Bank Islam Malaysia Berhad has obtained the ISO 37001 Anti-Bribery Management System (ABMS) certification from ABAC Center of Excellence Sdn Bhd (ABAC), making it the first full-fledged Islamic financial institution in Malaysia to be awarded this prestigious accreditation.
Bank Islam Group Chief Executive Officer, Dato’ Mohd Muazzam Mohamed said the ISO 37001 certification acknowledged the Bank’s anti-corruption practices and declared its commitment to zero-tolerance against bribery and corruption. This certification sets new standards in the industry and distinguishes Bank Islam as an ethical and responsible organisation.
“The ISO 37001 certification assures the management, staff, customers, and other stakeholders that the Bank has taken appropriate measures to prevent graft. It also improves organisational efficiency and effectiveness in managing risks associated with bribery.
ISO 37001 is an international standard that specifies requirements and provides guidance for establishing, implementing, maintaining, reviewing, and improving an anti-bribery management system. According to Mohd Muazzam, Bank Islam constantly strives to enhance integrity by educating and increasing awareness among its employees.
“We undertook several critical measures and policies to obtain the ISO 37001 ABMS certification, including implementing the ABMS Guideline, which serves as an internal document verifying that documented procedures met the ISO 37001 ABMS Standard requirements. This accreditation also complements the Bank’s effort in ensuring the strictest code of conduct, good governance and integrity,” he explains.
In July 2022, Bank Islam launched its inaugural Organisational Anti-Corruption Plan (OACP) 2022-2025. The Bank also introduced the Group Anti-Bribery and Corruption Policy in 2021, outlining the roles and responsibilities of employees in upholding fundamental values of integrity, transparency, and accountability consistently across its operations.
