PRIME NEWS POST 

The INDONESIAN (Jakarta) – The Jakarta Market Traders Committee (Komite Pedagang Pasar/KPP Jakarta) held a warm strategic gathering with KH. Adib, Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Ministry of Religious Affairs (Kemenag) Regional Office. This event served as a key opportunity to strengthen collaboration between market traders and the government in empowering the community’s economy through enhancing Zakat Collection Units (Unit Pengumpul Zakat/UPZ), optimizing zakat, infaq, and sadaqah (ZIS), and socializing halal certification for traditional market businesses across 114 markets in DKI Jakarta.

The high-spirited meeting was attended by Ari Monas, Chairman of the Jakarta KPP Regional Leadership Council (Dewan Pimpinan Daerah/DPD), KPP branch-level leaders (Dewan Pimpinan Cabang/DPC), as well as heads of several community organizations, foundation leaders, and other relevant institutions.

Synergistic Collaboration to Boost ZIS and Halal Literacy

In his remarks, Mr. Suhari – widely known as Mbah Ari Monas – expressed high appreciation for the full support provided by the Ministry of Religious Affairs through its DKI Jakarta Regional Office in implementing socialization and guidance for religious education at each market. This support includes assigning religious instructors to directly educate market traders on strengthening ZIS collection and providing assistance with the halal certification process.

“I would like to thank the DKI Jakarta Ministry of Religious Affairs, especially KH. Adib and KH. Fikri, for their full support in organizing these activities. The reinforcement through religious instructors at each market makes our on-the-ground efforts more effective,” said Ari Monas, to applause from attendees. This statement stands as strong proof of the shared commitment between the trader community and the government to accelerate community empowerment programs (February 24).

This program aligns with the spirit of literacy and community economic empowerment promoted in DKI Jakarta, including the optimization of ZISWAF (zakat, infaq, sadaqah, and waqf) – a key focus of local government and zakat management institutions.

Role of Zakat Management Institutions: National Amil Zakat Agency (BAZNAS/BAZIS)

This synergy is also integrated with the role of the National Amil Zakat Agency (Badan Amil Zakat Nasional/BAZNAS) – in Jakarta often referred to as BAZIS – a formal institution entrusted to manage zakat, infaq, and sadaqah professionally, transparently, and accountably. BAZNAS/BAZIS plays a vital role in collecting and distributing zakat funds for social, economic, educational, and humanitarian empowerment programs in the community.

Through the establishment and strengthening of UPZs at each market, it is hoped that zakat governance will become stronger, more effective, and have a direct impact on the welfare of market traders and the broader community. Collaboration between KPP, Kemenag, and DKI Jakarta BAZNAS/BAZIS also opens up greater opportunities to maximize and target the management of unstructured potential ZIS funds.

Meanwhile, regarding the shared commitment to community welfare, KH. Adib emphasized that this collaborative step is not merely an administrative routine, but a strategic effort to increase market traders’ awareness of their religious obligations and opportunities through zakat and sadaqah, which deliver tangible benefits for social welfare.

“Let us work together to strengthen the zakat, infaq, and sadaqah movement across all Jakarta markets. This collaboration will help expand economic and social benefits for the community, especially those in need,” stated the Head of the DKI Jakarta Provincial Ministry of Religious Affairs Regional Office.

Expected Outcomes

The gathering, supported fully by DKI Jakarta Kemenag and in collaboration with BAZNAS/BAZIS, is expected to deliver:

– Optimized collection of zakat, infaq, and sadaqah through structured approaches in traditional markets.
– Improved literacy and understanding of halal certification for micro and small-medium enterprises (MSMEs) in markets.
– Strengthened role of UPZs at the market level as professional and accountable centers for managing religious social funds.
– Tangible social and economic impact for the broader community, particularly in driving community welfare in DKI Jakarta.

This gathering serves as a concrete example of synergy between the private sector (market traders), government, and religious/humanitarian institutions in efforts to empower the people. Through this partnership, all parties are expected to continue working together to create inclusive, sustainable, and blessed prosperity.

@Reported from various media sources // photo from Google documents // contribution by Prime News Post international online media