30 January 2008 - Inter-state Lectures in KL and Penang

Inter-state lectures..... Delivered a lecture on Islamic finance in Kuala Lumpur from 9 am till 4.30 pm....drive up north to Penang "Pearl of the Orient" on a 350km journey (3 hr 30 m drive)....then delivered another 3 hr-lecture on Islamic investment from 8-11 pm. The next day attended 3 meetings....then time for Nasi Kandar.

"Malaysia as an International Islamic Financial Centre" (August 2007)

Delivered a lecture, "Malaysia as an International Islamic Financial Centre" at the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance (INCEIF) in Kuala Lumpur on 6 August 2007.

"The Role of Islamic Banking in Promoting Malaysia as an International Halal Financial Hub" (July 2007)

Delivered a lecture, "The Role of Islamic Banking in Promoting Malaysia as an International Halal Financial Hub" at National Halal Industry Forum 2007 organised by Halal Industry Research Centre, International Islamic University Malaysia at MATRADE on 23-24 July 2007

"Islamic Banking in Asia: Improving Delivery Channels through Latest Technology" (May 2007)

Delivered a lecture, "Islamic Banking in Asia: Improving Delivery Channels through Latest Technology"at BankTech Asia 2007 organised by Knowledge Group at Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre on 22-23 May 2007.

Delivering A Speech in an Islamic Finance Conference in Kuala Lumpur (June 2006)

A Moderator in an Islamic Management Course for a Malaysian Government Department in Cameron Highlands (2006)

A Lecturer on Takaful (Islamic Insurance) for Finansa Life Assurance in Bangkok, Thailand (2005)

With the management of Finansa Life Assurance and its Shariah Advisors for Takaful (Dr Adam and others) as well as another speaker....very nice and friendly people.

In Bahrain attended MEFTEC and became the guest to the Malaysian Ambassador to Bahrain (2004)

Bahrain Financial Harbour

Delivering a Lecture on Islamic Finance at Brunei Institute of Technology (2004)

My 14th trip to Brunei Darussalam.

My lecture is reported in BruneiDirect.com

"Islamic principles should be adhered to when acquiring profit the halal way," said Hj Suhaila Hj Abd Karim, Acting Director, Institute Technology Brunei and the guest of honour at the Accounting for Islamic Banking workshop yesterday.
Around 43 participants took part in the workshop, which was organised by the Institute of Technology Brunei (ITB). Participants comprised 38 ITB student who are currently in their final year of the Higher National Diploma in Business Management as well as five personal from the Islamic Bank of Brunei Bhd (IBB).
Two speakers from Malaysia were invited as guest lecturers at the workshop, where they would be sharing their experiences in the banking world and their knowledge on Accounting for Islamic Banking.
The guest of honour at the event, in his opening speech, explained the main objectives of the workshop, which was to provide Bruneian students better insight into Islamic Banking including its principals and complainants.
Hj Suhaili Hj Abdul Karim added that the key to success in the employment world was continuously acquiring knowledge and skills- especially for Muslim where Islamic Law was compulsory.
The first speaker for the workshop was Ahmad Sanusi Husain, Managing Director of Global Pro Training Development Sdn Bhd who has over 14 years of experience in training, education and banking fields.
He spoke on "Global Development of Islamic Banking and Finance", highlighting and briefly explaining the basic concept and principals of Islamic Banking with relative to the Syariah Basis as well as some aspects of Islamic banking frameworks.
The second speaker for the workshop was Dr Siti Normala Sheikh Obid, a lecturer from the Department of Accounting, School of Economics & Management Sciences, International Islamic University, Malaysia.
Dr Siti Normala spoke on the "Development of Islamic Accounting Standards in Malaysia", which touched on the new financial regime in Malaysia and issues relating to Islamic based transactions.
She also delivered a talk titled, "Objectives and Concepts of Financial Accounting for Islamic Banks and Financial Institutions".
Courtesy of Borneo Bulletin

Delivered 10-day training session on Islamic banking operation for Malaysian students in Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt (2003)

Al-Azhar University--the world's oldest surviving university... 2 weeks in exciting City of Cairo.


Delivered 10-day training session on Islamic banking operation for Malaysian students in Al Azhar University, Cairo, Egypt (2003)

Attended the Launching of the Islamic Bank of Thailand by the Prime Minister Thaksin (2003)

Attended high-profile launching of Islamic Bank of Thailand by the then Prime Minister of Thailand, Thaksin. Ended with the recitation of dua (supplication) led by the Grand Mufti of Thailand. Some 1,000 persons attended the ceremony held at Bangkok International Trade & Exhibition Centre (BITEC). I was the trainer/consultant on Islamic banking for Islamic Bank of Thailand and Krung Thai Bank Islamic (the 2 banks now merged) as well as on takaful for Finansa Life Assurance.

In Malacanang Palace, Manila for launching of an Islamic bank (2002)

Attended the launching ceremony of ALIF Bank (an Islamic bank) at Malacanang Palace in Manila together with a group of bankers from Malaysia, Brunei and Philippines. The Islamic bank was meant particularly to serve banking needs of Muslims in Mindanao and Manila.

A Trainer on Islamic banking for Indonesian bankers organised by Bank Indonesia in Bumi Karsa, Jakarta (1999)

Bumi Karsa Bidakara, Jakarta....2 weeks here conducted training on Islamic banking and finance. Visited Puncak and Bandung on the weekends.

International Integrated Course on Islamic Banking and Finance: 17-days Program at Holiday Villa Subang (1994)

Organised 17-days International Integrated Course on Islamic Banking and Finance held at Holiday Villa, Subang in the suburb of Kuala Lumpur in 1994. I was a speaker on the topic "Islamic Consumer/Retail Financing". The course was attended by over 100 participants from 20 countries including from Bahrain, Kuwait, USA, Brunei and Indonesia. Treated delegates for a trip by bus to Penang Island "the Pearl of the Orient" on the weekend, 400 km away up north.

Joined Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) on 15 September 1991

Joined Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad (BIMB) on 15 September 1991. I was interviewed by the "Father of Islamic Banking in Malaysia", Dato' Dr. Abdul Halim Ismail, the bank's first Managing Director. Undergone overall Islamic banking operation familisation program at Shah Alam Branch (located about 35 km from KL) for several weeks and then assigned to the Organisation and Methods Dept (more like Business Development/Product Development Dept). Developed several new products and services (mostly financing products) for the Islamic bank, wrote manuals and standard operating procedures and trained staff from branches and head office during the implementation stage. Of course, products and services must be approved by the Shariah Advisory Council of the bank before implementation.

In 1993, Bank Negara Malaysia introduced Interest-free Banking Scheme (IBS) or in Malay it was called Skim Perbankan Tanpa Faedah (SPTF) to be implemented at conventional banks as an "IB window" or "IB counter". Most of other banks asked for consultancy service from BIMB to develop and introduce their Islamic banking business. I was then assigned a consultant/trainer for almost all conventional banks in Malaysia and then expanded to foreign countries like Indonesia, Brunei, Thailand and other countries.

That was how my consulting and training career in Islamic finance started up till now....

Served at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) (1990-1991)

After returning to Malaysia from the States, I served (worked) for about a year at Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM) / "Northern Malaysia University" in the Faculty of Foundation Studies. I think the faculty is currently known as College of Arts & Sciences.

The Universiti Utara Malaysia formally incorporated on 16th February 1984, with the unique mission to provide academic excellence in the areas of business management education, IT and quality management. Faced with this challenging task, the University has, since its inception, ensured that its academic niche areas are focused on such disciplines as management, accountancy, economics, information technology, entrepreneurial development, tourism management, banking and finance, social development, human resources development and international affairs management.

From its humble beginnings in Tanah Merah, Jitra, in 1990, the University moved to Sintok, 48 kilometers north of Alor Setar, the state capital of Kedah Darul Aman and 10 kilometers east of Changlun, a small town on the North-South Highway. The 1,061 hectares campus is surrounded by tropical rain forests set against a background of mountains. The Sintok and Badak Rivers run through the campus creating a truly unique feature as well as making it one of the most beautiful campuses in Malaysia.

The huge campus, which cost RM 580 million, started operation on 15 September 1990. It comprises 15 residential colleges which can accommodate 20,000 students in total. Many of these colleges are named after multinational and public listed companies, namely MAS, TENAGA NATIONAL, TM, PROTON, PETRONAS, TRADEWINDS, EON, GUTHRIE, MISC, PERWAJA, MAYBANK, BANK MUAMALAT, YAYASAN AL-BUKHARY, BUKIT KACHI 1 and 2. UUM is one of the very few IPTAs that offer full accommodation to its students throughout their academic years at the University.

Study at Northern Illinois University, DeKalb, Illinois, USA (1984-1988)

In 1988's, there were about 200 Malaysian students studied at NIU. Together with Muslim students from other countries, we collected about USD90,000 to purchase a house in Normal Rd and converted it to Muslim House (Islamic Centre)....where we performed our weekly Friday Prayer and daily Congregation Prayers. I was the Vice President of Islamic Society of NIU (ISNIU). Professor Dr. Sidek Baba was the President then. We organised several dialogue sessions with Christians and people of other faiths to explain about Islam and to correct the common misunderstanding. Happy to note that many NIU graduates from Malaysia have progressed to become university professors and corporate leaders.....with the exception of me (maybe not yet).

The City of DeKalb, the home of NIU is located some 60 miles from Chicago "the Windy City". Illinois is called "Land of Lincoln" and currently it is also "Land of Obama".......

Received secondary education in Ipoh City, State of Perak, Malaysia (1981-1982)

Born somewhere here....in picturesque country side, near Alor Star City in the State of Kedah, north of Malaysia (1965)

Never forget your root.....

Kedah sits in the northwest corner of Peninsular Malaysia. Kedah has the distinction of being the "Rice-bowl of Malaysia" - a term that takes on aesthetic significance when one sees the rice fields for themselves: the flat expanse of padis against a backdrop of rolling hills provides a picture of utter serenity that lulls the senses.

Off Kedah's western shores are clusters of sun-drenched islands that comprise the legendary archipelago of Langkawi, easily the most popular resort location in the country. Rising to meet the western shoreline is the mountain of Gunung Jerai (1,200 meters above sea level).

Kedah's population of about one million is primarily Malay, though there are significant Chinese and Indian minorities.

Welcome to Kedah Darul Aman (the State of Peace)!