As part of initiatives to develop Malaysia’s value proposition as an Asian centre for Sustainable and Responsible Investment (SRI) and green financing by virtue of its leadership position in Islamic finance, Capital Markets Malaysia (CMM), an affiliate of the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), hosted the Sustainable Capitalism in South East Asia Forum in London recently.
A global pioneer in Islamic finance, Malaysia is taking the lead in positioning Shariah-based investing to responsible investors worldwide given its natural alignment to the principles of sustainable and responsible investment (SRI).
International recognition of this alignment by organisations such as the UN-backed Principles for Responsible Investments (PRI) and the Global Sustainable Investment Alliance places Malaysia at the forefront of the sustainable investment market (ex Japan) on account of its Islamic funds.
Speaking at the forum, Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, Deputy Chief Executive of the SC said, “The SC will continue to facilitate the development of Malaysia’s sustainable financing and investment ecosystem, leveraging our position as a leader in the Islamic capital market, to encourage innovation and collaboration in advancing the global sustainability agenda.”
Malaysia has also championed the use of Islamic finance, through the issuance of green sukuk, as an innovative financing mechanism for funding the Sustainable Development Goals.
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The SC will continue to facilitate the development of Malaysia’s sustainable financing and investment ecosystem, leveraging our position as a leader in the Islamic capital market.
Zainal Izlan Zainal Abidin, deputy chief executive, Securities Commission Malaysia
The SC paved the way for the convergence of Islamic instruments and sustainable financing with the introduction of the Sustainable and Responsible Investment Sukuk Framework in 2014, which facilitated the issuance of the world’s first green sukuk out of Malaysia in 2017. As at March 2019, six green sukuk have been issued to finance solar and small hydropower projects and green buildings. Malaysia is also home to the world’s first Sustainable Development Goals Sukuk issued in 2018.
Speakers at the forum, panellists representing HSBC, PwC, Nomura Asset Management, PRI, Maybank Islamic and the UNDP, among others, discussed how global SRI trends are set to influence growth in Asia and how the synergies between Islamic finance and SRI are expected to further contribute to the growth of the sustainable finance and investment ecosystem in Asia.
About Securities Commission Malaysia
The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC), a statutory body reporting to the Minister of Finance, was established under the Securities Commission Act 1993. It is the sole regulatory agency for the regulation and development of capital markets. The SC has direct responsibility for supervising and monitoring the activities of market institutions, including the exchanges and clearing houses, and regulating all persons licensed under the Capital Markets and Services Act 2007. More information about the SC is available on its website at www.sc.com.my. Follow the SC on twitter at @SecComMy for more updates.
About Capital Markets Malaysia
Capital Markets Malaysia (CM²) was established in 2013 as part of efforts by the Malaysian Government and the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) to promote the country’s value proposition across various segments of the capital market globally. SC launched the CM² brand in 2014 to spearhead both local and international positioning and profiling of the Malaysian capital market, representing the multi-faceted market with its wide range of conventional and Islamic products, supported by a strong governance infrastructure. CMM aims to profile the competitiveness and attractiveness of the various segments of the capital market via to promote the Malaysian capital marketplace, bringing together investors and investment opportunities.
For media queries, please contact:
Capital Markets Malaysia
Navina Balasingam
Head of Research, Branding & Communications
Mobile: +6012 3174653
Office: +603 62048143
e-mail: NavinaB@seccom.com.my
Securities Commission Malaysia
Delyana Nordin
Corporate Affairs Department
Mobile: +6012 2072787
Office: +603 62048265
email: delyanan@seccom.com.my
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