IslamicFinance.de

The Islamic banking division of OSK Investment Bank Bhd (OSKIB) is taking action to unlock value in the Islamic finance realm as well as to address the challenges currently faced in the segment. The Islamic banking segment in Malaysia makes up 18% of of the overall banking sector’s RM1.78 trillion total assets as at the end of last year. The measures of OSKIB include shifting of focus on business development into more Islamic capital market activities.

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Islamic finance is struggling to streamline regulations as it moves into the mainstream, but seems overwhelmed by scholar reforms.
Islamic finance is toughening supervision of its powerful religious advisers as shareholders worldwide demand increasing accountability from directors, but key reforms may do little to boost independence and transparency.
Islamic banking is overhauling rules that govern the conduct of its influential sharia advisers, with competition for investor dollars and a growing market putting pressure on the once-arcane industry to adopt clearer, more uniform guidelines.
Key to these challenges is the small number of scholars advising a growing number of banks on increasingly complex financing structures, raising issues such as transparency of rulings, independence of advisers and how to groom new scholars.
The International Sharia Research Academy for Islamic Finance, which is backed by Malaysia's central bank, is planning a global regulatory body for sharia advisers.
Others point out that uniformity is hardly attainable, as markets range from Saudi Arabia's established sector to South Korea's infant industry.