KUALA LUMPUR, June 2 — The Malaysia Islamic Development Department (Jakim) is of the opinion that the oppressed Rohingya refugees should be given assistance from the zakat (tithe) collection and other suitable forms of aid.

Its director-general Datuk Othman Mustapha said he would seek the cooperation of the Islamic Religious Council and Islamic Religious Department of each state to provide whatever aid possible, including zakat, to the refugees.

“On humanitarian grounds, we will definitely help the oppressed group (Rohingya refugees) who are also of the same faith,” he said at a news conference on the upcoming 57th International Quran Reciters’ Assembly and Quran Memorising event to be held at the Putra World Trade Centre, here.

He was responding to Pahang mufti Datuk Seri Abdul Rahman Osman’s statement yesterday that the zakat collection could be used to help the refugees.

Abdul Rahman said the Rohingya refugees could be categorised as among the groups eligible to receive zakat including the destitutes, the poor and Muslim converts. — Bernama