The founding president of Islamic Development Bank Tan Sr Dr. Ahmad Mohamed Ali Al Madani has been bestowed with the Lifetime Leadership Award in Islamic Finance this year during the 2017 KLIFF Awards Dinner recently.

The 83-year old distinguished banker received his award from the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan Tuanku Muhriz ibni Almarhum Tuanku Munawir.

In his acceptance speech, Dr Ali thanked the organiser for the award and described the honour as “very humbling for my modest contribution to the industry.”

Dr Ali has been with the IsDB since its inception in 1975 until October 2016. Between 1993-1995, Dr Ali also served as the Secretary General of the Muslim World League (MWL) in Makkah Al-Mukarrama. 

Throughout his leadership, IsDB started only with 22 member countries and in 2016 the bank has gained thrust of 57 member countries. Dr Ali’s views on IsDB’s development are expressed in his speeches, lectures and working papers on Islamic Economics, Banking and Education. 

Dr Ali’s humble, tactful and diplomacy traits gained respect from staff members, leaders of the Muslim world and global development partners making him a reputable brand in the industry. 

The Awards Dinner was organised in conjunction with the 14th Kuala Lumpur Islamic Finance Forum (KLIFF 2017) and took place at Grand Mahkota Ballroom in Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur.

The KLIFF Awards Dinner was all about celebrating deserving individuals, institutions and organizations to acknowledge their contribution and efforts in developing the Islamic Finance industry. 

KLIFF also honours other achievements.

The Most Outstanding Individual Contribution to Islamic Finance went to Wan Abdul Rahim Kamil Wan Mohamed Ali, the Islamic Capital Market Consultant with the Securities Commission Malaysia (SC). With more than 30 years of experience in the Islamic Finance industry, Wan Abdul Rahim is actively involved in research and development, capacity building pertaining to the Islamic capital market. He joined SC in 2007 and engaged in advisory and capacity building programmes for investors and capital market intermediaries. 

Meanwhile, Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB) was named the Most Outstanding Institution for Contribution to Islamic Finance.

Under the Most Outstanding Islamic Finance Institutions category, 11 instittions were also honoured.

The Most Outstanding Islamic Bank went to ASEAN’s largest and one of the pioneers Islamic Bank, Maybank Islamic Berhad.

Next, Most Outstanding Islamic Investment Banking award went to the leader in Islamic financial markets, CIMB Islamic Berhad while RHB Islamic Bank Berhad received the Most Outstanding Islamic Corporate Banking award.

The Most Outstanding Islamic Retail Banking went to Malaysia’s first Shariah based banking institution, Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad. FAB Siraj, the Islamic Banking Window of First Abu Dhabi Bank, received the Most Outstanding Islamic Banking Window award. 

Other recipients were: 

• Most Outstanding Takaful Company - Zurich Takaful Malaysia.

• Most Outstanding Banca Takaful Company  - Sun Life Malaysia Takaful, a joint venture between Sun Life Financial Inc and Avicennia Capital Sdn Bhd. 

• Most Outstanding Retakaful Company - Swiss Re Retakaful, a leading and globally diversified reinsurer.

• Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Manager - Franklin Templeton GSC Asset Management 

• Most Outstanding Islamic Asset Management Company - Manulife Asset Management Services Berhad.

• Most Outstanding Islamic Finance Education and Research - Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM).

• Most Outstanding Islamic Fund Product - to Eastspring Investments Dana al-Ilham. 

• Most Outstanding Islamic Project Finance Product -  Sime Darby TNBES Renewable Energy Term Financing-i Facility by RHB Islamic Bank.

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