Hong Leong Islamic Bank - Board of Directors

YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah bin Md Kassim holds a PhD in Business from Aston University, United Kingdom and a Master in Business Administration. He was inducted in 2012 into the Alumni Hall of Achievement of Monmouth College in Illinois, USA where he did his undergraduate education. 

YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah had over 20 years of experience as strategy and management consultant in global firms specialising in large scale technology and business transformation, working across several sectors with established organisations, ranging from banks to telecommunication companies, public institutions and foreign governments. He is the Co-Founder of The iA Group, where he currently serves as an Advisor. The iA Group, which was established in 2002, specialises in business and public sector transformation, technology and human capital.

Prior to The iA Group, he was the Executive Director/Partner of international firm of Ernst & Young, Vice President and Country Head of the global consulting firm of Cap Gemini and member of the global management team and Country Head of PA Consulting Group.

Before joining the consulting industry in 1995, YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah held various senior positions in the government for over 18 years related to industrial R&D management and public policy on technology development and innovation. He also served as a member of expert/advisory groups in various national and international organisations such as United Nations Conference on Trade and Development and Islamic Development Bank, Jeddah. He was the Project Director for the Industrial Technology Master Plan for Malaysia in the Institute of Strategic and International Studies and subsequently took up the position as Director of Science and Technology, Ministry of Science, Technology and Environment to spearhead the implementation of the plan as part of the national strategies to accelerate economic growth and technology development.

In 2006, YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah was appointed as the Consulting Advisor to the National Implementation Task Force chaired by the Prime Minister to oversee the 9^th Malaysia Development Plan and in 2009, he was appointed as member of the National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC). YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah was a member of the Review and Operational Panel to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission from 2013 to February 2015. In 2015, he was appointed as member of the Anti-Corruption Advisory Board by the DYMM Yang Di Pertuan Agong and completed his term in 2018.

YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah was appointed to the Board of Directors of Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad (“HLISB”) on 15 December 2015 and is a member of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee of HLISB.

YBhg Datuk Dr Md Hamzah is also the Board Member of Hong Leong Bank Berhad, a parent company of HLISB.

Mr Kevin Lam Sai Yoke holds an undergraduate degree in Business Administration from the National University of Singapore and is an alumnus of the Asian Financial Leadership Program.

Mr Kevin Lam possesses over 30 years of experience in the financial landscape, having assumed various key senior leadership roles covering five (5) key markets in Southeast Asia namely Thailand, Vietnam, Singapore, Indonesia and Malaysia. He has a broad range of experiences in strategic planning, business management, marketing, product development, sales and distribution, banking infrastructure development, digital and technology innovation. He has been instrumental in leading financial institutions with cross-functional and cross-cultural backgrounds to build long-term franchises.

Prior to joining HLISB, Mr Kevin Lam served as the Head of TMRW Group Digital Banking of United Overseas Bank Limited (“UOB”), for its key regional markets based in Singapore. He has a decade-long experience in various ASEAN markets including in Jakarta as the President Director of UOB Indonesia, and in Kuala Lumpur where he headed Personal Financial Services at UOB Malaysia and later served as its Deputy Chief Executive Officer where he oversaw its Wholesale Banking business and Technology and Operations. 

He had also headed the consumer banking loans, sales and distribution in Singapore with UOB, after time with various international banks and technology firms based in Singapore, Hong Kong and the USA.

Mr Kevin Lam currently a Group Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer of Hong Leong Bank Berhad (HLB). He is also a Council Member of The Association of Banks in Malaysia (ABM) and a Member of Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB).

Mr Kevin Lam was appointed to the Board of Directors of Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad (HLISB) on 1 November 2023 and is a Member of Nomination Committee of HLISB. 

Mr Tang is a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants and has over 40 years’ in-depth experience in the investment, manufacturing, financial services, property development, gaming and hospitality industries.

Mr Tang possesses broad-based and C-suite expertise in finance, treasury, risk management, operations and strategic planning. He has held various senior management positions in different companies within the Hong Leong Group, prior to his retirement as President & Chief Executive Officer of Guoco Group Limited in December 2020.

Mr Tang is also the Chairman of GuocoLand (Malaysia) Berhad and a Director of GLM REIT Management Sdn Bhd, the Manager of Tower Real Estate Investment Trust. He is also a Non-Independent Non-Executive Director of BIB Insurance Brokers Sdn Bhd, an approved insurance broker to carry on insurance broking business pursuant to Financial Services Act 2013.

Encik Alan Hamzah Sendut holds a Bachelor of Science (Hons) degree in Accountancy and Computer Science from the University of Wales, United Kingdom. He is a Chartered Accountant (Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales) by profession and a member of the Malaysian Institute of Accountants.

Encik Alan Hamzah Sendut began his career in 1982 as an auditor with Price Waterhouse, London, United Kingdom. He returned to Malaysia in 1986 where he served with several multinational companies such as the Shell Malaysia Group and CarnauldMetalBox Malaysia.

Encik Alan Hamzah Sendut joined the Sime Darby Group in 1996 as Group Finance Director of Tractors Malaysia Holdings Berhad, a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad (“Bursa Securities”). He served in many senior roles within the Sime Darby Group such as Group Finance Director for Sime Plantations, Project Director for the Northern Corridor Project and Senior Vice-President for Sime Darby Shared Services during his 19+ years with Sime Darby Group.

From 2009 to 2010, Encik Alan Hamzah Sendut joined BHP Billiton as Global Head of Payment Shared Services. He then returned to the Sime Darby Group as the Executive Vice President for Strategy, Business Development and Investor Relations. He became the Managing Director of Sime Darby Energy and Utilities Division (Non China) from April 2015 to June 2016.

Encik Alan Hamzah Sendut is currently a Director of Hengyuan Refining Company Berhad, a company listed on the Main Market of Bursa Securities.

Encik Alan Hamzah Sendut was appointed to the Board of Directors of Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad (“HLISB”) on 26 September 2016 and is the Chairman of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee, Remuneration Committee and Nomination Committee of HLISB.

Puan Rowina Ghazali Seth holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Science from the Northern Illinois University, United States.

Puan Rowina Ghazali Seth began her career in SHELL in the Information Technology Division in 1985, where she assumed various local and global positions in SHELL's upstream, downstream and business operations. She rose to senior posts, including as SHELL Malaysia's first female General Manager Corporate Affairs and Director of SHELL Business Services Sdn Bhd.

Her last position was Director, Government Affairs at SHELL Malaysia, building the function from inception and pioneering the lead role. 

As a senior member of SHELL's management, she has more than 30 years’ experience in the Oil & Gas industry, in all aspects of strategic government relations, external and reputation management.

Puan Rowina Ghazali Seth is currently a Director of Velesto Energy Berhad (formerly known as UMW Oil & Gas Corporation Berhad) and UEM Edgenta Berhad, both companies listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia Securities Berhad.

Puan Rowina Ghazali Seth was appointed to the Board of Directors of Hong Leong Islamic Bank Berhad (“HLISB”) on 24 October 2017 and is a member of the Board Audit and Risk Management Committee and Remuneration Committee of HLISB.

Professor Dr. Rusni Hassan is a Deputy Dean (Academic and Industrial Linkages) at the IIUM Institute of Islamic Banking and Finance, IIUM. She graduated with LLB (Honours), LLB (Shariah) (First Class), Master of Comparative Laws (MCL) and Ph.D in Law. Her area of specialization includes Governance in Islamic Banking and Finance (IBF), Legal and Regulatory Aspects of IBF, Islamic Social Finance and Shariah Aspects of IBF. She is an active researcher and expert trainer in IBF. She has spoken extensively in seminars, workshops, conferences and training on various Islamic Finance issues. Her publication includes books on Islamic Banking and Takaful, Islamic Banking under Malaysian Law; Corporate Governance of Islamic Financial Institutions; Islamic Banking Cases and Commentaries; Remedies for Default of Payment in Islamic Banking, Termination of Contractual Obligations and many chapters in books. She has more than 100 articles published in local and international journals and frequently listed as Top 5 contributors in Scopus publication in Islamic Finance. She has supervised more than 50 post graduate students in comprehensive topics on IBF and frequently been invited as examiner and assessor for students’ theses, academic promotions and also academic programs offered by universities locally and internationally.

Professor Dr. Rusni is also actively involved in the IBF industry. She was a member of Shariah Advisory Council Bank Negara Malaysia from 2010 to 2016 and also the Shariah Committee for a number of institutions in Malaysia including Association of Islamic Banking Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) as well as Waqf Al-Nur and Koperasi J-Corp. Internationally, she is the Shariah Committee for Housing Development Corporation, Maldives. She is a registered Shariah Advisor with the Securities Commission Malaysia. She was instrumental for the establishment of the Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance Malaysia (ASAS) and the International Council of Islamic Finance Educators (ICIFE) whereby she was pro-tem committee, Secretary and the Executive Committee for both associations respectively. 

Her works and contribution to Islamic Finance has also been recognized internationally when she was listed among the Top Women in Islamic Finance since 2013. The most recent was The Top 50 Most Influential Women in Islamic Finance 2018 and The Top 10 Most Influential Women in Islamic Business and Finance 2019 by Cambridge IFA. Her contribution to Islamic Finance in Maldives was recognized by the Government of Maldives when she was awarded the National-Recognition for Outstanding Contribution of Females to Develop and Sustain Islamic Finance Industry in Maldives in 2018.

Encik Imran Bin Mohammad Khayat is currently the General Manager of Shariah Division and Secretary to the Shariah Advisory Committee of Lembaga Tabung Haji (TH). As the pioneering Shariah General Manager at TH, he was responsible for spearheading the establishment of Shariah Division and putting the structure and operationalization of Shariah Governance Framework at the institution. He is responsible for overseeing the Shariah compliance aspects of the businesses and investments of the group.

He graduated from Universiti of Yarmouk, Jordan in 2004, with a Bachelor of Syariah (Islamic Jurisprudence and Its Foundation). Besides, he is a Certified Shariah Advisor and Auditor (CSAA), Accounting and Auditing Organization for Islamic Financial Institution   (AAOIFI), Bahrain and completed a Global Islamic Banking Leaders (GIBL) Programme of KFH Malaysia.

He has the essential qualifications in the field of Fiqh al-Muamalat (Islamic Law of Transactions), Usul al-fiqh, and Islamic legal maxims. Prior to his current position, he was a Senior Manager and has years of experience working with a Middle Eastern based Islamic bank in Kuala Lumpur covering Shariah matters relating to product development, treasury, wholesale banking, retail banking, capital market, fund management, private equity and direct investment.

Prior to joining the Islamic Finance industry, he was a lecturer at a private college in east coast of Malaysia. 

Dr. Amir bin Shaharuddin is an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Muamalat, Universiti Sains Islam Malaysia (USIM). He obtained a Bachelor Degree (Honors) in Shariah from University of Al-Azhar, Cairo, Egypt (2001) and a Master in Business Administration from International Islamic University Malaysia, Malaysia (2005). He was awarded with PhD (Arab & Islamic Studies) from University of Exeter, United Kingdom (2010). 

He was the first Visiting Fellow under the Scholar in Residence Program (“Program”) with his research titled “Harmonising Shariah Rulings in Islamic Finance: Issues, Ways and Challenges”. This Program is a joint initiative between the Securities Commission Malaysia and the Oxford Centre for Islamic Studies.

He is currently the Chief Executive Officer of Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia (Wakaf Foundation of Malaysia) and also serving as a Shariah Advisor of Malaysia Airport Consultancy Berhad, a Shariah Committee member of Yayasan Waqf Malaysia, and Panel Pakar Syariah in Jabatan Kemajuan Islam Malaysia (“JAKIM”). Previously, he was a Dean of Faculty of Economics and Mualamat and a Deputy Dean (Academic and Research) of the same Faculty at USIM. His expertise is on Fiqh Muamalat, Islamic Banking and Islamic Social Finance.

He is also the Chairman, Shariah Committee member of Hong Leong MSIG Takaful Berhad since April of this year.

Dr. Safinar Salleh is currently a lecturer at the Department of Islamic Law, Ahmad Ibrahim Kulliyyah of Law (AIKOL), International Islamic University Malaysia (IIUM). She holds a PhD in Islamic Studies (Shariah) from University of Glasgow Caledonian, United Kingdom, a Master Degree in Shariah from University of Malaya, Malaysia and Degree in Shariah from the University of Al-Azhar, Egypt.

Dr. Safinar also at present, serves as one of the Shariah Committee members of Export-Import Bank of Malaysia Berhad (EXIM Bank), MUA Life Ltd (Mauritius) and as well as concurrently serves as a Shariah Committee member of Swiss Reinsurance Company Ltd (Swiss Re Retakaful).

Prior to that, she was the SC member of MUFG Bank (Malaysia) Berhad and Bank Simpanan Nasional (BSN).

Dr. Safinar Salleh possesses abundance of experience in the field of Islamic Banking & Finance specifically in the area of Shariah advisory where she focuses on Islamic corporate sector and Takaful & Retakaful. Similarly, she also applies her expertise on Islamic Capital Market, Islamic law of contracts and Waqf.

Notably, Dr. Safinar has also published numbers of articles and books jointly written with other fellow academicians including HLISB SC Chairperson, Prof. Dr. Rusni Hassan where their joint publications were essentially on Islamic Banking and Takaful. Her latest article has been published in International Journal of Recent Technology and Engineering (IJRTE) last year, titled “Methodology on the Trend of Underlying Shariah Contracts and Legal Disputes of Decided Islamic Banking Cases in Malaysia”.

Dr Safinar has also contributed to the industry through her appointment as module reviewer of Takaful Module for Certified Shariah Advisor (CSA) & Certified Shariah Practitioner (CSP) certification which was developed and organised by Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance (ASAS) for Shariah Advisors and officers serving the industry. 

Dr. Engku Muhammad Tajuddin is currently an Associate Professor at the Faculty of Islamic Contemporary Studies, Universiti Sultan Zainal Abidin (UniSZA). He holds a Master Degree and a PhD in Comparative Law from International Islamic University Malaysia, and a Degree in Shariah from the University of Al-Azhar, Egypt.

At present, Associate Professor Dr. Engku Muhammad Tajuddin is the Director of Waqf and Endowment Office of UniSZA. He is also a member of the Shariah Committee, Department of Finance & Banking, Faculty of Business Management and Accounting, UniSZA. Previously, he was the Dean for Faculty of Islamic Contemporary Studies and Head of Department, Department of Shariah, Faculty of Islamic Contemporary Studies of the same institution.

Associate Professor Dr. Engku Muhammad Tajuddin possesses wealth of experience in the field of Islamic Banking & Finance. His focus area would be on Islamic social finance particularly Zakat (alms), Waqf (endowment), administration & governance of property from Islamic perspectives and Islamic Jurisprudence.

He actively engages in extensive research activities to which he has made considerable contributions in publications of numerous research papers. Notably, he has also produced a number of research papers on Islamic finance and has participated and presented papers in numerous local and international major conferences which among others discuss on the topic of Sukuk Istithmar, Waqf Asset and Salam & Salam Muwazi and its application in the Islamic Financial Institution in Malaysia. 

Associate Professor Dr. Engku Muhammad Tajuddin’s latest journal has been published in the ISRA International Journal of Islamic Finance last year, titled: “A Proposed Human Resource Management Model for Zakat Institutions in Malaysia” which is jointly written with other renown Malaysian Shariah Scholars including Associate Professor Dr. Aznan Hasan, President of Association of Shariah Advisors in Islamic Finance (ASAS) and Prof. Dr. Rusni Hassan, our HLISB SC Chairperson. His latest book, “Refuelling an Islamic Government” published by Penerbit UniSZA in 2020 is also a joint writing written by him and Associate Professor Dr. Aznan Hasan. Additionally, he is one of the authors in the book ‘Tadbir Urus Harta dan Kewangan Islam di Malaysia’ which was published in 2019.

Previously, he was the SC member of Kuwait Finance House (M) Berhad and amongst his notable contributions to the industry is the development of learning Modules for Certified Shariah Advisor (CSA) & Certified Shariah Practitioner (CSP) certification. These programs are developed and organised by ASAS for Shariah Advisors and officers serving the industry.