The Comparison of Sound Level of Islamic Banks in Indonesia and Malaysia

In facing of financial integration in the ASEAN Economic community (AEC) by 2020, Islamic banks in Indonesia must have a high level of continuity of operations to ensure business continuity and increase assets rapidly in order to boost market share of Islamic banking in Indonesia. This study was conducted to analyze the soundness comparison of Islamic banks in Indonesia and Malaysia in order to measure the readiness of Islamic banks in both countries. The study uses data of annual financial statements of 10 Islamic banks in Indonesia and 10 Islamic banks in Malaysia in 2012–2014. The results of this study indicate that Islamic banks in Malaysia are relatively better prepared compared to Islamic banks in Indonesia. Islamic banks in Malaysia have more derivative and liquidity instruments, accomodating regulation from the government, low level of non-performing financing (NPF) and the high public attention makes Islamic banks in Malaysia potentially better to compete on the era of financial integration in the AEC in 2020. In contrast, Islamic banks in Malaysia tend to be more sound than the Islamic banks in Indonesia during the period of 2012–2014.     Keywords: capital, assets quality, management, profitability, liquidity, sensitivity of risk