Rokiah Mahmud

With means to generate income and interest among the Asnaf Zakat recipients particularly the poor, destitute and Muallaf to empower them in the field of entrepreneurship, the Islamic Da’wah Centre (PDI) of the Ministry of Religious Affairs held a bazaar dubbed Tamu Usahawan Asnaf Zakat last November.

The bazaar or tamu aimed to generate or encourage the Asnaf Zakat recipients not to depend heavily on assistance and Zakat fund, but to use this avenue to generate income and to pull them from the poverty cocoon.

It provides a venue for the entrepreneurs to promote products and services in a healthy competition and to test and improve their marketing skills, business strategies and packaging, and have a one-to-one customer consultation.

It also acts as catalyst for the Asnaf Zakat recipients to venture into local, regional and international market.

Atikah binti Abdullah, a participant of the Tamu Usahawan Asnaf Zakat, said the bazaar opened a new chapter in her life as she can promote her own products and receives feedback from customers.

“It also enables the Asnaf Zakat recipients to showcase delicacies, services, drinks and traditional woven clothes,” she said.

She added that some recipients used their Zakat distribution as capital to start up their business.

“We are happy that many of our friends (the Zakat recipients) have gradually showed success in their business. We also hope that we will be able to stand on our own without depending on assistance. Instead, maybe one day we will be the one who assist the needy, Insya Allah,‘’ she added.

Director of PDI Haji Abdul Rajid bin Haji Mohd Salleh in his capacity as the Co-Chairman of the Tamu Usahawan Asnaf Zakatsaid the bazaar, an initiative by the Brunei Islamic Religious Council (MUIB) and Bank Islam Brunei Darussalam as collaborative partner, was first of its kind. The bazaar was continuous efforts following the success of Souq Al-Qudwah Expo.