Local News
@ Halal | January-February . 2022
Ambank Group receives international awards
Empowering SMEs CIMB Islamic and KLSCCCI ’ S webinar series engages for sustainable growth
AMBANK GROUP received three awards this year for its efforts in serving the small and medium enterprises ( SMEs ) in Malaysia .
AmBank Islamic Berhad was awarded the Best Islamic SME Bank Malaysia 2021 award by Alpha Southeast Asia for the third consecutive year , cementing the bank ’ s position and capabilities as one of Malaysia ’ s leading Islamic banks in serving the SME segment .
Meanwhile , AmBank ( M ) Berhad was accorded with the SME Bank of the Year 2021 Malaysia award by Asian Banking and Finance for the third consecutive year and Best SME Bank Malaysia 2021 award by Global Banking and Finance Review the fourth year running .
Dato ’ Sulaiman Mohd Tahir , Group Chief Executive Officer , AmBank Group , said : “ We are grateful and honoured to be accorded with these prestigious awards . Supporting SMEs is part of our financial inclusion agenda , which is an integral pillar of our sustainability journey , so this win is truly a testament of our commitment .”
Christopher Yap , Managing Director , Business Banking , AmBank Group , added : “ These awards are a good indication that we are serving our SME customers well . We are thankful for the recognition and will continue to serve the SME segment by offering innovative products that are relevant with the times .”
“ I would like to take this opportunity to thank our SME customers for their support , and we at AmBank Islamic will continue to reach our aspiration to provide value-based banking services to all our customers ,” Eqhwan Mokhzanee , Chief Executive Officer of AmBank Islamic added .
CIMB ISLAMIC Bank Berhad ( CIMB Islamic ) and The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor ( KLSCCCI ) collaborated to bring SME business owners a series of empowering educational webinars from October to December 2021 .
Sustainable long-term growth forms the central theme of this initiative , the key to operating in the pandemic , with three sessions covering areas including SME financing solutions , halal business , the “ green ” or sustainable business market , and digital transformation as levers for growth . The sessions also aim to provide exposure to opportunities for overseas expansion as businesses grow .
The webinars are complimentary and open to all SME entities in Malaysia , including non-members of the KLSCCCI , who stand to benefit from this opportunity for learning and industry exposure .
The first session , Bizready 1.0 – SME Financing Solutions , brought participants on a journey to understand the range of financing programmes available to all SMEs , especially those affected by the pandemic .
The Bizready 2.0 - CIMB HalalBizReady and Digital Transformation webinar brought attention to Malaysia ’ s strength and leadership in the halal sector , providing local and global opportunities in halal business across the SME sector .
Bizready 3.0 - CIMB GreenBiz- Ready and CIMB Trade Club Alliance
Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff , CEO , CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad ( left ) and Datuk Ng Yih Pyng , President , The Chinese Chamber of Commerce and Industry of Kuala Lumpur and Selangor ..
were held in December . With the increasing sense of urgency for sustainable practice , SMEs can take advantage of CIMB GreenBizReady , a sustainability solution to start and progress on their sustainability journey .
The CEO of CIMB Islamic Bank , Ahmad Shahriman Mohd Shariff , said they valued the collaboration with KLSCCCI to empower the local business community to survive and enjoy healthy growth in the new normal .
“ The webinar series is impressive cooperation amongst key industry players that aim to bring the SME community closer to the halal , green and digital economies . Estimated to grow to US $ 2.4 trillion by 2024 , the halal economy holds excellent potential locally and globally , with plentiful opportunities to be accessed by all SME businesses ,” said Ahmad Shahriman .
“ The webinar sessions are also consistent with CIMB Islamic ’ s commitment to upholding Value-Based
Intermediation , responsible Shariahcompliant practices that have a beneficial and long-term sustainable impact on the economy .”
KLSCCCI president , Datuk Ng Yih Pyng , said with a membership base of over 30,000 , the association was honoured to be recognised as a reliable voice for local businesses and also actively strives for the advancement and well-being of this community .
“ The pandemic has affected many livelihoods within our SMEs . This strategic partnership with CIMB Islamic can reinvigorate and grow our SME community . It includes bringing them essential information on the potential for growth in the halal and green markets , aided by digitalisation , both at home and abroad ,” said Ng .
“ This inaugural set of webinars is open to all SME businesses and aims to provide a good platform for SMEs to future-proof their portfolios in the post-pandemic economy . Nonmembers of KLSCCCI are also very welcome .”
Wakaf ASNB launches event at Minggu Saham Digital
AMANAH SAHAM Nasional Berhad ( ASNB ), the wholly-owned unit trust management company of Permodalan Nasional Berhad ( PNB ), launched the new Wakaf ASNB service officiated by PNB Group Chairman Tun Arifin Zakaria , in conjunction with Minggu Saham Digital 2021 ( MSD 2021 ).
Wakaf ASNB , available from Oct 25 2021 , provides opportunities for investors to carry out charitable deeds through their ASNB unit trust funds .
Investors ’ unit trust funds donated as wakaf will be retained as the principal investment to generate potential annual returns . The returns from the principal investment are subsequently channelled to public interest projects annually , even after the investor passes on .
Arifin Zakaria said : “ ASNB is the first unit trust management institution to be appointed as a ‘ Mutawalli ’ by the Federal Territory Islamic Religious Council ( MAIWP ). With this appointment , ASNB is entrusted to fully manage this wakaf fund with a high level of governance and professionalism for the benefit of the ummah and community .
“ The returns from the wakaf fund will then be channelled to wakaf projects in the health , education , and community upliftment sectors as well as for humanitarian missions . The Joint ASNB-MAIWP Wakaf Distribution Committee will carry out a stringent screening and selection process to determine the list of deserving beneficiary projects ”.
The committee consists of representatives from the wakaf asset administrator , who is ASNB Wakalah Sdn Bhd ( AWSB ), MAIWP and other independent members also act as advisers on legal issues related to shariah compliance , policies , programmes and governance of the wakaf fund .
PNB President & Group Chief Executive Ahmad Zulqarnain Onn stated : “ PNB supports the effort to empower the wakaf industry in Malaysia by offering Wakaf ASNB as a new innovation to Malaysians .
Throughout MSD 2021 , PNB offers various financial planning and investmentrelated programmes , including Islamic financial management such as estate planning facilities through Hibah Amanah and Trust Declaration , zakat and wakaf .”
The launch of Wakaf ASNB was followed by a forum entitled ‘ Wakaf – Faedah yang Berkekalan ’ featuring Prof . Madya Dato ’ Dr Izhar Ariff Mohd Kashim and Prof . Madya Dr Sharifah Hayaati Syed Ismail as the panellists while moderating the forum was Ustaz Mohd Hariri Mohamad Daud .