IslamicFinance.de

Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) is on track to obtaining a full-fledged Islamic banking licence, that will come together through a merger with Bank Muamalat Malaysia Bhd. Plans were being laid out to realise MBSB’s goal to get a full-fledged Islamic banking licence. This comes seven months after news-grabbing three-way merger between MBSB, CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and RHB Capital Bhd fell through in January. In May this year, MBSB was reportedly eyeing Kuwait Finance House (M) Bhd as an option for a merger exercise. One of MBSB’s setbacks as a non-conventional bank is its inability to tap low-cost funds from the money market that are accessible to conventional banks.

Malaysia Building Society Bhd (MBSB) has not initiated any new merger discussions with any organisation after the deal with CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and RHB Capital Bhd fell through. President and chief executive officer Ahmad Zaini Othman reaffirmed that MBSB has not received the green light from its shareholders to talk to any financial institution on a potential merger and acquisition. Meanwhile, Ahmad Zaini signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on behalf of MBSB with Credit and Debt Management Agency (AKPK). The MoU will enable MBSB to participate in AKPK’s debt management programme, which will see the latter extending its services.