ISLAMIC FINANCE - How Malaysia approaches Islamic finance

Within the Asia Pacific region, Malaysia is by far the biggest centre for Islamic finance. Its models may influence other Asian Muslim societies like Indonesia and Brunei, and the provision of services in countries with large minority Muslim populations such as Thailand. Its approaches and principles are different to those in the Gulf, and it epitomizes the challenge of building a debt market within Shari'ah principles – a foundation which recently led to the most important Islamic bond yet produced.