Latest news with #INCEIF
New Straits Times
26-06-2025
- Business
- New Straits Times
Malaysia has buffers to weather capital outflows
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has adequate buffers to weather volatility, including capital outflows, triggered by global interest rate hikes, said International Centre for Education for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University Professor of Practice Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. Abdul Wahid, who is also a former Bursa Malaysia chairman, noted that the country has sufficient international reserves to cover a good number of months of retained imports and short-term debt obligations. "We also have many investments abroad. I think it is not just about foreign investments here (in Malaysia) but also about our domestic investors investing abroad as well. "That provides the flexibility to meet the challenges," he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Islamic Finance Future Leaders Bootcamp 2025, here today. Abdul Wahid also highlighted that while equity markets experienced both inflows and outflows in recent months, such movements are cyclical. "When it comes to the financial market movements, initially, it will happen from time to time. But everything is relative. We have seen significant outflows in the equities market, and we had a positive inflow in May. But the situation reversed in June. Everything is relative. "There will come a time when some of this money will come back to Malaysia. As long as we focus on the fundamentals, there will be that fluctuation. But in the longer term, money will flow back to an economy that is growing," he said. Commenting on Malaysia's economic prospects, Abdul Wahid said that the shift away from commodity dependence over the years has strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and positioned it to better absorb external shocks. "The diversified structure of our economy has been improving over the years. The economy is mainly driven by the services and manufacturing sectors today. This (diversified structure) is not something that has occurred overnight. "Once we have that diversified structure of the economy and are committed to managing government funds, including reducing the fiscal deficit, we are going to make the economy more resilient," he said. Abdul Wahid noted that Malaysia's economy grew by 5.1 per cent last year, and without current external pressures, it would have been on track to achieve a growth rate between 4.5 to 5.0 per cent in 2025. "However, given what's happening, we can expect a lower growth towards the bottom of 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent range. But a 4.0 per cent growth projected by consensus is still credible, given the challenges that we have globally today," he added.
The Star
25-06-2025
- Business
- The Star
Malaysia has buffers to weather capital outflows
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia has adequate buffers to weather volatility, including capital outflows, triggered by global interest rate hikes, said International Centre for Education for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University Professor of Practice Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. Abdul Wahid, who is also a former Bursa Malaysia chairman, noted that the country has sufficient international reserves to cover a good number of months of retained imports and short-term debt obligations. "We also have many investments abroad. I think it is not just about foreign investments here (in Malaysia) but also about our domestic investors investing abroad as well. "That provides the flexibility to meet the challenges,' he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Islamic Finance Future Leaders Bootcamp 2025, here today. Abdul Wahid also highlighted that while equity markets experienced both inflows and outflows in recent months, such movements are cyclical. "When it comes to the financial market movements, initially, it will happen from time to time. But everything is relative. We have seen significant outflows in the equities market, and we had a positive inflow in May. But the situation reversed in June. Everything is relative. "There will come a time when some of this money will come back to Malaysia. As long as we focus on the fundamentals, there will be that fluctuation. But in the longer term, money will flow back to an economy that is growing,' he said. Commenting on Malaysia's economic prospects, Abdul Wahid said that the shift away from commodity dependence over the years has strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and positioned it to better absorb external shocks. "The diversified structure of our economy has been improving over the years. The economy is mainly driven by the services and manufacturing sectors today. This (diversified structure) is not something that has occurred overnight. "Once we have that diversified structure of the economy and are committed to managing government funds, including reducing the fiscal deficit, we are going to make the economy more resilient,' he said. Abdul Wahid noted that Malaysia's economy grew by 5.1 per cent last year, and without current external pressures, it would have been on track to achieve a growth rate between 4.5 to 5.0 per cent in 2025. "However, given what's happening, we can expect a lower growth towards the bottom of 4.0 per cent to 5.0 per cent range. But a 4.0 per cent growth projected by consensus is still credible, given the challenges that we have globally today,' he added. - Bernama
Barnama
25-06-2025
- Business
- Barnama
Malaysia Has Buffers To Weather Capital Outflows -- Abdul Wahid
REGION - CENTRAL > NEWS By Karina Imran KUALA LUMPUR, June 25 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has adequate buffers to weather volatility, including capital outflows, triggered by global interest rate hikes, said International Centre for Education for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) University Professor of Practice Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar. Abdul Wahid, who is also a former Bursa Malaysia chairman, noted that the country has sufficient international reserves to cover a good number of months of retained imports and short-term debt obligations. bootstrap slideshow 'We also have many investments abroad. I think it is not just about foreign investments here (in Malaysia) but also about our domestic investors investing abroad as well. 'That provides the flexibility to meet the challenges,' he told Bernama on the sidelines of the Islamic Finance Future Leaders Bootcamp 2025, here today. Abdul Wahid also highlighted that while equity markets experienced both inflows and outflows in recent months, such movements are cyclical. 'When it comes to the financial market movements, initially, it will happen from time to time. But everything is relative. We have seen significant outflows in the equities market, and we had a positive inflow in May. But the situation reversed in June. Everything is relative. 'There will come a time when some of this money will come back to Malaysia. As long as we focus on the fundamentals, there will be that fluctuation. But in the longer term, money will flow back to an economy that is growing,' he said. Commenting on Malaysia's economic prospects, Abdul Wahid said that the shift away from commodity dependence over the years has strengthened the country's economic fundamentals and positioned it to better absorb external shocks.
Malaysian Reserve
10-06-2025
- Business
- Malaysian Reserve
Anwar: Reforms must be gradual amid political realities
by AUFA MARDHIAH PRIME Minister (PM) Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has defended the government's gradual pace of reforms, citing the political realities of leading a coalition without a parliamentary majority. Speaking at the launch of the International Centre for Education in Islamic Finance University's (Inceif) International Centre for Research and Innovation in Islamic Economics (i-RISE Centre) today, Anwar said Malaysia's current political structure demands wisdom and consensus-building, rather than abrupt changes that risk destabilising the administration. 'We have 82 seats under Pakatan Harapan (PH) — not even a simple majority. So yes, it has to be done with 'hikmah' (wisdom),' he said. He also stressed the importance of cross-party consensus, especially among coalition partners such as UMNO and Barisan Nasional (BN), to ensure sustained reform momentum. 'We must get consensus between the key parties…that's how we embark on support for alternative programmes like INCEIF or i-RISE,' he added. Responding to criticism from those demanding faster reforms, Anwar cautioned that rushed moves could backfire under current political constraints. He also pointed to the broader failures in Muslim-majority countries, stating that the problem lies not in the absence of Islamic principles, but in endemic corruption and abuse of power. 'The flaw is not that we lack Islamic instruments — it's that they are blatantly corrupted,' he said. Despite the challenges, Anwar reaffirmed his administration's commitment to consistent progress. 'Every month and every year, there must be some progression. There is no turning back,' he said.
