Forum To Enhance Islamic Pawn Broking System In Asean

LANGKAWI (Malaysia), Nov 21 (Bernama) -- Three hundred participants will take part in a two-day forum to discuss new approaches and strategies to strengthen the Islamic pawn broking or Ar-Rahnu micro-credit system in the Asean region. The workshop with the theme "Pioneering Innovation, Strengthening Services, and Enhancing Ummah Sustainability" is organised by the Malaysian Islamic Economic Development (YaPEIM), one of the key players in Ar-Rahnu scheme in the country. YaPEIM director-general Dr Abd Malek Awang Kechil said the workshop would brainstorm ideas on ways to enhance smart partnership in the Ar-Rahnu micro-credit system in Asean. "Through the partnership, efforts will be intensified to find a formula which could give a big impact in strengthening the Muslim community sustainability," he told reporters at a media briefing here on Sunday. The participants are from the Asean Regional Ar-Rahnu Secretariat, namely Perum Pegadaian (Indonesia), Brunei Darussalam Islamic Bank, Pattani Islamic Cooperative (Thailand), Cambodia Islam Association, YaPEIM and Koperasi YaPEIM Berhad. Others are Bank Negara Malaysia (Malaysia's Central Bank), the Malaysian Cooperative Commission, cooperatives, institutions of higher learning, government agencies, private sector and the Sultan Haji Hassanal Bolkiah Foundation (Brunei). Abd Malek, who is also the Asean Regional Ar-Rahnu Secretariat secretary-general, said the forum would broaden the understanding and acceptance of the Ar-Rahnu micro-credit programs in the region. -- BERNAMA Malaysia