Yudhoyono Pays Tithe Worth Rp21.8 Million

Jakarta, Aug 2 (ANTARA) - President Susilo Bambang Yudhoyono paid tithe worth US$21.8 million to the National Alms Management Agency (BAZNAS) on Wednesday. The general chairman of the agency, Didi Hafidhudin, after meeting with the President to receive the tithe said the amount of the tithe "is more or less the same as last year`s." The team that came to the presidential palace to collect the alms include board members of the agency accompanied by a number of state-owned enterprises executives. President Yudhoyono on the occasion was flanked by Religious Affairs Minister Suryadharma Ali, Minister/State Secretary Sudi Silalahi and Cabinet Secretary Dipo Alam. Didin said the collection of alms in 2011 nationally reached Rp1.73 trillion, up 15.33 percent from the year before. The number of recipients of benefit through alms distribution program reached 1.7 million. He said national alms collection and reporting was done in line with Law Number 23 of 2011 on alms management. The law regulates integrated mechanism of national alms reporting through BAZNAS. In managing and distributing alms, Baznas is supported by a number of state-owned companies. Baznas also cooperates with ministries and alms management institutions across the country in collection, use and reporting.