Recently, I was appointed by Islamic Banking and Financial Institution of Malaysia (IBFIM) to review their book entitled, Asas Takaful (Basic Takaful), the official textbook for Basic Takaful Examination (BTE). In Malaysia, all potential takaful agents must pass BTE prior to the appointment with takaful company. Prior to my review, I asked myself the standard which I wish to set for the book. After considering 25 years of takaful industry in Malaysia, I believe that the standard should be upgraded to the next level. The industry is no longer in the infancy stage therefore all relevant parties must exhibit certain competencies to ensure that the deliverables are at least at par with average standard compared to the conventional insurance industry. Simple computations on contribution using sample of rating tables are amongst the new content. The agents must also be well versed with different kind of takaful models applicable in industry as the clients today are more sophisticated. They should also enhance their knowledge to several takaful products as options. In this aspect, the probability of closing a deal with client is much higher.
