09/06/2025

BANKING & INSURANCE 12 MONDAY | JUNE 9, 2025

Nurturing future-ready and ethical bankers

International (UPI) and CIMB Bank Bhd have entered into a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to improve payment services in Malaysia. The collaboration will enhance the payment experience for UnionPay cardholders, particularly in high frequency sectors such as retail, transport, medical care and e-com merce. As part of the partnership, UPI will also equip CIMB’s merchants with access to its proprietary security authentication service, thereby opti mising Malaysia’s e-commerce and AmBank provides RM70m financing for Sunview’s solar project in Sungai Petani PETALING JAYA: AmBank Group through AmBank Islamic Bhd has approved banking facilities to Fabulous Sunview Sdn Bhd (FSSB), a wholly owned subsidiary of Sunview Group Bhd, amounting to RM70 million to part finance the construction of a 29.99MWac ground mounted photovoltaic (PV) solar power plant in Sungai Petani, Kedah. The project was awarded by Dayasinar Energy Sdn Bhd under the Corporate Green Power Programme (CGPP), an initiative launched by the Energy Commission of Malaysia to accelerate corporate participation in renewable energy. The project with a contract amounting to RM98.28 million will be executed by FSSB, including design, procurement, erection, connection, commissioning and testing, as well as supply of equipment, for the cons truction of a ground-mounted PV solar generation facility. Sunview Group has established itself as one of the leading providers of end-to-end engineering, procure ment, construction and com missioning services for solar PV systems in Malaysia. The company offers solar construction, installation, power generation and associated products. AmBank group business banking managing director Christopher Yap said, “We are pleased to support FSSB and Sunview Group in this initiative. Looking ahead, we remain com mitted to strengthening our contri bution to Malaysia’s renewable energy ecosystem by exploring potential financing opportunities in upcoming government program mes.” Sunview Group executive director and CEO HP Ong said, “We would like to extend our appreciation to AmBank for placing their trust in Sunview. “The financing facilities provided play an important role in supporting the rollout of our solar project under the CGPP scheme. With this support, we are able to continue contributing to Malaysia’s energy transition and contribute to a greener and more sustainable future.”

PETALING JAYA: The Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers (AICB) recently held its 8th Char tered Banker Conferment 2025 ceremony in Kuala Lumpur, honouring the commitment of banking professionals who ex emplify the highest standards of professional excellence and lifelong learning in an increasingly complex and rapidly changing financial environment. With the theme “Charting the Growth of Finance”, the ceremony underscored the growing importance of nurturing future-ready and ethical banking and finance professionals, especially in light of rising challenges in cybersecurity, data privacy, sustainable finance and the acce lerating impact of digital trans formation and financial technology. Bank Negara Malaysia governor Datuk Seri Abdul Rasheed Ghaffour, who delivered a special address at the ceremony, said: “Malaysia has invested significantly in developing talent in our financial sector. Over the years, we have developed a comprehensive ecosystem of talent affiliates provi

In order to better serve bilateral personnel exchanges, UnionPay con tinues to expand its payment acceptance environment in Malaysia, with over 90% of local merchants accepting UnionPay cards. The partnership will expand and deepen the access of UnionPay solutions among CIMB merchants including selected gas stations, transportation ticket counters, major hospitals, highway toll stations, vending machines, shopping mall parking systems and other key payment merchants, effectively improving UnionPay’s acceptance and customer experience. policymaking and championing talent development within the financial sector. As banking continues to evolve rapidly, AICB reaffirmed its com mitment to professionalising and upskilling the workforce through its professional education offerings. Its flagship Chartered Banker quali fication, developed in collaboration with the UK’s Chartered Banker Institute, sets the gold standard for banking professionalism. AICB also provides specialised certifications in areas such as digital trans formation, financial crime pre vention, sustainable finance and more. AICB chief executive Edward Ling said: “Professionalism and upskilling in banking is no longer optional – it is essential. At AICB, we are committed to expanding our growing community of over 800 chartered bankers in the next two years, empowering the industry with future-ready capabilities. Through our robust education programmes, the Future Skills Framework and thought leadership initiatives in key areas such as digital innovation and sustainable finance, we aim to equip our members with the critical skills and professional foundation needed to navigate and innovate the future of banking and finance.” The ceremony conferred the prestigious Fellow Chartered Banker status on 14 industry leaders, including AICB Council member Datuk Mohd Rashid Mohamad, who is the group managing director/group CEO of RHB Bank Bhd. Additionally, 71 AICB members were conferred Chartered Banker status, while over 500 members attained the Associate Chartered Banker status. The ceremony also celebrated recipients of excellence and cor porate awards. Attended by more than 480 guests comprising members of the AICB Council and C-suite executives, the 8th Chartered Banker Conferment ceremony reaffirmed AICB’s role in building a resilient, ethical and future-ready professional banking workforce for Malaysia and the region.

o Asian Institute of Chartered Bankers warns of rising challenges amid digital transformation

professional excellence across the region. Azman said: “I am deeply honoured by this recognition. This award is a reflection of the collective progress we have made as an industry in championing ethical professionalism in banking. Banking transcends numbers – it is about trust, stewardship and purpose. I hope this inspires more professionals to embrace continuous learning and lead with integrity in shaping the future of finance.” The ceremony also honoured the contributions of Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (Central Bank of the Philippines) governor Eli M. Remolona Jr with the AICB Honorary Fellowship, one of the institute’s highest distinctions. This prestigious award recognises Remolona’s transformative contri butions towards fostering greater Asean banking integration, effective

ding training, certification and future-looking guidance on the skills needed by the financial sector. “I also wish to highlight the important role played by financial institutions to further complement these efforts through their respective learning and develop ment academies. While the financial services industry benefits from a good talent development ecosystem, more collective actions are needed to future-proof the workforce.” A key highlight of the evening was the presentation of the Lifetime Achievement Award by Chartered Banker Institute (CBI) president Paul Denton to AICB chairman Tan Sri Azman Hashim. The global recognition – the first awarded by CBI in over a decade – celebrates Azman’s decades-long leadership in promoting ethical banking and

From left: Denton, Azman, Abdul Rasheed and Remolona Jr at the 8th Chartered Banker Conferment 2025. – AICB PIC

UnionPay advances payment service in Malaysia via tie-up with CIMB PETALING JAYA: UnionPay

enables our network of customers greater convenience and growth opportunities. The partnership with UPI allows for greater Asean-China as well as global solutions coverage, providing customers with enhanced access and security, especially during cross-border travel and trade.” In April, China and Malaysia agreed to build a high-level strategic China Malaysia community with a shared future, jointly committing to creating a robust framework for new productivity cooperation and extending the visa exemption period for residents of the two countries.

represents an important step in advancing UnionPay’s payment net work in Malaysia through inclusive, secure, and interconnected financial infrastructure. Malaysia continues to be a vital hub for regional payment innovation and we are proud to deepen our cooperation to support seamless, cross-border commerce and digital transformation. Together, we aim to deliver greater convenience and trust to consumers and busi nesses across the region.” Gurdip said, “This collaboration underscores CIMB’s commitment to enhancing payment solutions that

Banking & Finance Dong said, “UnionPay has been operating in Malaysia for over 20 years. This collaboration with CIMB digital payment acceptance en vironment. At the signing of the MoU, UPI was represented by China UnionPay and UnionPay International chairman Dong Junfeng, UnionPay Inter national CEO Larry Wang and UnionPay International (SEA) mana ging director Dr Jian Jiangtao while CIMB was represented by CIMB Malaysia and CIMB Bank CEO Gurdip Singh Sidhu and consumer banking Malaysia head Daniel Cheong.

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