KUALA LUMPUR: The Royal Award of Islamic Finance has released its second Royal Award Winner Commemorative Booklet, featuring the Royal Award 2016 recipient Prof Datuk Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim.

       Rifaat was the Islamic Financial Services Board’s (IFSB) first secretary-general and a former chief executive officer of the International Islamic Liquidity Management Corporation.

       In a statement today, Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) said the commemorative booklets showcased award recipients’ work and accomplishments as well as capturing how each of these carefully selected recipients, through their efforts, had brought significant and sustained benefits to the global Islamic finance industry.

       The first booklet was released in January this year, featuring the Royal Award 2018 recipient, Tan Sri Dr Zeti Akhtar Aziz.

       “The (latest) booklet features Prof Rifaat’s profile, achievements, and contributions to the global Islamic finance industry,” the central bank said.

       According to BNM, his leadership qualities and exemplary contributions to the development of Islamic financial services industry include his instrumental roles in the establishment of two international standard-setting bodies, the Accounting and Auditing Organisation for Islamic Financial Institutions and the IFSB.

       The central bank said the booklet also featured a collection of speeches by Rifaat, former BNM governor Tan Sri Muhammad Ibrahim, former Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) chairman Tan Sri Ranjit Ajit Singh and chair of jury Tun Musa Hitam.

       The digitally produced booklet (e-booklet) is available online at the Royal Award (bnm.gov.my/raifbooklet), Malaysia International Islamic Financial Centre (MIFC) (bnm.gov.my/raifmifc), and other relevant portals for public reference.

       The Royal Award was jointly organised by BNM and the SC under the MIFC initiative. - Bernama