Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has urged Islamic finance to move beyond asset growth and play a central role in creating ethical leaders of the future while advancing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
He said the success of Islamic finance should not be measured by the size of its balance sheets but by its ability to change lives and secure the future.
“God willing, we will continue to strengthen the role of Islamic finance in meeting the Sustainable Development Goals and we will shape a generation of ethical leaders. An ethical generation means leaders who believe in values and principles that will carry the mission forward,” he said at the Global Islamic Finance (GIFA) Laureate event.
Anwar stressed that Maqasid Shariah, which focuses on justice, risk sharing and reducing exploitation, must remain the foundation of Islamic finance and provide lasting guidance for the industry.
He said that beyond strong progress, bankers, central banks and policymakers are showing greater confidence in growing Islamic finance as part of wider economic frameworks.
The Prime Minister added that this momentum, if sustained, would allow Islamic finance to address major challenges such as inequality, poverty and marginalisation, which remain more visible in the Muslim world compared to other regions.
He also called for further development of sustainable infrastructure, digital platforms and social financial tools such as zakat and waqf. Innovative products like green sukuk, he said, could support inclusivity and sustainable global growth.
