KUALA LUMPUR (April 16): The Securities Commission Malaysia (SC) said today the country’s Islamic capital market (ICM) grew 8.23% to RM2.035 trillion as at December 2019 from a year earlier.

In its 2019 annual report, the SC said the ICM represented 63.57% of Malaysia’s capital market.

"Malaysia continues to maintain its leadership in the ICM, particularly in relation to the issuance of sukuk and Islamic funds – solidifying efforts to enhance its role as a prominent international centre for Islamic fund and wealth management.

"The year has seen sukuk issuances valued at RM102.39 billion, representing 77.09% of total corporate issuances, while Islamic AUM (assets under management) stood at RM180.52 billion, making up 21.93% of the fund management industry.

"Shariah-compliant securities comprised 64.06% of total equity market capitalisation and was valued at RM1.096 trillion,” the SC said.

The SC said the Islamic fund management industry also witnessed new and innovative investment products. These include Islamic exchange traded funds based on gold, sustainable and responsible investment (SRI)-based Islamic funds as well as social and green sukuk.

As of December 2019, there were 23 full-fledged Islamic fund management companies, according to the SC.