Kuala lumpur: Bursa Gold Dinar, the Shariah-compliant gold trading platform, has attracted more than 150,000 registrations since its introduction in January 2024, said Bursa Malaysia Bhd's Derivatives and Carbon Markets director, Mohd Saleem Kader Bakas. He noted the increasing public interest in Shariah-compliant investments, particularly in gold, as a driving factor.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Mohd Saleem highlighted that gold and silver, backed by tangible assets, offer investors a straightforward entry point. He remarked that in a volatile market environment, these metals serve as suitable defensive investment assets. His comments were made during his keynote address at the Islamic Investment Conference 2026, themed 'Generating Wealth Through Shariah: The Potential of Gold and Silver in the Current Economy', organized by the Institute of Islamic Understanding Malaysia in collaboration with Bursa Malaysia Bhd.
Mohd Saleem reported significant price increases in 2025, with gold surging over 60 per cent and silver seeing an average price rise of more than 40 per cent. Discussing Malaysia's Islamic capital market, he remarked that the sector has become a pivotal component of the country's financial system. He stated that since 2020, the size of Malaysia's Islamic capital market had grown to RM2.8 trillion by the end of 2025, up from about RM2.3 trillion previously. The Shariah-compliant equity market contributed approximately RM1.3 trillion, while the sukuk market accounted for about RM1.4 trillion.
Mohd Saleem emphasized that the Islamic capital market comprises nearly 66 per cent of Malaysia's total capital market size. He underscored the importance of not just growth, but also how the market promotes inclusivity and long-term wellbeing, aligning with the principles of Maqasid Shariah and the aspirations of the Capital Market Masterplan 2026-2030.
He also stressed the need for the younger generation and new investors to be introduced to a broader range of investment opportunities. He noted that inclusivity encompasses both access and participation, ensuring that they are not left out of the journey for long-term wealth creation.