Journal Article

An effective system of rules, practices and processes by which Islamic Financial Institutions (IFIs) are directed and controlled to ensure their business operations are Shariah-compliant, which has important implications on their reputation, Shariah governance and the future growth of Islamic finance industry. Sixteen Chairmen of the Shariah Committees of Islamic financial institutions in Malaysia were interviewed on the challenges faced in carrying out their responsibilities and theri views on effective Shariah Committees. This paper summarizes the various challenges faced by Shariah committees in Islamic financial institutions in Malaysia.

This study aims to investigate the reaction (in terms of returns and volatility) of Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) country-wise stock markets (both conventional and Islamic) in response to the surge of COVID-19 cases, with special reference to the announcement of financial stimulus packages in each country and the recent global oil price plunge. Further, the study also examines the impact of COVID-19 cases on the stock market returns of each GCC country and the continuous dynamics of correlation between COVID-19 cases and GCC stockmarkets. This study uses an exponential generalized auto regressive conditional heteroskedasticity model and continuous wavelet coherence to estimate the stock market volatility and comovement between COVID-19 cases and stock returns. Empirical findings indicate an adverse reaction (negative returns and high volatility) during the period examined, with the stimulus package resulting in a positive transformation of returns in each country-level stock market as well as the regional stock index. Further, no evidence of an adverse effect of the oil price plunge is identified. All findings are identical between both conventional and Islamic stock indices. While ample research has been conducted on the impact and dynamics of the pandemic on stock markets, little has addressed the areas of financial stimulus packages and the oil price plunge. The findings of this study show that further research needs to be conducted to elucidate the ways in which effective financial stimulus packages can be formulated in the GCC region to mitigate the adverse effects of COVID-19 for economies without causing major financial deficits, as well as to find strategies to diversify economies away from the oil curse.

This paper aims to examine existing halal certification regime in Maldives and address impediments therein that challenge and inhibit the growth of the country's halal industry in relation to fisheries products. This is qualitative research based on first-hand experiences of the authors in the halal certification process in the Maldives. Doctrinal methodology is used in the analysis of primary sources of data, including Maldivian laws and halal certification regulations to identify issues of practical relevance. This is complemented with content analysis of secondary data sourced from journal articles, books, reports and online databases that were examined in identifying hindrances and loopholes in the halal certification process. Fish is generally halal, but processed fisheries products cannot be so deemed when certain additives and enhancers are constituents therein. At the moment, Maldives halal certification pertains only to fisheries products. Against this backdrop, this research identifies knowledge gap, legal and governance constraints pertaining to capacity as impediments towards the halal certification of such products in the Maldives. Such concerns hinder the Maldives from tapping the socio-economic benefits of the halal certification of its fisheries products to the desired level in the development of its halal industry.

Shari'ah provides the basic tenets of the Islamic finance industry and advocates banks to share their profits and losses with investors. But what it means for a firm to be "Shari'ah-compliant" and what form of connections it can have, even in theory, to either the firm's value or profitability is still an untapped question. This study tries to answer this question. This study aims to find the impact of Shari'ah compliance on firm performance. The results obtained would be useful in helping investors, regulators, companies, government, academicians and practitioners in their decision-making process as to ensure better economic and business gains, both locally and globally. Panel data on 634 Shari'ah-compliant firms have been used in this study for the period of 2000-2014. The results indicate that Shari'ah compliance adds to the value of firms as firms perform transactions according to Shari'ah while avoiding non-permissible activities. This study adds value to the existing literature by showing the statistical results for the impact of Shari'ah compliance on the performance of the listed firms on Bursa Malaysia.