The Asset Triple A Awards 2012

Islamic Finance

Industry Leadership Awards
 

Posthumous Award

Dato’ Mohd Razif Abdul Kadir, former deputy governor, Bank Negara Malaysia

Dato’ Mohd Razif Abdul Kadir: His contribution to central banking and to the development of Islamic banking/finance was remarkable

I first met Dato Razif in the summer of 2009 when I was asked to travel to Kuala Lumpur to do a Malaysia report, which included Islamic banking/finance. After the usual formalities of introducing myself and stating the purpose of my visit, he asked me “How much do you know about Islamic banking?”. Without waiting for a reply, he invited me to sit down and said: “Let me teach you the 101 of Islamic banking.”

The “teaching lesson” covered a lot of the history of Islamic banking/finance in Malaysia from the first initiative with the launch of Pilgrims Management and Fund Board, popularly known as Tabung Haji, to the establishment of the country’s first Islamic bank, Bank Islam Malaysia.

As he traced the history, I could sense his passion for the Islamic banking/finance industry and what he wanted to do with it. “We want to export our expertise in Islamic finance as well as our experience to the rest of the world,” he affirmed.

Our meeting lasted longer than I had expected and it didn’t matter if I had to scramble for my next appointment. It was time well spent in the company of a man who shared with me so much on the subject that I have since fully embraced for my coverage.

Dato’ Razif joined Bank Negara in 1976 and held several senior positions at the central bank throughout his career. His many responsibilities included being the chief representative of Bank Negara’s representative office in London and the director of the bank’s regulation department. He passed away on August 8 2011 at the age of 58.

Chito Santiago is managing editor of The Asset