Vice President Ma'ruf Amin: Some People Still View Islamic Banks Are More Expensive Than Conventional

Vice President Ma'ruf Amin. (Photo: Doc. Setkab)

JAKARTA - Vice President (Wapres) Ma'ruf Amin asked Bank Syariah Indonesia (BSI) to be more competitive in attracting public interest to become customers of the joint bank of the Association of State-Owned Banks (Himbara).

Antara reported that the message was conveyed directly by the Vice President, Ma'ruf Amin, to the BSI directors and commissioners during a meeting at the vice president's official residence in Jakarta, Wednesday, June 2.

"This (initiative) has provided more competitive opportunities, but it is not enough. Other breakthroughs must be sought so that sharia is more competitive," said Vice President Ma'ruf Amin.

The vice president assessed that some people consider sharia banking services to be more expensive than conventional ones, so to change this mindset, the government has asked the General Taxation Provisions (KUP) to reduce the burden of sharia financial income to five percent.

Meanwhile, BSI Director Hery Gunardi who participated in the meeting reported that in the first quarter of 2021, BSI's asset growth reached above 14 percent, financing reached above 12 percent, and profit reached 12.8 percent.

"This is indeed a challenge for all of us, how to maintain good performance," said Hery.

Hery also said that BSI will open an overseas branch office in Dubai to develop the operation of Islamic banking services from Indonesia.

BSI Independent Commissioner Komaruddin Hidayat said the role of Vice President Ma'ruf Amin in the merger of three Himbara Islamic banks into BSI was quite large.

Komaruddin assessed that the Vice President was a person who took real action, so he hoped that BSI could build the economy of the Indonesian people.

"In order to become a legacy that plays a greater role in developing the people's economy," he said.