Universitas Muhammadiyah Bangka Belitung (Unmuh Bangka Belitung) held the signing of Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) Wednesday (8/7). The other parties signed the MoU was the National Zakat Agency in Indonesia (Baznas) Bangka Belitung province. Unmuh Bangka Belitung was represented by Gatot Aprianto SSos, Vice-Rector III for Students and Alumni Affair, Islamic and Muhammadiyah Studies, and Information System Unmuh Babel. Meanwhile, Baznas Bangka Belitung delegated Muhammad Atobi AB SH MH as the Vice Chief IV of Baznas Bangka Belitung Province.

Muhammad Atobi explained that the MoU is supporting to reduce the educational cost. The program targeted the underprivileged students in Unmuh Bangka Belitung. “The program is a manifestation of hope. Our hope is that financial problems do not cause the students to drop out from school by the agreement of this scholarship,” he said.

He also ensured that they verified the beneficiaries of this scholarship in the underprivileged status. Afterwards, he also expected that the scholarship students could spearhead better Islamic community development. One of the beneficiaries (mustahiq) should be potential zakat payers (muzakki).

Afterwards, Gatot Aprianto expressed his gratitude. He also appreciated Baznas Babel parties which actively contributed to distributing the scholarship to the underprivileged students. “Insya Allah, the students who received the scholarship were previously verified to receive the scholarship and underwent the visitation. It means that they all qualified to be the beneficiaries of Baznas scholarship,” he expected.