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The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) was established on 1 March 1993 under the Securities Commission Act 1993 as a self-funding statutory body with investigative and enforcement powers. It reports to the Minister of Finance and its accounts are tabled in Parliament annually. The SC's many regulatory functions include:

     * Supervising exchanges, clearing houses and central depositories;
     * Registering authority for prospectuses of corporations other than unlisted recreational clubs;
     * Approving authority for corporate bond issues;
     * Regulating all matters relating to securities and futures contracts;
     * Regulating the take-over and mergers of companies
     * Regulating all matters relating to unit trust schemes;
     * Licensing and supervising all licensed persons;
     * Encouraging self-regulation; and
     * Ensuring proper conduct of market institutions and licensed persons.

Underpinning all these functions is the SC's ultimate responsibility of protecting the investor. Apart from discharging its regulatory functions, the SC is also obliged by statute to encourage and promote the development of the securities and futures markets in Malaysia.

Website: www.sc.com.my

Bursa Malaysia Berhad is an exchange holding company that regulates and operates the trading activities on Bursa Malaysia, a stock market with just under 1,000 companies across 50 economic activities. This fully integrated exchange offers equities, derivatives, offshore, bonds as well as Islamic products and remains one of the largest bourses in Asia, offering a diverse range of investment choices globally. Companies are either listed on the Main Market for large-cap established companies, while the ACE Market is for emerging companies of all sizes and economic sectors.

BURSA MALAYSIA’S ISLAMIC MARKETS

Currently, 88% of the securities listed on Bursa Malaysia are Shariah-compliant and represent two-thirds of Malaysia’s market capitalisation. At Bursa Malaysia, choices are abundant as investors have access to an extensive selection of Shari’ah-compliant stocks across diversified industries for broader and deeper investment portfolios.

The Exchange is also the world’s only exchange that follows the three comprehensive and transparent Shari’ah screening processes that are in line with international standards such as that of the FTSE Group, Yasaar Ltd and the Securities Commission’s Shariah Advisory Council (SAC). The FTSE Hijrah Shariah index (FBM Hijrah Shariah) and the FTSE Bursa Malaysia EMAS Shariah index (FBM EMAS Shariah) provide a broad benchmark for Shariah-compliant investment.

Malaysia is one of the largest sukuk issuance centres in the world and accounts for approximately two-thirds of the global sukuk outstanding. In 2009, Bursa Malaysia recorded the highest value of sukuk programme globally. Issuing sukuk in Malaysia is cost-effective as International Issuers have the flexibility to issue either ringgit or non-ringgit denominated sukuk using international documentation, based on UK or US laws. They also have the choice of working with international credit rating agencies for foreign issuances of sukuk in Malaysia.

Bursa Suq Al-Sila’ is the world’s first end-to-end Shari’ah-compliant and fully-electronic commodity trading platform that facilitates commodity-based Islamic financing and investment transactions under the Shari’ah principles of Murabahah, Tawarruq and Musawwamah. With the underlying commodity being Bursa Malaysia’s star product – the crude palm oil futures (FCPO) contract, Bursa Suq Al-Sila’ is poised to spur the development of Islamic investment in Malaysia.

For more information on Bursa Malaysia’s Islamic Markets, visit the website www.bursamalaysia.com

Amanie Business Solutions (Amanie) has been established in 2005 with the aim of fulfilling the need to further develop the Islamic Finance industry from the knowledge and the human capital development standpoint. To achieve these goals, Amanie focuses on providing quality Shariah advisory services, product development consultancy as well as research & development for both institutional and corporate clientele in the Islamic financial services industry through the guidance of its renowned International Shariah Scholars.

Amanie Shariah Supervisory Board
      * Dr Mohamad Ali Elgari (Chairman, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia)
      * Dr Muhammad Amin Ali Qattan (Kuwait)
      * Dr Mohd Daud Bakar (Malaysia)
      * Dr Osama Al Dereai (Qatar)

In addition to the above, Amanie also provides training and research to enhance the industry’s level of expertise by capturing and documenting Islamic finance innovations through the design and development of Islamic Finance training modules. This is to promote flexible learning opportunities which shall equip the industry workforce with relevant skills and expertise in Islamic Finance.

In August 2008, Amanie embarked on an expansion by establishing the Amanie Islamic Finance Consultancy and Education LLC in Dubai International Financial Centre (DIFC), Dubai, United Arab Emirates. The establishment of Amanie’s outfit in Dubai is aimed to fulfill the strong demand for Shariah advisory and consultancy services in the GCC region and beyond.

Currently Amanie is the preferred global Shariah consultancy and education firm that is continuously providing services to various clients spanning from the Far East, Australasia, South East Asia, Middle East, North Africa, Europe and America.

Website : www.amanie.com.my