KONTAN.CO.ID - JAKARTA. The National Alms Agency (Baznas) has recently launched a digital zakat (alms) payment machine called M-Cash to make it easier for the zakat payers to perform their religious duty.

Through the machine, the general public can pay their alms the way they pay their regular expenses, such as their monthly electricity and internet credit bills. Baznas launched the machine on June 6, and the service can now be accessed through 1,700 machines installed in 700 shopping centers across Jakarta and its satellite cities, Depok and Bekasi in West Java and Tangerang in Banten.

From all the installed machines, around 60 to 70 percent are located in Jakarta. The public can also find the M-cash service in the outlets of big Indonesian supermarket services such as Ranch Market and Farmers Market, the Hero Group comprising Hero, Hypermart, Giant and Giant Express, MCA Mart as well as supermarkets in Shell fuel stations.

The launching ceremony was attended by Baznas deputy Arifin Purwakananta as well as Baznas M-cash project leader and business development manager Adityo Wiby Putranto.

“The machine provides the general public yet another zakat payment method alternative, allowing them to choose whether to pay it using cash or electronic money,” Arifin said.

According to Arifin, besides a desire to provide more convenience to the general public to pay their zakat, by launching the M-cash machine, Baznas also strives to increase its service quality by keeping abreast of trends brought by the digital era, where most financial transactions can now be conducted online.

He added by saying that by launching various digital service methods for zakat payment, Baznas hopes to raise Rp 8 trillion of zakat annually, 30 percent of which is conducted through the digital platform. Baznas would then allocate the money for its community empowerment programs.

Editor: Barratut Taqiyyah Rafie