Bank Rakyat CEO Datuk Mohamad Hanis Osman said Social finance initiatives such as iTEKAD are a way forward towards narrowing the gap that exists in communities in addressing social and economic disparities. — Picture by Hari AnggaraKUALA LUMPUR, June 13 — Social finance initiatives such as iTEKAD are a way forward towards narrowing the gap that exists in communities in addressing social and economic disparities.
“By taking such efforts, we would not restrict ourselves in relation to entrepreneurship. Perhaps, in the future, we can also play a role in other areas such as housing, education and even healthcare,” he said during a panel session titled “Social Finance : Propelling Growth of Business” at the Sasana Symposium 2024 hosted by Bank Negara Malaysia here today.iTEKAD is an umbrella programme established by BNM.
Mohamad Hanis also said in a move to encourage more financial institutions to take up social finance, the government could perhaps mandate FIs to set up its own social finance programme or join the iTEKAD programme.
She said a strong governance system within an organisation could influence other actors in the ecosystem to improve their governance.