KFH GROUP POSITIVE ABOUT INVESTMENT OUTLOOK IN MALAYSIA

KUALA LUMPUR, March 29 (Bernama) -- Kuwait Finance House (KFH) Group, which
remains positive about investment outlook in Malaysia, recently met with Prime
Minister Najib Tun Razak to discuss plans to further boost its
investments in Malaysia.

The discussion, held on March 25, revolved around KFH’s exploratory plans to
spearhead the establishment of a world-renowned university in Medini Iskandar in
the Iskandar Development Region (IDR), it said in a statement here Monday.

KFH said this was part of the group's vision to have a world-class
educational institution in Medini Iskandar, adopting the "University of the
Future" concept.

The high-powered delegation, led by its chief executive officer, Mohammed
Sulaiman Al Omar, had a day earlier met with Deputy Prime Minister Muhyiddin
Yassin to discuss plans to boost investments in educational and
world-class research and development initiatives in the IDR.

In 2008, Kuwait Finance House (M) Bhd (KFHMB) led a consortium to invest
about US$329 million (US$1=RM3.29) in Medini Iskandar via Medini Central Sdn Bhd
and remained positive in its outlook on the investment in the IDR.

The investment, which will span over 15-20 years, has a gross development
value (GDV) estimated at US$6 billion.

"The KFH Group is committed towards playing a vital role in the development
of real estate projects in Asia-Pacific, and the introduction of innovative
Islamic financial products," Mohammed Sulaiman said.

Meanwhile, KFH is also excited and keen on the New Economic Model to be
unveiled by the prime minister as the group has always been at the forefront of
providing innovative syariah-based financial solutions for businesses as well as
investments.

In 2005, it established KFHMB, the first foreign Islamic bank licensed in
Malaysia.

As the second largest Islamic bank in the world, with the Kuwait government
holding a significant stake, he reiterated the solid support of KFH Group in
KFHMB and its operations in Malaysia.

"KFH reaffirms its commitment to the business strategy of fully taking
advantage of the enormous opportunities in Malaysia, and becoming a full partner
in Malaysia’s economic growth story," he said.

Chairman of KFHMB, Shaheen Al Ghanem, reiterated KFHMB’s bullishness in its
outlook for Malaysia, and highlighted the bank's intention to capitalise on the
enormous potential and available business opportunities here.

KFHMB has a capitalisation of about US$650 million, which makes it the
largest Islamic bank in Malaysia in terms of capital.

-- BERNAMA