This paper attempts to analyze the effects of zakat distribution on income inequality and welfare aspects of the poor Muslim society in Malaysia. The population of the study is the poor and hardcore poor of the zakat recipients in Selangor.  Exploring the cross sectional micro level data of nine districts in Selangor, Malaysia, this study adopted Lorenz curve and Gini coefficient to represent positive measures of income inequality.  However, these measures do not take into account the welfare effects of the distribution to the society.  Hence, Atkinson index is adopted to represent the normative measures of inequality that takes into account the welfare effects of the zakat distribution to society.   Results of the Gini coefficient and Lorenz curve have proven effectiveness of zakat distribution in reducing income inequality of the society. Whilst the theory of zakat says that zakat distribution will improve income inequality and welfare of the society, findings of the normative measures in this research show otherwise.  Therefore, this study is extended with zakat distribution simulation model based on had kifayah.  Results from the distribution simulation model proved the ability of zakat in narrowing down income inequality, reducing income loss and hence increasing the welfare of the society.

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Over recent years, the imbalance between housing demand and supply, particularly in the highcost housing segment, led to the rapid increase in the house prices. This paper has applied the standard theory of consumer demand and supply supplemented using content analysis method to explain the trend of housing demand and supply of housing market in Malaysia. Sampling in the quantitative content analysis is carried out to achieve the objective. Property Market Status Report in the NAPIC website provide a series data for total housing demand and supply for any house type of terrace, detached, cluster and townhouse in the price range between RM50,000 to RM300,000. All data provided cover from the first quarter until the fourth quarter across the year 2006 to 2015 specifically in Peninsular Malaysia only. Each level of the house price has a different equilibrium price so that developers can use it as an indicator based on the housing type. This research will promote ways to achieve the sustainabiliy in construction output overall so that the scholars can improve the equilibrium price model proposed in order to make the Malaysian housing become an affordable.