FPAM: MALAYSIA CAN BE INTERNATIONAL ISLAMIC FINANCIAL HUB

KUALA LUMPUR, Aug 24 (Bernama) -- Malaysia has all the features to be an
international Islamic financial hub, according to the Financial Planning
Association of Malaysia (FPAM).

"Malaysia is in an excellent position to do that. For the first time, we
were told that we have the most number of Islamic unit trust products in the
world," said newly elected FPAM president Wong Boon Choy.

"We have all the relevant ingredients to make it successful," he said on the
sidelines of the Seminar on Business Model and Business Opportunities for
Certified Financial Planner Professionals here Monday.

Wong said the association planned to host a conference on Islamic financial
planning wealth management in November this year.

"This is part of our contribution to help Malaysia," he said.

Wong said the FPAM has about 3,700 certified financial planners but only
about 300 of them are licensed to practise.

"We are trying to get more members to become licensed financial planners,"
he said.

Wong said the association would continue to play its role in updating
members on "what is available in the market" through seminars and conferences.

"This is an area which we feel lacking, with members and practitioners not
aware of what is available," he said.

On Monday's seminar, Wong said the half-day session was aimed at bridging
the gap between members and business model providers.

"We brought in the business model providers to share with our members on
what are the available models to practise financial planning," he said.

-- BERNAMA