SHAH ALAM, 6 August 2024 – Lembaga Zakat Selangor (LZS) today signed a cooperation agreement with MEDKAD Sdn. Bhd. through a digital initiative set to transform LZS’s medical aid landscape, aiming to facilitate and accelerate the zakat assistance application process.
The Electronic Medical Aid system, known as Al-Amal, is an innovative platform developed by MEDKAD to manage healthcare services digitally. Through Al-Amal, it provides an efficient solution for asnaf in Selangor, making access to medical assistance faster and more effective.
The cooperation agreement was signed by LZS Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Sabirin Mohd Sarbini, and MEDKAD Chief Executive Officer, Ezuan Yaacob, witnessed by Chairman of LZS Medical Advisory Committee, Dato’ Dr. Tunku Muzafar Shah Tunku Jaafar Laksamana.
In his speech, Mohd Sabirin said that under the LZS Strategic Plan 2023–2025, within the “Go Digital” strategic thrust, LZS emphasizes the development and use of digital platforms to enhance the capability and efficiency of zakat distribution processes, particularly medical aid.
Al-Amal, developed for LZS, is integrated with the existing system, LZS Electronic Zakat Online (eZO). With Al-Amal, medical aid applications at LZS can now be submitted digitally, reducing reliance on physical forms and manual processing.
The system is expected to make it easier for asnaf to submit applications quickly and securely, reduce the risk of document manipulation, and streamline overall application management by LZS. Additionally, the application process can now be completed within 8 days, compared to 14 days previously, offering a faster and more efficient response to asnaf in need of medical assistance.
Currently, LZS’s aid application process involves 553 appointed medical panels across Selangor, with nearly 3,500 claims processed manually each month.
For reference, medical aid is one of the main types of assistance provided by LZS to asnaf in Selangor. In 2023, LZS distributed over RM51 million in medical aid to 11,000 asnaf, with more than 16,000 transactions processed annually.
Full implementation of the Al-Amal Medical Aid System for managing asnaf medical aid applications at LZS is expected in early 2025, following a pilot phase in the Petaling district starting in November 2024.
This collaboration between LZS and MEDKAD represents an important step towards digitalization, supporting sustainability through reduced use of paper and other printed materials, improving data management via real-time collection, and implementing automation to reduce dependence on manpower and minimize errors. The initiative also supports environmental, social, and governance (ESG) practices and aligns with the UN SDG 2030 sustainability goals.
