KOTA BHARU: The Kelantan Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIK) has set the zakat fitrah (personal tithe) rate for this year to remain at RM7, said its president Tengku Tan Sri Mohamad Rizam Tengku Abdul Aziz.

He said, however, any individual wanting to pay RM14 or RM21 based on the price of rice consumed was highly encouraged.

"Meanwhile, the Nisab value (the minimum amount that a Muslim must have before being obliged to pay tithe) for property tithe (zakat harta) in Kelantan is at RM20,366 for the haul (one Islamic year) between Ramadan in 1443H to Ramadan in 1444H," he said in a statement today.

Tengku Mohamad Rizam, who is also Tengku Temenggong Kelantan, said that zakat payment can be made through the Baitulmal counter services in the city and district mosques or through e-Zakat at www.e-maik.my.

"Payment of zakat can also be made through banking institutions appointed by MAIK as zakat collection agents, namely Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad, CIMB, RHB, AmBank, Maybank and Bank Rakyat.

"Other banks are the Standard Chartered Bank, Affin Bank Berhad, HSBC Bank Berhad, EON Bank Berhad, Al-Rajhi, Bank Muamalat Malaysia Berhad, Bank Simpanan Nasional, OCBC Al-Amin, and Agrobank," he said.

Tengku Mohamad Rizam said the determination of the price of personal and property tithes has also been approved by the Sultan of Kelantan, Sultan Muhammad V.

"MAIK hopes for cooperation from all parties to take note of this ruling and together we observe this Ramadan with worship and righteous acts and pay our tithes as required," he said.

-- BERNAMA