KUALA LUMPUR (Oct 30): Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has appointed Federal Territories Mufti Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil as a member of its Shariah Advisory Council (SAC) for a two-year term, effective Nov 1.

The central bank said in a statement on Friday that the appointment was made under Section 53(1) of the Central Bank of Malaysia Act 2009.

Ahmad Fauwaz replaces Selangor Mufti Dr Anhar Opir, whose tenure ends on Oct 31 after serving on the council since Nov 1, 2019.

With the appointment, the SAC will continue to comprise nine members with expertise in shariah, Islamic finance, accounting and law.

The council, chaired by INCEIF University professor Dr Ashraf Md Hashim, who also heads Bursa Malaysia's Shariah Committee, is the highest authority responsible for determining Islamic law for Islamic financial business in Malaysia.

Its rulings serve as a reference for Islamic financial institutions to ensure compliance with shariah principles, as well as for courts and arbitrators in matters involving Islamic finance.

The SAC also advises BNM on shariah matters relating to the central bank's Islamic financial activities and transactions.

"I welcome the appointment of Sahibus Samahah Ahmad Fauwaz Fadzil as a new member of the SAC and am confident that his expertise and experience will further strengthen the SAC's role in supporting the advancement of Islamic finance in Malaysia," BNM governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour said in the statement.

Abdul Rasheed also thanked Anhar for his contributions during his seven-year tenure.

"Throughout his tenure, Sahibus Samahah Datuk Setia Dr Anhar Opir has been instrumental in enriching SAC's deliberations through his mastery of classical Islamic texts and sound shariah reasoning," he said.

Ahmad Fauwaz, 45, has served as Federal Territories Mufti since May 23, 2025. He is the son of the late former PAS president Datuk Fadzil Mohd Noor and the younger brother of Amanah secretary-general Muhammad Faiz Fadzil, a former Permatang Pasir assemblyman.

Ahmad Fauwaz is also a member of the shariah committees of Alliance Islamic Bank and FWD Takaful, and chairs the shariah committee of Sharlife, a shariah advisory firm specialising in digital assets. He joined Alliance Islamic Bank's shariah committee in April 2018 and also serves on the board of the Federal Territories Islamic Religious Council (MAIWP) and as chairman of Yayasan Taqwa MAIWP.

Previously, Ahmad Fauwaz served on a technical committee under the Islamic Development Department of Malaysia (Jakim) tasked with harmonising civil and shariah laws.

He was also appointed to lead the development of religious rehabilitation modules for children rescued from GISB Holdings Sdn Bhd.