DR M RECEIVES AWARD FOR OUTSTANDING CONTRIBUTION TO TAKAFUL INDUSTRY

Resend with correction on headline and clarification in first para




KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 6 (Bernama) -- Former Malaysian Prime Minister Dr Mahathir
Mohamad was conferred "Tokoh Takaful Award" (Takaful Award Prominent Person) at
the Malaysian Takaful Association inaugural Dinner and Awards Nite 2009 in
recognition of his outstanding contribution to the takaful industry.

Dr Mahathir has been instrumental in ensuring the takaful industry received
strong support from the government and this support has remained to this day.

" We owe much to (Tun) Mahathir as in October 1982, barely a year after
coming
into office as the fourth Prime Minister, a special task force was formed to
explore the viability of an islamic insurance company in Malaysia," said
Second Finance Minister Ahmad Husni Hanadzlah when speaking at the event.

Dr Mahathir had passed on a legacy to the Malaysian Islamic financial
industry, said Malaysian Takaful Association Chairman Syed Moheed Syed
Kamarulzaman.

He said Dr Mahathir was also a multi-skilled individual and a strategist in
his own sense, making him the perfect candidate to receive the award.

Syed Moheed said takaful operators have an important role to promote
innovation, equipping their business strategies with research and development
and design new innovative products and services.

" Innovation is the key to increase progression and sustaining growth
in the industry," he said.

The takaful industry witnessed positive response and confidence based on
growth in the last decade as Malaysians from all walks of life, religions and
races are receptive towards takaful, he added.
-- BERNAMA