ISLAMIC FINANCE TASK FORCE

SURVEY QUESTIONNAIRES ON ISLAMIC CAPITAL MARKET

March 2013

Name of Supervisory Authority:

Country:
Contact Person:
Designation:
Email Address:
Phone number:

A.

BACKGROUND AND INSTRUCTIONS

1.

COMCEC is one of the three standing committees of the OIC and monitors the
decisions on economics and commercial cooperation by the OIC. In September
2011, the COMCEC Capital Market Regulators Forum (COMCEC CMR) was
established as a cooperation platform for COMCEC capital market regulatory
bodies with the main focus is to support market development and reinforce
capabilities of regulatory bodies. Four Task Forces were created: Capacity
Building, Market Development, Financial Literacy, and Islamic Finance.

2.

Islamic Finance Task Force aims to increase cross-border and cooperation

activities in Islamic finance among the COMCEC CMR Forum member authorities
which in turn serve to increase the economic and commercial capacity of the
member states and strengthen cooperation possibilities both at global and regional
levels. To this end in leadership of Chair of the Task Force, Securities Commission
Malaysia in co-operation with Task Force Co-Chair, Capital Market Development
Authority, Maldives and the CMR Forum Secretariat, Capital Markets Board of
Turkey, Enhancing Infrastructure for Islamic Capital Market (ICM) was selected
as the co-operation topic.

3.

The mandate of the Islamic Finance Task Force is essentially to publish a report
on Enhancing Infrastructure for Islamic Capital Market with the emphasis on the
four (4) segments of ICM infrastructural development: 1) Legal, Tax and
Regulatory Framework; 2) Shariah Governance Framework; 3) Talent
Development; and 4) Products and Services.

4.

In line with its mandate to publish a report, the Chair and Co-Chair of Islamic
Finance Task Force (Secretariat) has decided to conduct questionnaires on the
focused segments. The use of survey from these questionnaires will be essential
in preparing the report as it will be used to determine current state of development
and address the country specific needs and issues.

5.

The key objectives of the survey questionnaires are:

6.

To identify the current status of ICM implementation in the COMCEC

Member States;

To highlight key implementation issues and challenges on ICM faced by

the regulatory and supervisory authorities; and

To propose recommendation on how the Islamic Finance Task Force can

assist the regulatory and supervisory authorities in implementing the ICM.

All responses received from these questionnaires will be an important input to

complete the report and will be treated with utmost confidentiality.

7.

The survey questionnaires are divided into five (5) parts as follows:
i.
ii.
iii.
iv.
v.

General;
Legal, Tax and Regulatory Framework;
Shariah Governance Framework;
Talent Development; and
Products and Services

8.

The Secretariat may make public information or comments obtained from these
questionnaires. However, in doing so, it will not identify the name of the
supervisory/regulatory authorities that have participated in these questionnaires.

9.

It is highly recommended that the questionnaires be completed by a senior staff of

the supervisory authority.

10.

To the best of your experience and knowledge, please provide responses that
most accurately describe the exact status of ICM in your country. If you consider it
useful, please explain your answer in the space provided following the question
(preferably in different font colour), where applicable, and describe the necessary
information which you think is relevant to support your answer. The clarity of your
answers is essential in ensuring the accuracy of these questionnaires.

11.

Kindly return the duly completed questionnaires form, preferably in soft copy, on or
before 15 April 2013 either by email to rinzalm@seccom.com.my or fax at +603
2091 0660. Should you have any queries or require any clarification with regard
to the survey, please do not hesitate to contact us through the same contact
details.

Thank you very much. Your cooperation is highly appreciated.

If you wish to provide any additional information, suggestion or comments that may give a
clearer picture on the ICM practices in your country, please feel free to provide more
information on the questionnaires or write on the additional page.

Part 1: General
Questions in Part 1 are on general information of the countrys Islamic financial system and its
developmental plan for Islamic Capital Market (ICM).
(Please click in the suitable box. If relevant, you may click more than one answer)

1.

What type of financial system does your country have?

Only conventional financial system

Only Islamic financial system

Both Islamic and conventional systems

If the answer is Only conventional financial system, does your country have a plan to
establish Islamic financial system in the next 5 years?
Yes

No

If the answer is Islamic financial system or Both Islamic and conventional systems,
please indicate the level of Islamic finance being applied in your country?

2.

Limited use

Developing rapidly

Predominantly used

Does your country have a development plan to develop ICM?

Yes

No

If Yes, what is the status of developmental plan for ICM in the next 5 years in your
country?
Development of ICM is progressing in accordance with the plan

Development of ICM has not been progressing based on the plan

Unable to progress in accordance with the plan

3.

4.

5.

Is there a separate unit/division/group within your institution, which focuses on the

development of ICM?
Yes

No

What are the three (3) most major

establishing/developing ICM in your country?

obstacles

you

Legal & Regulatory

Shariah

Tax neutrality & other incentives

Secondary Market

Shortage of skills and expertise

Lack of awareness
Others (please specify):

have

experienced

in

What is your industrys level of understanding in the following areas of ICM?

Areas of ICM
Legal
Regulatory frameworks
Tax & Accounting
Products structuring
Shariah

Weak

Average

Good

Excellent

Weak

Have low ability to demonstrate

Average

Have the knowledge but limited ability to demonstrate

Good

Have the moderate ability to demonstrate

Excellent

Have the maximum ability to explain and demonstrate

If you wish to provide any additional information which may give a clearer picture, please briefly
explain.

Part 2: Legal, Regulatory and Tax Framework

Questions in this Part 2 are regarding legal, regulatory and tax framework for ICM as well as
issues and challenges facing the country that have adopted and aspired to establish ICM. This
section aims to:

Examine the appropriate legal, tax and regulatory framework for ICM to operate effectively;
Draw from the experiences of selected jurisdictions with diverse sets of legal, tax and
regulatory framework and to form a comparative overview on its impacts; and
Highlight some observation on how improvement can be made to meet future challenges

(Please click in the suitable box. If relevant, you may click more than one answer)

1.

What type of legal system/framework does your country have? Is it based on:

2.

Civil law

Common Law

Shariah

Others (please specify):

How ICM was initially developed in your country?

3.

By amending the national strategic plan on capital market

By introducing a parliamentary legislation/ regulation/

guideline/decree to create ICM

Demand and supply of ICM products & services (market

forces)

Others (please specify):

Do your legal framework governing ICM products and services differ from the conventional
capital market?
Yes

No

If the answer is Yes, please briefly explain:

1.

4.

What are the laws (parliamentary legislations/regulations) that have been passed/amended
to facilitate the development of the ICM in your country? (e.g land law, tax law, trust law,
etc)

5.

Is there any tax benefits (tax neutrality, incentives, deductions, exemptions) accorded for
the development of the ICM in your country?

Tax benefits for ICM have been implemented (to some ICM
products & services)

Tax benefits for ICM is under consideration

No tax benefits for ICM

If the answer is Tax benefits for ICM have been implemented, please briefly explain the
tax benefits for the following ICM products & services:
ICM products & services

Tax Benefits

Sukuk

Islamic Mutual Fund

Fund Management services

Islamic stock broking services

Others (please specify):

(You may use separate pages as attachment to further clarify the Tax Benefits)

If the answer is No tax benefits for ICM, does your country have a plan (within next 5
years) to revise tax provisions in the near future to develop ICM?

Yes

No

If you wish to provide any additional information which may give a clearer picture, please briefly
explain.

Part 3: Shariah Governance

Questions in this Part 3 are for the purpose of gathering information in respect of the Shariah
governance framework in your country. This section aims to:

Discuss various approaches and models used by the selected COMCECs Member
States in implementing Shariah governance framework; and

Identify best practices and encourage harmonisation of Shariah governance

practices across jurisdiction.
(Please click in the suitable box. If relevant, you may click more than one answer)

1.

2.

Does your country have a Shariah governance framework for ICM?

No

If Yes, please provide response to the following questions:

a)

b)

c)

3.

Yes

YES

NO

Is Shariah governance incorporated as part of the regulatory

framework?

Do you register/license individual Shariah advisors/Shariah advisory

firms to structure/advise on the ICM products?

Is there provisions in the legislation/legal framework that deals with

dispute in Shariah matters

Please identify any international Shariah standards currently adopted in your country

4.

Which component(s) of Shariah Governance is/are currently use for monitoring Shariah
compliance and/or endorsing ICM products by majority of the institutions in your country?
(please choose maximum of 2 answers)

Shariah Advisory Committee/Council

Shariah advisory firm (including Islamic banks)

A single individual acting as external Shariah advisor/officer

A single individual acting as internal Shariah advisor/officer

Others (please specify):

5.

6.

7.

8.

Please tell us how the following are important to you?

Not very
important

Fairly
important

Very
important

Critical

Internal Shariah review

Shariah review by external independent parties

International Shariah board member representation

Continuous professional development programmes

for Shariah scholars

Standardization of Shariah practices to facilitate

harmonisation

Where do you refer disputes regarding conflict in Islamic financial products and services?

Civil Court

Shariah Court

Arbitration

Shariah Advisory Committee/Council

Others (please specify):

Does your country have policies on the fit and proper criteria for the members of Shariah
board/committee?

Yes

No

What mechanisms are in place to mitigate conflict of interest in relation to Shariah scholars
sitting in various boards?

Restriction on multiple appointment

Disclosure for Shariah boards information

Declaration in writing

Others (please specify):

10

If you wish to provide any additional information which may give a clearer picture, please briefly
explain.

11

Part 4: Talent Development

Questions in this Part 4 are regarding the importance of nurturing talents in enhancing ICM. This
section aims to:

Provide a platform for sharing of experiences and develop a general blueprint for the
formulation of masterplan for the development of human capital through education, training
and research initiatives in Islamic finance in their respective jurisdictions; and

Identify programmes and certifications focussing on Islamic finance offered by universities,

dedicated institutions of higher learning, professional entities, training agencies and
industry groups.
(Please click in the suitable box. If relevant, you may click more than one answer)

1.

Does your country experience shortage supply of talents in Islamic finance industry?
Yes

No

If Yes, which is affected the most?

Shariah

Islamic finance professionals

If the answer is Islamic finance professionals, which area is affected the most?
Banking
Takaful
Capital Market
Legal
Others (please specify):

2.

What is the estimated number of Islamic finance professionals is needed by your country in
5 years to cope with the development/expansion of Islamic finance industry?
1 - 50
51 - 100
101 - 250
More than 250

3.

Do you think that it is necessary to develop human capital/ talents through the right
academic/professional qualification in Islamic finance?
Yes

No

If your answer is No, please briefly explain.

12

6.

4.

Where did most of your experts/talents receive their Islamic finance qualifications/
certificates?
Local academic institution

Overseas academic institution

Both local and overseas

If the answer is Overseas academic institution please indicate top 2 countries where
most of your experts/talents received their qualifications/certificates in Islamic finance:
Malaysia
Bahrain
UAE
UK
Others, please specify:

5.

Are there initiatives to produce/develop talents in the ICM in your country?

Yes

No

If your answer is Yes, please rank (1 to 3) the following initiatives/programmes that being
pursued the most in your country?
Tertiary education in Islamic finance (entry level)
Sponsorship/financial assistance to undertake Islamic finance studies
(encourage employer to sponsor staff to acquire knowledge on Islamic
finance)
Continuous training on Islamic finance (on the job training, attend
seminar, training on Islamic finance , etc)

6.

Are there existing collaborations between the local industry, academia and regulators with
external parties outside your country in ensuring sustainable supply of qualified and skilled
talents?
Yes

No

13

If the answer is No, are there plans to form such collaboration in the near future?

7.

8.

9.

10.

Yes

No

Does your country have regular professional training programmes specialized in ICM?
Yes

No

What are your countrys immediate plans to develop talents on Islamic finance through
training? (please choose maximum 2 answers only)
Establish training institutions specializing in Islamic finance

Train the trainer

Send staff for overseas training

Others (please specify):

Are there any plans to establish a dedicated training institution solely on Islamic finance to
develop talents in Islamic finance within next 5 years?
Yes

No

Additional information (optional):

a)

Please list your tertiary education institutions that provide courses in Islamic finance

7.

b)

Please list the institutions that provide training in Islamic finance

8.

14

Part 5: Products and Services

Questions in this Part 5 are regarding the development of ICM products and services. This
section aims to:

Gauge the development stage of members country ICM products and services;

Identify principles that govern ICM products and services offered by Members States and
highlight issues in offering ICM products and services; and

Identify possible areas of cooperation and improvements to be made for ICM product and
services.
(Please click in the suitable box. If relevant, you may click more than one answer.)

1.

Which of the following ICM products are currently available in your country?
Sukuk (Islamic Bond)

Shariah-compliant securities/stocks

Islamic Mutual Funds

Islamic Real Estate Investment Trusts

Islamic Structured Products & Derivatives

Islamic Private Equity

Islamic Exchange Traded Funds

Others (please specify):

2.

Please indicate two (2) new ICM products do you intend to establish within the next 3
years.
a.
b.

3.

Which of the following ICM services are currently available in your country?
Islamic bank/investment bank
Islamic fund management
Islamic stock broking services
Islamic private equity and venture capital
Shariah advisory
Legal advisory/expert specilaizing in Islamic
finance
Others (please specify):

4.

Please indicate two (2) new ICM services do you intend to establish/expand within the next
3 years:
a.
b.

15

5.

6.

Please identify the major cross-border issues faced by your supervisory authority with
respect to ICM products & services? (please choose 1 answer only)

Supervision of cross-border offerings of products and

services

Cross-border enforcement

Lack of Islamic infrastructure to facilitate international

Islamic finance transaction e.g. legal framework,
Shariah governance, taxation etc

Others (please specify):

Which of the following initiatives, in your opinion, could enhance cross-border activities in
ICM products and services the most? (please choose 1 answer only)
Collaborate with other regulators to enhance market
accessibility

Implement international standards relating to market

and transactions

Others (please specify):

If you wish to provide any additional information which may give a clearer picture, please briefly
explain.

16