Madinah: Bursa Malaysia Bhd chairman Tan Sri Abdul Wahid Omar has been conferred the Saleh Kamel Award for Islamic Economics at the 45th AlBaraka Islamic Economics Symposium in Madinah. He was among 10 Islamic banking pioneers recognized at the event, which coincided with the 50th anniversary of Islamic banking development. The award was presented by Prince Salman bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz, Prince of Madinah, acknowledging decades of contributions to the field of Islamic finance.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Wahid participated in the symposium, held on April 16-17, as both a moderator and speaker. He expressed that the recognition was unexpected but deeply meaningful, particularly because it took place in the holy city of Madinah. In his acceptance, Wahid emphasized the collective efforts of various financial services entities he has collaborated with, including Bursa Malaysia, Malayan Banking Bhd, Permodalan Nasional Bhd, Amanah Capital Group Bhd, and Bumiputra Merchant Bankers Bhd. He also highlighted the roles of Malaysia and its regulators, such as Bank Negara Malaysia and the Securities Commission, in advancing Islamic finance.

The Saleh Kamel Award for Islamic Economics was created to honor the pioneering contributions of the late Sheikh Saleh Kamel and to promote excellence in Islamic economic research. It seeks to support specialized academic production, identify emerging talent in Islamic finance and jurisprudence, and broaden the global impact of Islamic banking.