09/03/2026

MONDAY | MAR 9, 2026

12

BANKING & INSURANCE

Liberty aims EV 365 Care at electric-vehicle owners

PETALING JAYA: As electric vehicles become an increasingly common sight on Malaysian roads, the realities of EV ownership are evolving just as quickly. From managing charging needs at home to navigating public charging stations on the go, today’s EV drivers face a new set of considerations beyond traditional motoring con cerns. Recognising this shift, Liberty General Insurance has introduced EV 365 Care, a customised optional add-on package designed speci fically for EV and plug-in hybrid vehicle owners, offering protection that extends beyond the road and into everyday living. One of the most common concerns for EV drivers is running out of charge mid-journey. With 24 hour towing assistance for out-of charge situations, EV 365 Care offers unlimited towing to the nearest working charging point or to the insured or authorised driver’s home, helping drivers get back on track without added stress. This benefit applies to the

o Customised optional add-on package offers protection that extends beyond the road

ensuring essential charging tools are not left unprotected. Liberty said that, as Malaysia’s EV ecosystem continues to grow, it remains committed to supporting drivers with solutions that are practical, forward-looking and aligned with how people live today – not just how they drive. To mark the launch of EV 365 Care, Liberty is running the EV 365 Care Campaign until April 30. Linerty said that the campaign is designed to encourage greater EV readiness among Malaysian drivers, while supporting the everyday charging needs that come with electric vehicle ownership.

injury while charging at a public station. This added layer of protection acknowledges the growing reliance on public infrastructure and the importance of safety beyond private spaces. For drivers who carry portable charging equipment, EV 365 Care offers coverage of up to RM2,000 for the repair or replacement of portable electric chargers damaged by accidents, fire, lightning or theft –

caused by the home wall charger. Reimbursement of up to RM5,000 for repair or replacement costs if insured property is damaged due to the home wall charger. With more EV drivers relying on shared charging facilities, EV 365 Care includes compassionate cover while using public charging stations. Policyholders can receive compensation of up to RM5,000 if their EV is damaged, or if they or an authorised driver suffers bodily

Battery-Powered Electric Vehicle 365 Care Plan. As home wall chargers become a permanent fixture in modern households, EV 365 Care extends protection beyond the vehicle itself. In a statement, Liberty said the coverage of up to RM12,000 to repair or replace a damaged EV home wall charger. It added a protection of up to RM50,000 for third-party death, bodily injury or property damage

Allianz General offers complimentary financial aid to SMEs and other businesses

PETALING JAYA: Allianz General Insurance Company (Malaysia) Bhd is committed to supporting SMEs and the commercial sector through complimentary financial assistance for unexpected business closures and com plimentary coverage for foreign workers. With SMEs contributing nearly 40% to national gross domestic product and employing almost half of the workforce, Allianz General aims to empower SMEs and commercial entities with comprehensive protection strategies that safeguard both assets and people against unforeseen challenges. “In today’s challenging economic landscape, it is important for businesses to have reliable support systems in place. We are proud to offer financial assistance to businesses facing closures of 48 hours or more due to unexpected events, alleviating the burden during difficult times,”said CEO Sean Wang. He said their Foreign Workers Hospitalisation and Surgical Policy (FWHS) now includes complimentary one-year group personal accident coverage, designed to ease the financial burden on employers in the event of an accident, while providing foreign workers with extra financial protection. Business owners who are forced to shut down their operations and who are corporate policyholders with an active Allianz Business Shield, standard fire or commercial fire policy will receive one-off financial support up to RM20,000. It also complements the standard fire and commercial fire policies, which provide comprehensive safety nets to cover financial losses caused by fire and can be extended to cover further risks such as aircraft damage, floods, damage from falling trees and more, ensuring businesses are well-protected against a wide range of potential disruptions. The campaign runs from Feb 1, 2026 to Dec 31, 2026 or until the total financial relief paid out reaches RM2.5 million. As many SMEs and commercial entities across a wide range of industries employ foreign workers, Allianz General offers enhanced protection for business owners through the FWHS policy. Amid rising hospitalisation and surgical costs, the FWHS scheme is specially designed to reduce the financial burden on employers of foreign workers in the event that their foreign workers are hospitalised due to accident or illness.

CIMB and Ant International in innovations tie-up PETALING JAYA: CIMB Group Holdings Bhd and Ant International recently signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to jointly explore innovations in cross-border payments and treasury and liquidity management solutions. liquidity optimisation, reinforcing the resilience and competitiveness of both sides’ regional financial ecosystems to better serve its customers in Malaysia. bining our strengths, we will scale the institutional adoption of tokenisation – a key pillar of next-generation financial infra structure – to create a more efficient and inclusive financial ecosystem for businesses in Malaysia.” From left: Feagin, Ant International general manager of platform tech Kelvin Li and CEO Peng Yang, Novan, CIMB financial institutions and tokenisation, group wholesale banking regional head Sylvia Wong and group wholesale banking CEO Chu Kok Wei.

CIMB Group CEO Novan Amirudin said, “The partnership marks a milestone in our Forward30 strategy, where innovation is embedded into the core of how we operate and compete. Our collaboration with Ant International enables us to accelerate the institutional adoption of distributed ledger technology within the treasury ecosystem. This positions CIMB at the forefront of building scalable, future ready digital financial infrastructure innovation across ASEAN, while strengthening our ability to deliver greater efficiency, transparency and cross-border connectivity for our clients.” Meanwhile, Ant International president Douglas Feagin said, “We are pleased to partner with CIMB, who shares our goal of leveraging technology for seamless and inclusive cross-border payments. By com

The MoU also reflects both parties’ shared ambition to advance responsible digital inno-vation while maintaining strong gover nance. CIMB and Ant International will advance the development of the framework with a focus on scalable and practical imple mentation that supports evolving institutional treasury needs across the region. This initiative further reinforces CIMB’s commitment to advancing customers and society by strengthening digital financial infrastructure through tokenisation, building on its recently announced participation in Bank Negara Malaysia’s Digital Assets Innovation Hub and its broader Forward30 digital transformation agenda.

The partnership will see CIMB collaborating with Ant International’s key businesses including Alipay+, Antom and Bettr Treasury, across the group’s integrated capabilities in cash management, treasury and markets solutions, credit and financing facilities, capital markets activities and sustainability-related initiatives. CIMB and Ant International will also jointly develop a digital framework to enhance the treasury and liquidity operations of both parties, by leveraging Ant International’s next generation blockchain-based treasury management solution, subject to regulatory frameworks and approvals. The framework aims to strengthen capital efficiency, transparency and cross-border

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