- KUALA LUMPUR: Professor Rifaat Ahmed Abdel Karim of Sudan, the inaugural secretary general of the Islamic Financial Services Board (IFSB), was conferred the Panglima Jasa Negara (PJN) award, a knighthood that carries the title of Datuk, in conjunction with the birthday of the Malaysian monarch Yang Di-Pertuan Agong Tuanku Mizan Zainal Abidin on June 6.
Datuk Professor Rifaat has steered the IFSB to international recognition since its inception in 2002. He is to stand down at the end of this year. The IFSB's mandate is to set prudential and supervisory standards for the global Islamic finance industry.