Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks

This study explores the modus operandi and regulatory influence of the pioneering Malaysian dual-layer governance system where, besides an Islamic bank's in-house religious board, supervision is undertaken by the country's central bank via its own Shariah Advisory Council (SAC). Data was c...

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Main Authors: Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi, Karbhari, Yusuf, Ahmed, Habib
Format: Article
Published: Inderscience Publishers 2021
Online Access:http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96315/
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author Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi
Karbhari, Yusuf
Ahmed, Habib
author_facet Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi
Karbhari, Yusuf
Ahmed, Habib
author_sort Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi
building UPM Institutional Repository
collection Online Access
description This study explores the modus operandi and regulatory influence of the pioneering Malaysian dual-layer governance system where, besides an Islamic bank's in-house religious board, supervision is undertaken by the country's central bank via its own Shariah Advisory Council (SAC). Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with SAC members, central bank compliance officers, bank chairmen and members of Shariah boards, CEO's and other senior executives. We find that the procedures asserted by this over-arching governance structure contributes to standardising practice without hampering creativity when innovating new Shariah compliant financial products. Considerable bureaucracy is reported to exist due to the current approval process impeding efficient decision-making. In particular, the SAC is found to be decisive in resolving disputes from the widespread use of the 'legal reasoning' (or ijtihad) principle exercised by boards providing the much needed confidence and market discipline required by stakeholders. Finally, we highlight how this form of banking operates best when left to a country's own governance framework rather than imposing international regulation for this nascent industry.
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spelling upm-963152023-01-31T01:59:45Z http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96315/ Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi Karbhari, Yusuf Ahmed, Habib This study explores the modus operandi and regulatory influence of the pioneering Malaysian dual-layer governance system where, besides an Islamic bank's in-house religious board, supervision is undertaken by the country's central bank via its own Shariah Advisory Council (SAC). Data was collected by means of in-depth interviews with SAC members, central bank compliance officers, bank chairmen and members of Shariah boards, CEO's and other senior executives. We find that the procedures asserted by this over-arching governance structure contributes to standardising practice without hampering creativity when innovating new Shariah compliant financial products. Considerable bureaucracy is reported to exist due to the current approval process impeding efficient decision-making. In particular, the SAC is found to be decisive in resolving disputes from the widespread use of the 'legal reasoning' (or ijtihad) principle exercised by boards providing the much needed confidence and market discipline required by stakeholders. Finally, we highlight how this form of banking operates best when left to a country's own governance framework rather than imposing international regulation for this nascent industry. Inderscience Publishers 2021 Article PeerReviewed Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi and Karbhari, Yusuf and Ahmed, Habib (2021) Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks. International Journal of Business Governance and Ethics, 15 (1). 61 - 80. ISSN 1477-9048; ESSN: 1741-802X https://www.inderscienceonline.com/doi/abs/10.1504/IJBGE.2021.112332 10.1504/IJBGE.2021.112332
spellingShingle Sheikh Hassan, Ahmad Fahmi
Karbhari, Yusuf
Ahmed, Habib
Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks
title Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks
title_full Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks
title_fullStr Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks
title_full_unstemmed Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks
title_short Central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from Malaysian Islamic banks
title_sort central bank regulation, religious governance and standardisation: evidence from malaysian islamic banks
url http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96315/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96315/
http://psasir.upm.edu.my/id/eprint/96315/