14/07/2025

MONDAY | JULY 14, 2025

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BANKING & INSURANCE

Alliance Bank, Roots & Shoots in tie-up

after the conclusion of the AEIOU Challenge as the financial education videos and comic strips are readily accessible via the AEIOU Mobile app. This resource supports the Ministry of Education’s 2027 School Curri culum framework, promoting the importance of lifelong learning. The enhanced version of the AEIOU programme not only re inforces essential academic concepts but also fosters ethical decision making, environmental stewardship, and entrepreneurial thinking. Schoolchildren will learn how their daily choices, financial and otherwise affect the health of eco systems and the sustainability of their communities. The expanded curri culum includes comic strip chapters which highlight key wildlife species in Borneo. “This challenge isn’t just about winning, but it’s about planting the seeds of awareness, innovation, and responsibility in our future leaders,” said Sum.

o Collaboration on financial literacy, biodiversity programmes for schoolchildren in Malaysia

PETALING JAYA: Alliance Bank Malaysia Bhd and Jane Goodall’s Roots & Shoots Malaysia, a youth-led action programme, will collaborate on the bank’s financial literacy and biodiversity awareness for school children over the next two years, starting with the 2025 AEIOU Financial Literacy and Biodiversity Programme in Sabah. The partnership was officially established with the signing of a memorandum of understanding bet ween the parties at a ceremony recently. The initiative aims to nurture young leaders who will be equipped with practical money management and ecological sensitivity and skills. Under the theme “AEIOU for Res ponsible Living: Smarter Finances, Caring for Nature, Greener Choices”, the programme will engage with 20 schools from Sabah, particularly in Kota Kinabalu, Penampang and Tuaran. The programme will be conducted through an immersive blend of physical and virtual work shops, project-based learning and

interactive simulations. Speaking on the programme, Alliance Bank group chief strategy and transformation officer Dr Aaron Sum said, “By teaching school children to make smart financial choices while understanding their impact on the environment, we’re shaping a generation that’s not just money-wise but planet-wise too”. Meanwhile, Roots & Shoots Malaysia president, TP Lim said, “For the past ten years, Roots & Shoots Malaysia has worked closely with local NGOs and corporate partners in Malaysia to co-create programmes for young people that connect the head to the heart, leading to long term behavioural change. In this unique collaboration, we are excited to work with the talented team from Alliance Bank and thrilled to have biodiversity knowledge being intro duced to young school children in such a fun and engaging way”. Programme highlights include financial literacy workshops, bio diversity game simulation and Bio diversity Challenge, in which school

From left: Alliance Bank head of group marketing and branding Shayne Koh, Sum, Lim and Roots & Shoots Malaysia head of education and outreach Peter Ong.

rable. AEIOU, a flagship corporate social responsibility programme by Alliance Bank, was introduced in 2015 and has engaged more than 150,000 primary schoolchildren over the span of seven editions. The programme continues to engage the communities, ensuring all children have access to vital financial education resources. Schoolchildren can continue their financial education journey even

children will brainstorm, plan and present real-world biodiversity pro ject ideas aimed at improving their schools and communities. With participation from 160 schoolchildren from 20 schools, the challenge builds leadership, colla boration and critical thinking. The use of comic storytelling, virtual currency and ecopreneurship simu lations enhances engagement, making learning both meaningful and memo

The top 10 teams will be invited to present live at a final showcase event, where winning projects will receive recognition and winning prizes to bring their ideas to life. The AEIOU Financial Literacy & Biodiversity Challenge Award ceremony will be held on July 28. RHB Islamic reinforces commitment to promote social finance PETALING JAYA: RHB Islamic Bank Bhd is reinforcing its leadership in Islamic social finance through strategic initiatives aimed at em powering asnaf and B40 communities. These efforts, supported by a newly launched website, are driving change and promoting a more equitable society. The website enhances transparency and serves as a platform for public engagement, enabling beneficiaries, partners, and the wider community to participate in and contribute to the bank’s social finance mission. “At RHB Islamic, we believe that financial success must go hand in hand with social res ponsibility,” said RHB Islamic managing director Datuk Adissadikin Ali. Guided by Maqasid al-Shariah , he said, they are dedicated to sustainable solutions that address socio-economic challenges. Since 2017, they have strategically channelled zakat , waqf and sadaqah funds across four key pillars: economic empowerment, education empowerment, community livelihood and green initiatives – focusing on long-term impact. The newly launched website serves as a central hub for RHB Islamic’s social finance initiatives, offering insights into ongoing pro-grammes, success stories and avenues for community involvement. It enhances trans-parency and accessibility for customers, bene-ficiaries and the public, offering pathways to learn about available programmes, fund utili-sation, and to participate in the Bank’s social finance initiatives. RHB Islamic remains steadfast in growing its social finance initiatives, aiming to uplift at least 10,000 asnaf and B40 individuals by 2030 through education, entrepreneurship and eco nomic opportunities. Adissadikin said, “It is my hope that the participants we support today, whether asnaf entrepreneurs or students, will one day become contributors and zakat payers themselves.”

HLB continues to support motorcycle, scooter dealers PETALING JAYA: Hong Leong Bank (HLB) has renewed its memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Malaysia Motorcycle and Scooter Dealers Association (MMSDA), reinforcing their commitment to support and grow the two-wheeler industry in Malaysia. The partnership has been crucial in en hancing HLB’s motorcycle dealers ecosystem, with the bank leveraging MMSDA’s roughly 4,000 motorcycle dealer members nationwide. Malaysia boasts the 13th largest two wheeler market in the world, with more than 61,000 new motorcycle registrations in May alone. This significant volume underscores the vital role motorcycles play in the Malaysian economy, particularly within the burgeoning gig economy, which engages about four million individuals, or around 26% of the Malaysian workforce. From left: Lam, Wee Hong, MMSDA deputy president Datuk Tan Tien Chye and HLB head of SME banking Woon Siew Hoong.

“This renewed collaboration goes beyond just financing; it’s about enabling mobility and economic participation for countless Malay sians,” said HLB group managing director and CEO Kevin Lam. “Motorcycles are an essential part of life for many Malaysians, serving as a primary mode of transport and a crucial tool for sustaining their livelihoods. By strengthening the motor cycle dealer ecosystem and ensuring our dealers are financially robust, we directly support the vital gig economy workers and daily commuters by providing access to motorcycles, spare parts and reliable services, ensuring these essential vehicles remain on the road, powering individual aspirations and the broader Malaysian economy. “This is a testament to our brand promise of being ‘Built Around You’, where we are com mitted to designing tailor-made solutions that address the specific needs of a community,” he added. Going beyond conventional banking services, the bank is empowering MMSDA members, most of which are SMEs, by providing them with the comprehensive tools to ensure the sustainability of their business.

embrace digitalisation and new techno logies. We need to strengthen our manage ment, services, and overall business capa bilities to meet the evolving demands of today’s market. “I also hope that HLB will continue to play a vital role in supporting the growth of our industry – not just through traditional finan cing and loans, but also by providing resources to assist us in our digital transformation journey, including funding for AI adoption.” The renewal follows closely on the heels of another significant initiative by the bank to support the SME ecosystem and drive financial inclusion in Malaysia. Recently HLB formally signed an MoU with DCAP Digital to enhance its SME lending solutions infrastructure, making financing more accessible and efficient. The partnership will allow HLB to offer significant support for its growing pool of motorcycle dealer customers, streamlining their loan applications and accelerating access to its dealer hire purchase programme, along with other essential financing solutions such as cash management and trade line services.

HLB business and corporate banking managing director Yow Kuan Tuck, com mented, “As a strategic partner, we provide customers with tailored financial solutions, including essential offerings like term loans, overdraft and trade facilities, insurance pro ducts and robust cash management services such as current accounts, fixed deposits, payroll accounts and online banking. “We also provide payments and merchants services and cutting-edged digital business solutions to help them grow and adapt, while also exploring the development of syariah compliant products through Hong Leong Islamic Bank to ensure our support is inclusive and comprehensive. Besides that, we also offer our members valuable insights, advisory, networking opportunities, and updates on key industry developments that can impact their businesses.” MMSDA president Datuk Wee Hong said, “Our renewed MoU with HLB reflects our continued commitment to equipping our members with essential financial tools, advisory services, and support. To move forward, the motorcycle industry must boldly

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