REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, PADANG - Indonesian Minister of Religious Affairs Suryadharma Ali plans to set up a zakat (charity, -Ed) institution, imitating Turkey. The institution is expected to optimize zakat to alleviate poverty.

"The zakat will be distributed for alleviation of poverty in Indonesia," Minister Ali said on Sunday.

When the minister visited Turkey, he met Turkish Muslim entrepreneurs. He found out that the entrepreneurs' zakat institution financed dozens of school in Turkey. The minister was attracted by the act.

"This hopeful institution will be managed by Muslim entrepreneurs. The zakat will be distributed to productive matters," he said.

He explained that the idea fit the condition in Indonesia as every year Muslim gave zakat. "The target of zakat is to alleviate poverty instead of maintaining poverty. The fact is that zakat in Indonesia today only temporarily ease people," Minister Ali said.

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