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Malaysia hopes to be the first country in the world to introduce Islamic wealth management and champion new products under the Islamic financial system, said Deputy Finance Minister Datuk Ahmad Maslan. According to him, Islamic wealth management is an attractive sub-sector and promises good returns in the financial services industry. Ahmad said, to boost Malaysia’s aspiration to be the center of intellectual excellence in Islamic finance, the government stepped up efforts in that direction. The Islamic wealth management is expected to evolve to the next stage in the Islamic finance industry with the availability of infrastructure in terms of human resource development for the Islamic financial institutions and expertise that is existing today.

The Islamic capital markets in Malaysia might have seen fast expansion over the last years but a survey reveals that there is a pervasive lack of understanding of Syariah investments among the unit trust fund investors. Malaysian investors are also looking at alternative options such as Asian high dividend equities and Asian multi-asset income a survey by Eastspring Investments reveals. Asian multi-asset income unit trusts were also widely sought.

BTMU has plans to issue Sukuk in Malaysia and hoping to tap the demand in the fast-growing Islamic Capital markets. The bank is considering floating bonds denominated in dollars and yen, with target on Middle Eastern pension funds and Islamic insurance companies. This would mark the first issuance of yen-denominated Sukuk. BTMU expects demand from investors that seek to diversify. A growth in Sukuk could provide a channel for Japan to attract Islamic money.

A 10 percent growth in the Malaysian Sukuk market for this and next year is in line with the positive views on the long-term growth trends in the global Sukuk market according to Philipp Lotter, Moody's Managing Director for the Corporate Finance Group in ASEAN. Malaysia will remain the world's largest Sukuk market, says Khalid Howladar, Moody's Global Head for Islamic Finance. Singapore and Hong Kong are tapping into this fast-growing asset class although Saudi Arabia is showing strong domestic potential," adds Howladar.

Analysts expect to see some consolidation in Malaysia's takaful sector as a result of the Financial Services Act and the Islamic Financial Services Act. Under the new rules, composite insurers and takaful players are required to operate their life and nonlife units under separate licenses and have until 2018 to meet the requirement. Industry observers said that those affected should start looking for mergers and acquisitions instead of waiting for four more years to split their businesses.

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd is targeting to achieve a total of 140,000 savings and investment accounts with total deposits of RM500 million in its next Al-Awfar campaign. The campaign will likely be held in the second half of this year until year-end. Following this, the bank would have a total of one million Al-Awfar accounts with total deposits of RM2.5 billion. For the next Al-Awfar campaign, more than half a million ringgit is planned to be spent on advertising and promotion. To participate, new customers are required to open accounts with a minimum deposit of RM1,000 while existing Al-Awfar account holders can top up with a minimum deposit of RM1,000. Depositors have to maintain a minimum balance of RM1,000 in their accounts at all times for a four-month period to entitle them to take part in the campaign.

Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd will spend more than RM5 million this year on its corporate social responsibility (CSR) programmes to cater for various segments of society nationwide. The CSR programmes planned this year include housing projects for the needy in Johor, which involved the rehabilitation and construction of houses for 22 families costing more than RM4 million. So far, the bank has built or rehabilitated houses for more than 151 improverished families in Kelantan, Terengganu, Kedah, Pahang, Perak and Sarawak. The bank is also looking to extend its CSR activities in Sabah as there is still a need for houses for the poor as well as basic infrastructure like surau and others.

Over the last two years, M&As in the Malaysian insurance sector have mainly involved conventional insurers, and analysts foresee some consolidation taking shape in the takaful sector in view of the Financial Services Act (FSA) and the Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA). Among the candidates for potential M&As are Takaful Ikhlas Sdn Bhd, a unit of MNRB Holdings Bhd, and Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd (STMB). The IFSA may prompt MNRB to sell its stake in Takaful Ikhlas to a strategic partner, as further internal capital injections could be complicated. In the next few years, the main thrust for M&As is expected to be on the general insurance and general takaful industry. The life insurance sector sees to have consolidated somewhat for the time being.

When mentioning waqaf, the benefaction for religious or public purpose, the general perception is that one has to donate land to build surau (prayer hall) or to be used as burial ground. However, there is more than this to waqaf as it could also serve as a mechanism or instrument to restructure or develop a community. In Malaysia, the properties donated under waqaf is administered by trustees, namely the state religious and customary councils. They later develop the properties for the benefit of Muslims. Although today the waqaf concept has been expanded to include donating cash and shares apart from land, the concept remains limited. Therefore, there's a need for information campaigns, better understanding and transparent waqaf institutions that carry out their duties in the right manner.

Sukuk sales by Malaysian lenders seeking to comply with Basel III rules are drawing strong demand, prompting arrangers to predict a rush of offers. CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd has reportedly submitted a proposal to the Securities Commission for a RM5 billion (S$1.9 billion) programme. Moreover, Public Islamic Bank Bhd received approval for a similar-sized programme, an April 23 stock exchange filing shows. AmIslamic Bank Bhd, Maybank Islamic Bank Bhd and RHB Islamic Bank Bhd have sold a combined RM2.2 billion of Basel III sukuk since late February.

Contents
Revised Shariah Screening Methodology: 1
Expands ICM’s Global Reach
SHARIAH
New Shariah Advisory Council Resolutions 3
DEVELOPMENT
Region’s First Structured Covered Sukuk 7
Royal Award for Islamic Finance Calls for Global 9
Nominations
SC and Autoriti Monetari Brunei to Strengthen 9
Efforts in Greater Cross-border Activities
SC Leads Islamic Finance Taskforce to Publish a 10
Report on Enhancing Infrastructure for ICM
REGULATORY
IFSB-IOSCO-SC Collaborate on Disclosure 11
Requirements for ICM Products
SC Revises Equity Guidelines for SPACS 12
Technical Note on the Application of SC’s 13
Guidelines In Relation to Non-Tradable and
Non-Transferable PDS and Sukuk
FEATURES
2013: Another Resilient Year for the Global 14
Islamic Finance Industry
Global Islamic Funds Industry: Achieving 18
Growth Under Challenging Times
Harmonisation of Shariah Rulings 22
in Islamic Finance
News Round-up 29
STATISTICAL UPDATES
Malaysian ICM – Facts and Figures 32
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ndonesian airline Garuda Indonesia Tbk has secured US$100 million in financing from a unit of Malaysia's Maybank to fund its operations and expansion. The Musyarakah-based loan has a tenure of three years and will be issued through Maybank's Indonesian unit, PT Bank Internasional Indonesia Tbk. Garuda Indonesia posted a net loss of $163.9 million in its first quarter ended March, compared with a loss of $33.75 million in the same period a year earlier, as the airline continued to struggle with rising competition.

Etiqa Takaful Bhd, a unit of Malayan Banking, plans to issue 300 million ringgit ($92.2 million) in sukuk as early as this month, its chief executive Ahmad Rizlan Azman said. Last month, Etiqa Takaful set up its maiden sukuk programme, rated AA1 by RAM ratings, designed to qualify as Tier 2 capital in the company's balance sheet. The sukuk would be a one-off transaction classified as Etiqa's liabilities, carrying a 10-year tenor and a non-call provision in the first five years, said Azman. Etiqa would use a musharaka structure and the proceeds of the sukuk would be used for general business operations, working capital and other purposes. Maybank Investment Bank is the advisor for the sukuk.

Last month, Ikim organised a seminar on “Promoting Waqf as a Mainstream Tool in the National Economic Policy”. Several issues were discussed on the potential of waqf in supporting the social and economic development of the nation. One such issue perceived to impede its ability to unleash its fullest potential is the prevalent scepticism about the capability and professionalism of waqf management in managing its assets. Undoubtedly, waqf institutions – especially those under the purview of state religious councils – that are as professionally managed as well-governed corporations can significantly contribute towards improving the welfare standards and quality of life of many in a particular location or state.

Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd plans to grow its total deposits by up to 20 per cent this year from RM15 billion at present by diversifying its depositor base. Chief Executive Officer Datuk Mohd Redza Shah Abdul Wahid said the bank was aggressively diversifying its depositor base through the "Oh Yeah Deposit Campaign" as well as working with small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and business chambers. On overseas ventures, he said the bank was exploring opportunities for tie-ups with Islamic banks in Asean countries which were expected to take place in the next 12 months. Meanwhile, Chief Operating Officer Asri Awang said Bank Muamalat of optimistic of a loans growth of 15 per cent this year from its current financing base of RM11 billion.

The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) and the Bank of Tokyo-Mitsubishi UFJ (Malaysia) Berhad (BTMUM) have signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to form a joint strategic collaboration to tap opportunities in the Islamic finance industry. Khaled Al-Aboodi, ICD’s CEO and general manager, and Naoki Nishida, BTMUM CEO, inked the MoU at BTMU headquarters in Tokyo. The parties intend to leverage each other strengths and expertise especially to expand its Islamic finance activities in the ICD member countries. Khaled Al-Aboodi said the agreement will strengthen and deepen the ICD’s relationship with its non-traditional partners from the Pacific region especially to promote cross-border investment in ICD member states.

Khazanah Nasional Bhd is reportedly considering selling as much as US$1bil (RM3.26bil) of dollar-denominated exchangeable sukuk. The state-owned entity is currently choosing banks for the potential offer. The notes will be exchangeable into shares of companies controlled by Khazanah. A decision hasn’t yet been made on which equities will be included in this offering. Khazanah also owns 39% of telecommunications company Axiata Group Bhd, the biggest shareholder. It has about RM103.5bil of assets, including a stake in CIMB Group Holdings Bhd. Khazanah’s sukuk is part of a gradual move to make the Malaysian stock market more liquid. Demand for this exchangeable sukuk is expected to be well-received.

Saudi Arabia-based Islamic Development Bank is seeking to boost trading in Shariah-compliant products by opening an office in Malaysia. The Islamic Cooperation for the Development of the Private Sector, a unit of IDB, got a license in February from the Southeast Asian nation’s central bank to start offering Islamic investment products in Kuala Lumpur. It will focus on money- market instruments, foreign exchange and sukuk, chief executive officer Khaled Mohamed Al-Aboodi said. It has hired two traders and will also act as an intermediary for business between Asia and the Middle East, he said. Islamic Cooperation plans to increase the team in Kuala Lumpur as and when needed, said Al- Aboodi. The recruits are now working on developing the infrastructure and building relationships with other banks in the region.

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia has announced a final single-tiered dividend of 40%, which its shareholders approved at its AGM on Tuesday. Takaful Malaysia posted record-breaking results for 2013 as profit after tax and zakat grew by 34% to RM134.4mil from RM100.1mil in the previous financial year, with return on equity at 25.9%. With the proposed final dividends, the total single tier dividends for 2013, including the two interims dividends paid during the year, will be 82%, and this translates into a dividend yield of 6.6% based on the company’s share closing price of RM12.40 as at April 21, 2014. Group managing director, Datuk Mohamed Hassan Kamil said the company’s ultimate goal was to outpace the market and to strengthen its image through various advertising channels and marketing activities.

Maybank Islamic Bhd, a unit of Malaysia's Malayan Banking Bhd, has raised 1.5 billion ringgit ($458.65 million) with its first Basel III-compliant Islamic bond. The sukuk has a tenure of 10 years and was priced at 4.75 percent. It was oversubscribed by 2.9 times and increased in size from an initial plan for one billion ringgit. It is the first issuance under a 10 billion ringgit subordinated sukuk programme announced by the bank in March.