Pelaburan, Unit Amanah, Unit Trust, Ekonomi - Malaysia Akan Wujudkan Institusi Kewangan Islam Mega

Malaysia Akan Wujudkan Institusi Kewangan Islam Mega

Bernama: 27 April 2009

PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia akan menjadi negara pertama mempunyai institusi kewangan Islam mega dengan modal berbayar sekurang-kurangnya AS$1 bilion.

"Dalam persekitaran ekonomi semasa, tiada institusi kewangan sedemikian. Malah, tidak ada di mana-mana dalam dunia," kata Gabenor Bank Negara Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz kepada pemberita di sini isnin.

Perdana Menteri Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak hari ini mengumumkan langkah-langkah penting untuk meliberalisasikan sektor kewangan.

Ia termasuk dua lesen perbankan Islam baharu akan ditawarkan kepada peserta asing tahun ini dengan modal berbayar sekurang-kurangnya AS$1 bilion.

Menurut Zeti, bank-bank berkenaan adalah untuk perniagaan antarabangsa.

"Kriterianya ialah bagi modal berbayar sebanyak AS$1 bilion. Oleh itu, perniagaan perlu antarabangsa, dari mana-mana bahagian dalam dunia bagi mewajarkan paras permodalan," katanya.

Najib, yang juga Menteri Kewangan, turut mengumumkan dua lesen perbankan perdagangan baharu akan diberikan kepada peserta asing yang dapat membawa masuk profesionalisme dalam bidang khusus dan menyumbang dengan ketara kepada pembangunan negara.

Mengenai jenis pengkhususan yang diharapkan, Zeti berkata produk dan perkhidmatan yang akan ditawarkan belum signifikan di Malaysia, seperti dalam infrastruktur, pertanian dan teknologi.

Bagi semua lesen yang diberikan pada 2009 permohonan perlu sebelum 31 Okt dan jika berjaya, operasi perdagangan boleh bermula pada 2010.

Sementara itu, BNM dalam satu kenyataan berkata pemegang dua lesen baharu perbankan Islam itu mesti diperbadankan di Malaysia dan akan dikawal selia oleh Bank Negara Malaysia. Bank-bank Islam baharu akan dilesenkan di bawah Akta Bank Islam 1983.

Bank itu boleh mempunyai kepentingan ekuiti asing sehingga 100 peratus.

Bagi pengendali takaful keluarga baharu akan didaftarkan di bawah Akta Takaful 1984. Modal diterbitkan dan modal berbayar minimum kekal RM100 juta.

Menurut BNK, kriteria berikut akan digunakan apabila menilai merit permohonan:

* Pemohon hendaklah sebuah institusi kawal selia yang berwibawa atau pemegang saham institusi kawal selia yang berwibawa, dan

* Pemohon hendaklah mempamerkan, melalui rancangan perniagaan yang menyeluruh, bahawa institusi berlesen baharu yang dicadangkan untuk ditubuhkan di Malaysia atau rakan kongsi asing yang ingin memiliki kepentingan ekuiti bank Islam domestik yang sedia ada, seharusnya mempunyai kepakaran dan sumber yang perlu yang boleh memanfaatkan pasaran kewangan Islam global dan akan memperkukuh kedudukan Malaysia sebagai hab kewangan Islam antarabangsa.

Rancangan perniagaan tersebut harus merangkumi perkara yang memberikan manfaat besar, yang antara lainnya ialah:

* Bidang kepakaran khusus dengan perincian mengenai cara produk dan perkhidmatan yang ditawarkan tersebut akan mempertingkat kedalaman dan keluasan pasaran;

* Iltizam untuk membangunkan modal insan dan keperluan infrastruktur untuk operasi yang teguh di Malaysia; dan

* Rancangan mantap mengenai cara untuk memperluas operasi bagi pengembangan serantau dan antarabangsa.

- BERNAMA

Malaysia To Have Mega Islamic Financial Institution
Bernama: 27 April 2009

PUTRAJAYA - Malaysia will be the first country to have a mega Islamic financial institution with a paid up capital of at least US$1 billion.

"In the present economic environment, there is no such Islamic financial institution. In fact, we don't have it in any part of the world," Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM)Governor, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz told reporters here Monday.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Mohd Najib Tun Razak announced today a significant package of measures to liberalise the financial sector.

It includes two new Islamic banking licenses to be issued to foreign players this year, with a paid-up capital of at least US$1 billion.

According to Zeti, the banks would be for international business.

"The criteria is for a paid up capital of US$1 billion. Therefore, the business has to be international and from any part of the world to justify the level of capitalisation," she said.

Najib, also the Finance Minister, announced too that two new commercial banking licenses would be given to foreign participants who are able to infuse professionalism in specific areas and significantly contribute to the development of the country.

On the kind of specialisation expected, Zeti noted that the services and products to be offered would not as yet be significant in Malaysia, such as in infrastructure, agriculture and technology.

For all licenses given out in 2009 the application should be before Oct 31 and if successful, commercial operations can begin in 2010.

Meanwhile, BNM, in a statement said the two new licensees for Islamic Banks must be locally incorporated and be regulated by it. The banks will also be licensed under the Islamic Banking Act 1985.

The banks may have a foreign equity interest of up to 100 percent.

As for the two new family takaful operators, BNM said that they would be registered under the Takaful Act 1984. The minimum issued and paid up capital is to remain at RM100 million.

BNM also said that, in assessing the merits of the applications, the following criteria would be adopted:

The applicant must be a reputable regulated institution or a shareholder of one

The applicant must demonstrate, through a comprehensive business plan, that the proposed new licensed institution to be established in Malaysia or the foreign partner intending to acquire equity interest in an existing domestic Islamic bank, had the necessary expertise and resources to tap the global Islamic financial market and contribute to reinforcing Malaysia's position as an International Islamic financial hub.

The business plan should include a strong value proposition which, among others should cover :

Areas of specialised expertise with details on how the products and services offered would enhance the depth and breadth of the market.

A commitment to develop human capital and infrastructural requirements for a robust Malaysian operation and

Concrete plans as to how the operations would be extended for regional and international expansion.

- BERNAMA