Shariah digital lending rollout · Brunei
Structuring the Tawarruq workflow and Shariah governance layer for a Q3 launch. Bank Negara guidelines map cleanly onto AMBD with a handful of nuances — that's where most of my time is going.
What I'm actually working on.
A monthly snapshot — written by hand, not generated. If you're wondering whether I'm the right fit for your situation, this page tells you the truth before any pitch does.
Updated monthlyKuala Lumpur
Current mandates
Payments cost teardown · regional issuer
Three-month engagement, no deliverable theatre. Looking at where cost-per-transaction is leaking across acquiring, scheme fees, and FX. Already found 14 bps of unnecessary spend in week two.
Writing
ALMANAC — 2026 edition
The Sooasana annual is in long-form draft. This year's focus: what changed for digital banks in Southeast Asia after the second wave of issuance, and why the "super-app" thesis is quietly being abandoned in three of the five markets.
Short note on AML for e-money issuers
A working draft on what BNM actually looks for in an AML/CFT audit for non-bank issuers — written for founders, not lawyers. Goal: ship by end of month.
Reading / learning
The Geography of Bliss · Eric Weiner
Off-topic on purpose. Best ideas come from the edges of the field.
ISRA research papers on Wakalah bil Istithmar
A specific structure I keep being asked about. Reading the source material before forming a public view.
Not doing this month
No new mandates until July
Two active engagements is the maximum that still lets me do the work personally. If you're reading this and have something urgent, email anyway — I'll either point you to someone good now, or schedule you for July.
No travel
Calls only this month. KL or Singapore visits resume in June.
This page is inspired by Derek Sivers' /now movement. If your "About" page is a CV, your "Now" page is a pulse.
Start a conversation