AFFIN WANTS PLATFORM TO STIMULATE GROWTH
Banking sector wants accommodative policy to revitalise economic expansion
AFFIN Bank Bhd’s wholly-owned Affin Islamic Bank Bhd hopes the 2019 Budget will be a perfect platform to stimulate the country’s economic growth.
“The banking sector is hopeful that the government will announce an accommodative policy to revitalise the slow economic growth this year.
The national budget for next year will be tabled by Finance Minister Lim Guan Eng in Parliament on November 2.
“This budget should be a stimulant in accelerating economic growth to benefit various industries,” said Affin Islamic chief executive officer Nazlee Khalifah after the signing of a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with Mahsa University, here, yesterday.
Under the MoU, Affin Islamic’s Affin Education Financing-i will be offered to Mahsa University students.
The MoU was signed by Nazlee and Mahsa University pro-chancellor and executive chairman Professor Tan Sri Dr Mohamed Haniffa Abdullah.
Nazlee said the collaboration signified the bank’s commitment to enhance business partnerships with institutions of higher education.
He said since the introduction of Affin Education Financing-i in February last year, the bank had collaborated with 35 universities and colleges.
“We aim to approve RM50 million worth of education funding by the end of the year, from RM10 million so far,” he added.
In a separate announcement, Affin Bank Group said Affin Islamic had issued a sukuk murabahah with a nominal value of RM800 million. The tenure is for 10 years, on a non-callable five years basis and the sukuk has been assigned a long-term rating of “A1” by RAM Rating Services Bhd.