Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

The establishment of Bank Islam can be traced even way back before World War II where Muslims in the country were already looking for an alternative financial system that would comply with the Shariah (Islamic jurisprudence) requirements. It was not until 1969 however that the Pilgrims Management and Fund Board (Lembaga Urusan dan Tabung Haji or “Tabung Haji”) was established as one of the first Islamic financial institutions, primarily to encourage savings and investments among the Muslims and help depositors perform Hajj.

At the international level, the call for the establishment of an Islamic banking system had been gaining in momentum but it was only in 1975 that the first Islamic bank was established in Dubai. The bank was formed after 15 years of extensive research and joint effort by professional Islamic economists, financiers and officers from various world Islamic organisations.

The inception of Bank Islam in 1983 was the culmination of intense determination, inspired by the Bumiputera Economic Congress in 1980, followed by a seminar on the Concept of Development in Islam in 1981, and the tireless efforts of Tabung Haji, PERKIM (a non-governmental organisation committed to looking after the welfare of Muslims across the country) and the National Steering Committee for Islamic Bank (“National Steering Committee”).

Starting with 30 pioneering staff, Bank Islam’s first year of operation was conducted by its temporary headquarter at the first floor of Kompleks Jemaah Haji at Subang, Selangor. By the end of its first financial year, Bank Islam has four (4) operating branches at Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu and Alor Setar, with 272 employees.

Via the innovative application of Waqf land development, today, Bank Islam’s headquarter is the pristine Menara Bank Islam, located in the midst of the ‘Golden Triangle’ of Kuala Lumpur. As at end of 2013, Bank Islam has 133 branches nationwide with a workforce of more than 4,200.

1 July 1983 is a date of historic significance. It was when Bank Islam Malaysian Berhad or Bank Islam, in short, was officially established, marking the beginning of Islamic banking not just in Malaysia but also within the ASEAN region. As the pioneer of the industry, Bank Islam has since set the benchmark for innovations with a number of groundbreaking Shariah-based banking products and services. It has grown from a banking organisation providing purely Islamic banking products and services to an institution that provides comprehensive, end-to-end financial solutions. Today, Bank Islam is transforming the country’s economic landscape, leading the way in the development of Malaysia as one of the world’s major Islamic financial hub.

Source/website: bankislam(dot)com(dot)my

Sejarah penubuhan Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad

Sejarah penubuhan Bank Islam bermula sebelum Perang Dunia II lagi di mana umat Islam di negara ini mula mencari sistem kewangan alternatif yang mematuhi kehendak Syariah (perundangan Islam). Sehinggalah pada tahun 1969 Lembaga Urusan dan Tabung Haji (“Tabung Haji”) ditubuhkan sebagai salah satu institusi kewangan Islam yang pertama di negara ini, demi menggalakkan umat Islam membuat simpanan dan pelaburan. Pada masa yang sama, ia juga membantu pendeposit untuk menunaikan Haji.

Di peringkat antarabangsa, cadangan untuk menubuhkan sebuah sistem perbankan Islam kian mendapat sambutan. Ia menjurus kepada penubuhan bank Islam pertama di Dubai pada tahun 1975. Bank tersebut ditubuhkan berdasarkan hasil penyelidikan gigih selama 15 tahun dan usaha bersama oleh pakar ekonomi profesional Islam, pembiaya dan pegawai dari pelbagai organisasi Islam di dunia.

Penubuhan Bank Islam pada tahun 1983 adalah hasil dedikasi yang diilhamkan oleh Kongres Ekonomi Bumiputera pada tahun 1980, diikuti dengan seminar mengenai Konsep Pembangunan dalam Islam pada tahun 1981. Ia juga merupakan hasil usaha sama Tabung Haji, PERKIM (pertubuhan bukan kerajaan yang komited untuk memelihara kebajikan orang Islam di seluruh negara) dan Jawatankuasa Pemandu Kebangsaan untuk bank Islam (“Jawatankuasa Pemandu Kebangsaan”).

Bermula dengan 30 orang kakitangan, Bank Islam beroperasi di ibu pejabat sementara di Kompleks Jemaah Haji, Subang pada tahun pertamanya. Pada akhir tahun kewangan pertama, Bank Islam dengan 272 orang kakitangan menjalankan perniagaannya di empat buah cawangan yang beroperasi di Kuala Lumpur, Kuala Terengganu, Kota Bharu dan Alor Setar.

Melalui pengurusan pembangunan tanah Wakaf yang inovatif, hari ini ibu pejabat Bank Islam bertempat di Menara Bank Islam yang terletak di tengah-tengah ‘segitiga emas’ Kuala Lumpur. Pada akhir tahun 2013, Bank Islam mempunyai 133 buah cawangan di seluruh negara dengan tenaga kerja lebih daripada 4,200 orang kakitangan.

Sumber: Laman web Bank Islam

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