World’s First Waqf-Featured ETF Lauded as Kenanga Investors Declares Income Distribution for its Waqf Portfolio

Kuala Lumpur, 12 March 2025 – Kenanga Investors Group (“Kenanga Investors”) has announced the dividend distribution of its waqf fund portfolio; the Kenanga Sustainability Series: Emergency Waqf Musa’adah Fund (“KSSEWMF”) recorded a return of 24.96% in 2024 and reported a dividend distribution of RM5.40 sen per unit on 15 January of this year. Meanwhile, the Kenanga Waqf Al-Ihsan Fund (“KWAF”), which achieved a return of 17.72% last year, declared a dividend distribution of RM2.10 sen per unit on 12 November 2024.

During the official launch of the National Waqf Month recently, Prime Minister YAB Dato’ Seri Anwar bin Ibrahim, recognised the Eq8 FTSE Malaysia Enhanced Dividend Waqf ETF (“EQ8WAQF”) – the world’s first waqf-featured exchange-traded fund launched through Eq8 Capital Sdn Bhd (“Eq8 Capital”), the ETF arm of Kenanga Investors, in partnership with Yayasan Waqf Malaysia (YWM).

The launch event, jointly hosted by YWM and Jabatan Wakaf, Zakat dan Haji (JAWHAR), saw the Prime Minister highlight the innovative nature of the fund in his opening speech, noting how it creates benefits for both investors and the broader waqf landscape. “This product is considered the world’s first waqf innovation, a collaboration between YWM and Eq8 Capital, which channels 50% of investment income as waqf while distributing the other 50% as dividends”, he said. The National Waqf Month is a yearly initiative that aims to raise public awareness and encourage participation in waqf practices while strengthening Malaysia’s waqf ecosystem in support of the Malaysia Madani development framework. 

Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer Datuk Wira Ismitz Matthew De Alwis said, “The recognition of our waqf initiatives at the launch of the National Waqf Month underscores the significance of these innovative financial instruments in contributing to social development while providing value to investors. Our approach to combining sustainable investing with social impact is linked to our belief that community wellbeing directly affects long-term investment outcomes. We hope to help investors achieve their financial goals while supporting critical social needs. The performance of our waqf funds also demonstrates that responsible investing and social contribution can be achieved simultaneously”. 

Currently, the waqf funds serve multiple vital sectors within the community; the KWAF and EQ8WAQF direct resources toward education, healthcare, economic empowerment, and environmental initiatives while the KSSEWMF focuses specifically on addressing challenges related to climate change disaster control and pandemic preparedness. 

For more information about Kenanga Investors, please visit www.kenangainvestors.com.my.

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