LVG Launching

Thanks to Berita Harian for publishing LVG Launching. Congratulations to the partners, Nash and Jash for such a memorable event.

Humanizing Insurance & Takaful

When eTiQa launched the new branding with it's value proposition to "humanizing insurance", some people may have questioned what it means. It is really about going back to the basics and the core foundation of the insurance business, which is people. It is the reason we exist and it is also the reason why we must progress to strengthen this core value.

Yes, the insurance industry has been under attack for many years and has carried with it a "perceived" bad connotation to both the industry and it's people. Little do we realize that this industry has been around for a very long time. It has survived the test of time because for one, insurance companies are very conservative. But that alone is not enough. Insurance companies must honor the contracts with it's policy holders. If this does not hold true, how long would an entity be able to continue as a going concern. Yes, maybe there is very little publicity when claim are paid out. But there are reasons behind this. As you may imagine, not many families want to announce such a sensitive situation. Imagine the devastation ones family goes through. Even with a claim that comes in to elevate the situation of the family, having it publicized would be the last thing on their mind. Wouldn't it be the same for you?

Best Islamic Fund Manager 2008

Public Mutual Bhd again won the “Best Islamic Fund Manager in Asia” Award by the Failaka Advisors for the 2nd consecutive year.

The Failaka Advisors, which is based in Dubai, is a recognized leader in the field of Islamic funds research. The Failaka Islamic Fund Awards stand apart as the benchmark for excellence in the field of Islamic fund management.

Public Mutual’s funds have once again outperformed the benchmarks by the highest percentages. In a market where many clients have demonstrated a preference for Islamic funds, Public Mutual is well-placed to take advantage of this demand. The team of Public Mutual have proven remarkably consistent in managing their Shariah funds and the proof is in their performance. No doubt performance has played a role in their tremendous asset growth.

Public Mutual is the largest private unit trust company in Malaysia, and it manages 62 funds for more than 1,800,000 accountholders. As at 30 April 2008, the total NAV of the funds managed by the company was RM27.8 billion.

Etiqa - Poised To Become The People's Chioce

KUALA LUMPUR, Nov 15 (Bernama) -- Mayban Fortis Holdings Bhd, the insurance and takaful arm of Malayan Banking Bhd, is poised to reshape Malaysia's assurance landscape with the launch of its new brand, Etiqa.

In an industry where there is little product differentiation -- where agreements and policies are typified by triplicate and the use of jargons that are difficult to understand in small print -- Etiqa aims to make the process easier for people by being clear and transparent.

Etiqa will be the single master brand for all conventional and takaful businesses under Mayban Fortis.

In a statement here Thursday, chairman Tan Sri Mohamed Basir said that rising living standards and better education had resulted in a new breed of consumers with more sophisticated financial requirements and demanding needs.

"Today, they are not satisfied with just having great products and delivery channels. Sure, these factors remain critical but they now need to be complemented by strong brand affinity and brand values as consumers seek a relationship beyond their basic needs.

"More than ever, we need to be totally consumer-driven to give them that differentiated experience that will set us apart," he said.

Meanwhile, Mayban Fortis chief executive officer, Aminuddin Mohd Desa, said at the core of the Etiqa brand was the essence of humanising insurance and takaful.

He said with simplification and empowerment, Etiqa was able to offer value-added benefits such as RM1,000 advance for funeral expenses in times of bereavement, over-the-phone settlement for green lane claims, immediate general policy approval via Etiqa Oneline and claims processes that are faster than industry average.

"These qualities encapsulate our behaviour, the way we work, the way we treat our customers, and most importantly, providing our customers a whole new positive experience when dealing with us.

"At the same time, we want to change our customers' perception of insurance, and once again lead the wave of change," he said.