By Malai Hassan Othman
Bandar Seri Begawan, 9 July 2025: The administration of Brunei’s zakat system has come under renewed scrutiny following an unscheduled royal inspection by His Majesty Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah on Tuesday, 8 July 2025.
His visit to the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) cast a spotlight on persistent delays, inefficiencies, and governance flaws that have long troubled Brunei’s welfare delivery framework.
This latest titah is both a reaffirmation of Brunei’s commitment to Islamic governance and a moral reckoning, calling for immediate, systemic reform.
“Is it not sufficient for officers from the zakat department to conduct field visits together with village heads to quickly assess the actual conditions of applicants?” His Majesty asked during the surprise inspection.
The question resonated loudly. Applicants - some of whom wait weeks, even months, for basic aid continue to report inconsistent assessments, excessive documentation demands, and repeated visits without resolution. These delays represent more than administrative shortcomings—they are stories of distress and dignity deferred.
A History of Unfinished Reform
This is not the first time Brunei’s zakat system has drawn royal and public scrutiny. In 2023, His Majesty conducted a similar unannounced visit that led to a review of several welfare departments, including the Jabatan Urusan Zakat, Waqaf dan Baitulmal.
MoRA responded with assurances that reforms were underway to empower the asnaf and uphold Brunei's Islamic governance ethos - Melayu Islam Beraja.
Yet five years later, many of the same frustrations persist. Poor communication, inconsistent standards, and slow evaluation continue to undermine public confidence.
The emotional toll remains palpable. In July 2024, a viral post under “KopiTalk with MHO” documented the heartbreaking story of a woman forced to publicly plead for assistance, kneeling in desperation. A December 2024 follow-up editorial questioned whether reforms were reaching those who needed them most.
The Economics Behind the Expectations
Brunei’s macroeconomic metrics paint a picture of affluence. Classified as a high-income country, its GDP per capita exceeds USD 37,000, ranking second in ASEAN behind Singapore.
The average monthly income per employed person stands at BND 1,536. But these numbers often mask the uneven terrain of lived realities.
Many Bruneians rely on multi-generational households to stretch income, navigate rising costs, and contend with job insecurity. Shared housing and quiet hardship are common, but rarely reflected in statistics. While the Ministry interprets the decline in zakat recipients as a marker of progress, public scepticism is growing.
Extreme poverty is rare, but "near-poverty" is poorly defined. No official poverty line exists. Without a reliable measure, policy responses become reactive, not strategic.
Unofficial estimates suggest that over 40% of Bruneians may live near the threshold of financial insecurity, though recent government data to confirm this is lacking.
In 2022, Brunei recorded over 37,000 applications under the National Welfare System (SKN) - a figure that challenges the notion of universal prosperity in a population of just 450,000.
Zakat’s Deeper Dimensions
Zakat is not merely an institutional mechanism - it is a foundational pillar of Islamic identity and Brunei’s social compact. His Majesty’s remarks drew attention not just to governance lapses, but to the moral responsibility of every Muslim to pay zakat faithfully.
“Zakat is a sacred obligation. When neglected, it weakens communal welfare and undermines our spiritual integrity,” His Majesty reminded.
The monarch urged MoRA to expand its public outreach through Friday sermons, television announcements, and community engagement campaigns to reinforce zakat’s significance.
This was not only a message to administrators, but a direct call to the faithful: to honour the divine obligation of zakat, and to recognise that neglect diminishes both community and soul.
Building Systems of Trust and Empowerment
In his titah, His Majesty called for the establishment of a steering committee to oversee zakat and wakaf administration. This committee would bring together religious scholars, private sector experts, and SKN representatives, reflecting a commitment to multi-sector collaboration.
He also stressed the importance of digital transformation, demanding a system that is “efficient, fast, accurate, and consistent.”
A digital zakat application pilot programme has now begun in selected districts, promising to automate field inputs, reduce documentation barriers, and provide real-time updates to applicants.
But technology alone cannot restore trust.
Mismanagement of zakat, the Sultan warned, is not just a failure of paperwork - it is a failure of duty, of conscience, and faith.
Critics argue that zakat funds have occasionally been used to cover housing loans and long-term debts, a move that risks fostering dependence if not linked to empowerment strategies.
His Majesty clarified this stance: Zakat should serve as temporary relief, not a permanent subsidy. Recipients must be uplifted toward self-reliance, not left in perpetual vulnerability.
“Zakat is meant to empower, not sustain dependency. Its true purpose is kemerdekaan hidup,” His Majesty said.
Programmes like PROPAZ - intended to link recipients to job opportunities, microfinancing, and skill development - are now under close evaluation.
His Majesty has requested written reports detailing zakat disbursement delays, asnaf eligibility criteria, and the success rate of empowerment schemes.
A Broader Framework for Poverty Analysis
Academic research has begun to question Brunei’s approach to poverty metrics. A 2023 study by Gweshengwe and Noor Hasharina, published in SEA Journal Vol. 19, examined spatial and locational disadvantages in public housing schemes. Their findings highlighted that poverty in Brunei is not just economic - it is multidimensional, shaped by poor access to opportunity, weak social capital, and structural isolation.
Scholars now advocate using a capability approach, measuring whether welfare recipients achieve dignity, self-determination, and improved well-being. It’s a lens that goes beyond numerical targets to ask deeper questions: Are people truly better off? Are lives transformed, not just temporarily supported?
Without such nuance, Brunei’s goal of “Zero Poverty by 2035” may remain aspirational.
The Road Ahead
Brunei stands at a crossroads. His Majesty’s titah was not just a policy prompt - it was a moral declaration, placing integrity, justice, and compassion at the heart of governance.
Reform is already underway. Digital tools are in the pilot stage. Oversight committees are being formed. But unless these changes translate into timely aid, transparent processes, and holistic empowerment, public confidence will continue to erode.
The zakat system must evolve - not just technologically, but philosophically. It must reflect the best of Brunei: faith-driven governance, community upliftment, and a sacred promise of justice for all.
Whether Brunei rises to meet this challenge will define not only its welfare policy but the spiritual and social soul of the nation. (MHO/07/2025)
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