06/04/2026

MONDAY | APR 6, 2026

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BANKING & INSURANCE

Maybank IB shines at 23rd RAM League Awards 2026

PETALING Maybank Investment Bank Bhd (Maybank IB) reaffirmed its leadership in Malaysia’s debt capital markets after securing top position in the RAM League Table for Corporate Bonds and Sukuk by Programme Value at the 23rd RAM League Awards 2026, based on performance in 2025. Maybank IB was ranked number one for programme value, arranging RM19.22 billion of corporate bonds and sukuk in 2025, commanding nearly one-third of total market share. The bank also ranked joint first by number of issues, completing six transactions and accounting for almost 30% of all issuances in the market. The rankings are based on new transactions rated by RAM Ratings, JAYA:

o Ranked number one for programme value and joint top by number of issues

time policyholders and individuals from lower income segments. The programme offered a subsidy of RM50 for each eligible policy purchased. With premiums starting from just RM75, a policyholder needed to pay only RM25 to be eligible for the subsidy and secure a protection plan under i MULA 50. This initiative empowered the younger generation to take their first step toward securing their future and appreciating the true value of insurance protection. The programme saw about RM4.5 million of the allocated RM5 million fund utilised, demonstrating both effective outreach and prudent fund management in ensuring that assistance reached the intended beneficiaries. According to LIAM CEO Mark O’Dell, “The i-MULA 50 Starter Pack demonstrates what the industry can achieve when we come together with a shared purpose – to widen protection coverage and support nation-building efforts. The encouraging take-up rate and claims experience reflect the real needs on the ground and the value of affordable protection.” 2025 (Sustainable Finance Award) for its role in a gold-rated sustain ability second party opinion trans action for Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang, highlighting the bank’s continued contribution towards ad vancing sustainable finance solu tions in Malaysia. Maybank IB CEO Michael Oh Lau said the recognition reflects the strength of the bank’s franchise and its disciplined execution in suppor ting clients’ funding needs. “These results affirm the depth of our debt capital markets platform and the trust our clients place in us to deliver innovative and efficient financing solutions. “As we advance Maybank’s ROAR30 strategy, we remain focused on building businesses at scale, strengthening our leadership in Islamic and sustainable finance, and connecting capital with oppor tunities that support long-term economic growth.” Maybank IB’s strong performance at the RAM League Awards com plements a series of regional recogni tions secured by Maybank Invest ment Banking Group, including accolades at the Alpha Southeast Asia Best Deal and Solution Awards and The Asset Triple A Sustainable Finance Awards, reflecting the group’s growing impact across Asean capital markets.

PETALING JAYA: The Life Insurance Asso ciation of Malaysia (LIAM) recently an nounced the successful conclusion of the i-MULA 50 Starter Pack Insurance Fund with about 90,000 Malaysians signing up for coverage, reflecting a strong public response and increasing awareness of the importance of financial protection. The programme has delivered meaningful benefits to participants, recording 2,471 claims amounting to over RM2.14 million to date, providing timely financial assistance to policyholders and their families during times of need. The programme, which ended on Dec 31, 2025 marked a meaningful milestone in the industry’s collective efforts to strengthen financial resi lience and expand insurance protection for Malaysians, particularly among the underserved segments of the community. Launched in 2024 in conjunction with LIAM’s 50th anniversary, the i MULA 50 Starter Pack was introduced to make life insurance protection more affordable, accessible and easy to understand – particularly for first These achievements were under pinned by several landmark trans actions arranged by Maybank IB that advanced innovation in Malaysia’s debt capital markets. Among them was Perbadanan Bekalan Air Pulau Pinang Sdn Bhd’s RM5 billion Islamic Medium Term Notes Programme, which marked the first time a Penang state-linked agency accessed the capital markets through a sustainability sukuk issuance. The programme establishes an important benchmark for public sector issuers seeking to fund sus tainable infrastructure development while strengthening the depth of Malaysia’s sustainable finance ecosystem. Another notable transaction was ALSREIT Capital Bhd’s RM3 billion Islamic Notes Programme, the first sukuk issuance by an Islamic real estate investment trust guaranteed by Credit Guarantee and Investment Facility (CGIF), a trust fund of the Asian Development Bank. The transaction represents the largest sukuk guaranteed by CGIF in Asean and saw Al-Salam REIT become one of only two REITs in Malaysia to issue a subordinated perpetual sukuk, highlighting con tinued innovation within the Islamic capital markets. Maybank IB was also recognised under the RAM Blueprint Awards

In the sukuk segment, Maybank IB maintained a strong position by ranking second by number of issues and third by programme value, underscoring its capabilities in the Islamic capital markets.

reflecting Maybank IB’s strong track record in structuring, executing and distributing large and innovative debt capital market transactions across diverse sectors of the Malaysian economy.

Sun Life Malaysia Takaful’s MySinarKasih offers complimentary waqf benefit Maybank Investment Banking Group regional head of investment banking and advisory Justin Mahmud Hashim (centre); regional head of debt capital markets Andrew Lim (second, right); with members of the bank’s debt capital markets team Azan Azlan (first, left), Ahmalreeza Abu Bakar (second, left) and Edwin Ng (first, right) at the 23rd RAM League Awards 2026 in Kuala Lumpur recently.

LIAM’s i-MULA 50 Starter Pack concludes with 90,000 signing up

PETALING JAYA: Sun Life Malaysia Takaful Bhd, a family takaful operator, recently launched MySinarKasih Sun Life, an initiative that integrates faith aligned giving into takaful protection planning through a complimentary waqf benefit, while giving clients the flexibility to opt for Badal Hajj instead. Through MySinarKasih, up to 10,000 eligible Muslim clients in the low-to middle-income segment will receive a RM8,000 complimentary waqf benefit, payable upon death within one year of certificate com mencement and channelled to Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia. Clients may also choose Badal Hajj benefit of the same value, to be carried out by an authorised operator. The initiative represents RM80 million in total coverage value. By introducing a dedicated waqf benefit within takaful protection, MySinarKasih aims to help more Malaysians pair financial protection with a meaningful charitable legacy beyond one-off contributions. CEO Azam Yusof said, “Takaful is rooted in the principle of ta’awun (mutual assistance). With the waqf benefit, we help clients protect their

approach to waqf, making it more accessible and relevant to the wider community. At the same time, it supports our goal of strengthening waqf literacy and encouraging a deeper understanding of its long term benefits. “Through this approach, waqf can play a meaningful role in creating sustainable value while enhancing financial resilience for individuals, families and the community. Any benefits received by Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia through this initiative will be channelled towards programmes under the 1H3E sectors, namely healthcare, education, environment and economic empowerment.” By offering waqf benefit along side takaful coverage, MySinarKasih connects protection with charitable legacy. To support waqf participation, Sun Life Malaysia Takaful will roll out year-long educational outreach – through social content, takaful talks and podcasts – to improve waqf literacy among clients and the wider community, while continuing to integrate waqf features into more family takaful solutions.

Banking & Finance Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia CEO Dr Ridzwan Bakar said, “MySinarKasih helps bring waqf closer to everyday life by linking it with financial protection. This initiative introduces a more contemporary and practical families while fulfilling faith-based intentions in a structured and trusted way. This reflects the true spirit of takaful – build financial resilience while create lasting community impact.” MySinarKasih supports National Waqf Month 2026, jointly organised by the Department of Awqaf, Zakat and Hajj and Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia, by enabling eligible clients to create a meaningful waqf legacy through takaful where the waqf benefit is channelled to Yayasan Waqaf Malaysia upon the client’s passing. Waqf is a voluntary, permanent Islamic endowment and a key pillar of Islamic social finance. In Malaysia, waqf assets were estimated at over RM1.3 trillion in 2023, based on data from Securities Commission Malaysia, yet awareness of how waqf can be built into everyday financial plan ning remains low.

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