Article: The Shariah Advisory Council in the Malaysian Islamic financial institutions: features and legal issues Journal: Journal for Global Business Advancement (JGBA) 2016 Vol.9 No.3 pp.284 - 298 Abstract: The Malaysian Shariah Advisory Council ('SAC'), established under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009 (Act 701), acts as an authority for the ascertainment of Islamic law in the operation of Islamic Financial Institutions ('IFIs'). Its decision is binding on all IFIs, the Bank Negara Malaysia, the Shariah Committee, the court of law and the arbitrators in Malaysia. Nonetheless, this power may be abused by the SAC to the detriment of the customer stakeholders as the SAC is immune from any legal action. This paper aims to examine the features and legal issues of the SAC. The examination uses legal research methodology. This paper finds that the immunity conferred on the SAC should be abolished and be subject to the judicial scrutiny for the benefits of the IFIs' development in Malaysia. At the ending part of this paper, the authors provide certain recommendations in regard to the issues discussed. Inderscience Publishers - linking academia, business and industry through research

Title: The Shariah Advisory Council in the Malaysian Islamic financial institutions: features and legal issues

Authors: Nuarrual Hilal Md. Dahlan; Ahmad Zafarullah Abdul Jalil; Zairani Zainol; Selamah Maamor

Addresses: Institute for Governance and Innovation Studies, Universiti Utara Malaysia, 06010 UUM Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman, Malaysia ' ASEAN Integration Monitoring Office (AIMO), Jl. Sisingamangaraja, 70A Jakarta, 12110 Indonesia ' Department of Muamalat and Islamic Finance, Islamic Business School (IBS), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), UUM Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman 06010, Malaysia ' Department of Muamalat and Islamic Finance, Islamic Business School (IBS), Universiti Utara Malaysia (UUM), UUM Sintok, Kedah Darul Aman 06010, Malaysia

Abstract: The Malaysian Shariah Advisory Council ('SAC'), established under the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009 (Act 701), acts as an authority for the ascertainment of Islamic law in the operation of Islamic Financial Institutions ('IFIs'). Its decision is binding on all IFIs, the Bank Negara Malaysia, the Shariah Committee, the court of law and the arbitrators in Malaysia. Nonetheless, this power may be abused by the SAC to the detriment of the customer stakeholders as the SAC is immune from any legal action. This paper aims to examine the features and legal issues of the SAC. The examination uses legal research methodology. This paper finds that the immunity conferred on the SAC should be abolished and be subject to the judicial scrutiny for the benefits of the IFIs' development in Malaysia. At the ending part of this paper, the authors provide certain recommendations in regard to the issues discussed.

Keywords: Shariah Advisory Committee; SAC immunity; Shariah Advisory Council; Malaysia; Islamic banking; Islamic finance; financial institutions; legal issues; law; judicial scrutiny.

DOI: 10.1504/JGBA.2016.076718

Journal for Global Business Advancement, 2016 Vol.9 No.3, pp.284 - 298

Published online: 23 May 2016 *

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Title: The Shariah Advisory Council in the Malaysian Islamic financial institutions: features and legal issues

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