and inquiries with the National Registration Office confirmed they had not reported changes of addresses. Yet a few others turned up later to make late payments. The figure of 649 represents only a small fraction of defaulters the Majlis Ugama Islam have managed to act on. However, the Majlis are now trying to compile a register of Muslims in Singapore, the completion of which would assist them greatly in tracking those who have failed to make Fitrah payments.