Datastream Digital Sdn Bhd’s (DST) eZakat won two awards and one merit prize, including the prestigious Brunei ICT Awards (BICTA) 2024 Royal Patron Award at the award presentation ceremony at the International Convention Centre in Berakas yesterday.
eZakat won the technology category and received a merit award in the inclusion and community services category.
DST Vice President of Enterprise Hajah Suzana binti Ahmad said eZakat is a collaborative effort with the Ministry of Religious Affairs (MoRA) launched in April 2021 to solve challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Hajah Suzana said the development of eZakat was divided into two phases with DST Digital Business Team handling phase one and Digital Innovation Team taking over phase two.
Challenges faced included ensuring Syariah compliance in a new digital platform with thorough reviews by the MoRA and the State Mufti’s Office.
The vice president noted that eZakat accounted for 20 per cent of total zakat fitrah collected in 2021 and it rose to 35 per cent this year. She revealed that DST will be launching a digital solution for zakat harta in the near future.
Other winners of BICTA 2024 included TechBru Solution (B) Sdn Bhd winning Smart Nation Award’s logistics and transportation category. The education category was won by Ministry of Education’s Education Technology Centre (EdTech).
The primary school category was won by Rimba III Primary School while merit award winners were Bandar Seri Begawan Arabic Preparatory School, Seri Mulia Sarjana International School, Tumpuan Telisai Primary School and two awards for Lambak Kanan 49 Primary School.
Berakas Secondary School won the secondary school category while merit award recipients were Anthony Abell College, Paduka Seri Begawan Sultan Science College and three merit prizes for Chung Hwa Middle School.
Universiti Teknologi Brunei (UTB) won the tertiary school category and a merit award. Universiti Islam Sultan Sharif Ali also received a merit award.
SOUL CAT Entertainment won the consumer and business services category while Rumine Corporation received a merit award.
DigiNations won inclusion and community services category.
Progresif Sdn Bhd received a merit award in industrial category and the Public Service Commission collected a merit award in the public and government category.
Pararoutte Company won the research and development category while DigiNations received a merit award.
AlQuatic Enterprise received a merit award for technology category.
The winners in each category will represent Brunei at the Asia Pacific ICT Alliance (APICTA) Awards 2024 to be held later this year in the Sultanate. Brunei has won four awards and 32 merit prizes since joining APICTA in 2001. – Lyna Mohamad
