PASIR PUTEH: Bank Islam Malaysia Bhd (Bank Islam) plans to expand its operations overseas especially to countries where there is a majority of Muslims.
Its managing director Datuk Seri Zukri Samat said the bank was keen to invest in Indonesia as the potential for the bank there was especially high considering that while Muslims formed the majority of its 240 million population, the number of them using Islamic-based banks amounted to only three per cent.
This compared with the 22 per cent rate enjoyed in Malaysia, he told reporters after officiating a motivational programme at the Kebangsaan Pasir Puteh (L) school here yesterday. He said the bank was, however, still looking out if there had been any official change particularly in the country’s foreign equity ownership policy.
There was still some uncertainty as there are parties saying that the condition on foreign equity ownership would be reduced from 90 per cent to 50 per cent, he said.
Meanwhile, Zukri said the bank was ready to allocate 12.8 per cent from its current RM30 billion assets for investment purpose.
He said it was planning to open up 122 more branches throughout the country in the next three years and aimed to market its products to more non-Muslims as well.
“We will be spending between RM700,000 and RM800,000 on per branch including the furnishings and office equipment.” — Bernama