KOTA KINABALU: CIMB Islamic Bank Bhd donated RM240,000 for the construction and repair of five longhouses in Matunggong, Kudat.
Its chief executive officer, Badlisyah Abdul Ghani, who handed over the cheque to the head of Yayasan Dakwah Islamiah Malaysia (YADIM), Dr Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki at Wisma Muis here yesterday, disclosed that the donation was part of CIMB Islamic’s corporate social responsibility (CSR).
He also said that it was CIMB Islamic’s first such donation to YADIM, after launching the state-level Celik Muamalah Islam symposium at Dewan Sa’adah in Wisma Muis yesterday.
Meanwhile, Dr Asyraf pointed out that the five longhouses in Matunggong will benefit new Muslim converts.
The cheque presentation ceremony was witnessed by Assistant Local Government and Housing Minister Datuk Zakaria Mohd Edris, who represented Chief Minister Datuk Seri Panglima Musa Haji Aman.
In his speech read by Zakaria, Musa urged Sabahans, especially Muslims, to utilise the muamalah financial system.
“We should shift from the conventional system to that of the Islamic muamalah system, in making private loans for example, or housing loans and other loans,” he said.
He pointed out that 70 per cent of depositors and customers of Islamic banking institutions are non-Muslims.
Nevertheless, he said this showed a positive development which implies that Islamic banking was progressing well among non-Muslims, and the Muslims would be at the losing end for not utilising the Islamic banking system.
“Malaysia’s Islamic banking is one of the best and most recognised in the world. This is evident through the establishment of institutions such as Bank Islam, Takaful Islam and other Islamic banking systems introduced through other conventional financial institutions,” he said.