Forum Chairman - Global Islamic Finance Conference (GIFC2008) - Grand Millennium Hotel, Kuala Lumpur

I was the chairman of the Forum: Development and Challenges in Islamic Finance in The 2nd Global Islamic Finance Conference (GIFC2008):

Chairman: Ahmad Sanusi Husain (CEO/Chief Consultant, GlobalPro Consulting)

Panellists:

1-A. Riawan Amin (Chairman, Indonesian Sharia Bank Association/CEO Bank Muamalat Indonesia)

2-Muzaffar Hisham (Deputy CEO, CIMB Islamic Bank Berhad)

3-Mohammad Illiayas Seyed Ibrahim (Senior Partner, Illiayas)

4-Hassan Ahmed (Managing Director, Crescent Risk & Wealth Management Consultancy)

With the Minister in VIP Corner - The 2nd Global Islamic Finance Conference (GIFC2008) - 29 October 2008

With the Minister in the Prime Minister's Department, Malaysia, Y.B Dato' Dr. Zahid Hamidi (de facto Religious Affairs Minister) in the VIP corner of Grand Millennium Hotel Kuala Lumpur. On the left is Dr. Mohd Kamal Khir, CEO of IBBM and on the right is Mr Amirullah Hj Abdullah.

Speaker - Human Capital Development in Islamic Finance at the Sixth International Islamic Finance Conference

Today I presented a paper entitled "Human Capital Development in Islamic Finance: Issues and Solutions" at the Sixth International Islamic Finance Conference held in Kuala Lumpur.

Having involved in human capital development in Islamic finance for the past 17 years (directly and indirectly), I shared my knowledge and experience on this crucial and critical issue with global audience.

My next destinations: Moscow (Russia), Athens (Greece), Sao Paulo (Brazil,) Madinah and Makkah (Saudi Arabia).... insyaAllah.

Certified as an Islamic Financial Planner

Alhamdulillah with the grace of Allah, I have passed the certification program on Islamic Financial Planning (IFP) conducted by FPAM and IBFIM. IFP pogram is recognised by Securities Commission and Bank Negara Malaysia (central bank of Malaysia). I was in the first batch of participants/candidates.

I must admit, the final exam was tough.... particularly in plan construction.....lots of financial formula we need to remember and utilise. It was certainly not a cup of tea taking the exam (can't drink tea during exam anyway). 6 hours exam was not sufficient to most of participants. Not all are able to go through....

Now it is my turn to give lecture for the subsequent batches of participants....insyaAlllah. Learning is not about just passing exam....it is a lifelong process of seeking knowledge, understanding and putting it into good use.

Eid Mubarak to All Muslims - 1 Syawal 1429

(A Malaysian mosque, Turkish-style)

I would like to wish Eid Mubarak to all Muslims....we say "Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Fitri" in Malaysia. The Great Day of Eid is expected to be celebrated on 1 October 2008.

This is the Day of Victory for the faithfuls.

It's time for celebration but don't forget to follow through what we learn from the 'University of Ramadan'...We are UOR graduates! Piousness and piety are not only for 1 month....it is a lifelong duty.

It's also time for forgiveness and reconciliation.

Therefore I seek forgiveness from everyone...my sincere apology, brothers and sisters.

Look forward for your support.

A Perfect Oasis For Travellers

Today I travelled to Penang in the north of Malaysia (400 km from Kuala Lumpur) for a meeting. On the way back to Kuala Lumpur, I stopped at Tapah R&R (Rest & Rescue) on PLUS Highway, south-bound just after Ipoh City for iftar (breaking fast) and prayers.

What I would like to highlight is that the R&R is so nice with very beautiful landscaped garden...very 'cool' and comfortable prayer area (surau)...very clean 'garden-setting' toilets with cleaners standing by for slightest imperfection...lots of restaurants, shops and fruit stalls with reasonable prices...ample parking space with 2 petrol megastations and peaceful surrounding. Having travelled to many countries including making 12,000 miles journey by road across USA (covering most of the states )....Tapah R&R (south-bound) is exemplary and could be the best R&R in the world.

Congratulation PLUS....I think it deserves a rating of A Plus (A+) for this particular R&R. It proved once again that Malaysians can do it even better than so-called developed countries ...Malaysia Boleh! We have first-class expressway and first-class R&R, keep up good works but please don't push up the toll rate.

This is a perfect oasis for tired and hungry travellers.

Ramadan Kareem! (Generous, Bountiful Ramadan)

Today, 1 September 2008 is the the first day of Ramadan 1429 (Muslim calendar) in Malaysia and most of other countries in the world.

To all Muslim friends all over the world, I wish you Ramadan Kareem.

As the new moon is sighted and the Holy Month of Ramadan begins,
May the blessing of Allah shower upon you.
Wishing you a joyous and blessed Ramadan.

Let's listen, read and think (ponder) upon the the following Quranic verses regarding Ramadan (Surah Baqarah: verse 183-187),



Let's also seek for the Night of Power...a night that is better than a thousand months (i.e 83 yrs 4 mths or 29,500 days in Islamic calendar) as mentioned in Surah Al-Qadr below,



In this Holy Month of Ramadan, let's make lots of remembrance and dua (prayer) to Allah. Please pray for me too.

O Allah, make us amongst the fortunate who will attain the reward of Laylatul Qadr by your mercy, oh the Most Merciful of those who show mercy.

Amazing Lailatul Qadr Dua by Sa'ad AL Ghamdi part 1


Amazing Lailatul Qadr Dua by Sa'ad AL Ghamdi part 2


Thanks to so many friends who have been very helpful, supportive and patient with me....God shall reward and bless you.

Ramadan Mubarak. Wishing you a blessed Ramadan.

Ahmad Sanusi Husain
Kuala Lumpur

Speaker - Islamic Finance Conferences in Pakistan

I have been invited to be a speaker for 2 international Islamic finance conferences in Pakistan in August '08 (to be held in Karachi and Lahore).

I will also be a speaker in the international conference on Islamic banking and finance organised by Monash University in October '08.

InsyaAllah I will not disappoint the organisers who are very kind in extending their invitation for me to speak in the international conferences...and hopefully will not disappoint the audience too.

See you there...and please also support my own events (organised by Alfalah Consulting), please visit www.alfalahconsulting.com...thanks for your support.

In between the conferences...I am lecturing at colleges and institutes and doing consulting works in Islamic finance/Islamic unit trust investment/human capital development....and writing in my blogs (5 of them are active).

8 July 2008 - Delivered a Lecture on Talent Management Towards Excellent Performance

Today I delivered a lecture on Talent Management (Human Capital Management) in a conference on performance management in Kuala Lumpur.

I deliberated on talent matrix and others.....the definitions and solutions.

Based on encouraging feedbacks from participants, this topic (talent management/human capital management) will be my regular lecture/training topic besides my usual passion....Islamic finance and financial planning.

I thought I could finish my lecture in 30 min. but it ended up in almost 2 hours.

28 June 2008 - Talk on Islamic Financial Planning in Slim River, Perak

Today I delivered a talk on Islamic financial planning in a function organised by a NGO (non-govermental organization) with the support of Perak State government at Dewan Tan Sri Ghazali Jawi in Slim River.

I touched on:

• the importance and need for Islamic financial planning particularly in facing the current inflationary situation due sharp increase in oil price
• What are characteristics of Islamic financial planning
• Islamic investment avenues
• Other related issues

I wish I can upload the video clip of my talk.

Note:

Slim River is one of few places in Malaysia that still maintain the colonial name.... However I could not find the river perhaps it is too slim. Others have been "Malaysianized".

Slim River was a military strategic mid-point from North to South of Malaya during World War II. It was the site of a major battle during World War II between the Japanese and British forces which consisted of troops from India, Australia and Great Britain. The British lost the Battle of Slim River to the Japanese forces, who were equipped with tanks. The Japanese also had total air superiority. In their defeat at Slim River, the British suffered heavy casualties and many units were cut off from their line of retreat. The battle effectively ended British hopes of defending Malaya