30/04/2026

Editorial T: 03-7784 6688 F: 03-7785 2625 E: sunbiz@thesundaily.com Advertising T: 03-7784 8888 E: advertise@thesundaily.com

SCAN ME

THURSDAY | APR 30, 2026

Critical illness cases rising gradually as population ages o Insurers are shifting towards prevention and early detection, says Manulife Malaysia

Ű BY HAYATUN RAZAK sunbiz@thesundaily.com

KUALA LUMPUR: Claims trends show that critical illness cases are rising gradually over time as Malaysia’s population ages, according to Manulife Malaysia. Manulife Holdings Bhd Group CEO and Manulife Insurance Bhd CEO Vibha Coburn said the increase is not reflected in sharp year-on-year spikes, but becomes more evident over longer periods as disease risks accumulate. “I wouldn’t say year-on-year we see something drastically changing, but over time there is more data showing an increase. There is a higher incidence of conditions such as cancer compared to several decades ago,” she said at the launch of Manulife MultiCI Enrich (MME) yesterday. Coburn said the trend is reshaping how insurers rethink their role, with illness no longer a one-time event but a prolonged and often recurring journey. “A diagnosis is no longer a one-time event. It is a journey that could unfold over many years,” she said. She added this shift is driving a broader move towards prevention and early detection, as insurers seek to support customers across the full continuum of care. Coburn said the human impact of critical illness goes beyond statistics, with conditions such as cancer, stroke and heart disease disrupting the lives of Malaysian families. She emphasised that the burden of illness extends beyond the patient to affect households and livelihoods. She pointed to the scale of the issue, with Malaysia recording more than 50,000 new cancer cases, 52,000 strokes and 31,000 cardiac events annually, highlighting the urgency of addressing critical illness risks. Coburn said recovery is often complex and prolonged, involving relapse, complications and underlying triggers, reflecting the non-linear nature of many serious conditions. The company is therefore placing greater emphasis on prevention and early detection, with efforts aimed at shifting diagnosis to earlier stages to improve outcomes and reduce the broader impact on families. Earlier intervention, she said, can help limit disruption through greater public awareness and increased access to screening. Manulife MultiCI Enrich (MME) is a multistage critical illness solution designed

caregiver support for Alzheimer’s disease and severe dementia. Coburn said these features are intended to support customers not only during treatment but across the broader health journey, including early risk detection and long-term care. Findings from the survey show that Malaysians are increasingly prioritising quality of life over simply living longer, with seven in ten recognising that financial well being plays a key role in maintaining long term health. The data also highlights what Manulife describes as a widening longevity gap, where longer lifespans are not always matched by better health or financial security. MME also includes admission event coverage to provide financial support during major hospital events such as intensive care unit admissions and complex surgeries, which may fall outside traditional critical illness definitions but still impose significant financial strain. Manulife’s insurance contract liabilities stood at RM4.36 billion as at end-2025, up from RM4.14 billion a year earlier. The group reported net profit of RM111.95 million for the financial year, up from RM108.87 million previously, as revenue rose to RM858.73 million from RM819.05 million, supported by steady insurance service and investment income. The shift toward prevention also comes amid broader industry pressures, with medical inflation remaining elevated and continuing to strain both insurers and the wider healthcare ecosystem. Looking ahead, the group expects Malaysia’s economic environment to remain supportive, with GDP growth projected at 4.0% to 4.5% in 2026, alongside stable inflation and a resilient labour market that supports household spending and insurance demand.

Coburn says Manulife expects Malaysia’s economic environment to remain supportive.

protection extending to age 99. The new solution allows continued coverage for recurring or progressive conditions unlike traditional critical illness plans that typically provide a single payout and terminate after a claim. The plan also integrates preventive and personalised health tools, including pharmacogenomics insights to guide medication response, reimbursement for multi-cancer early detection tests, and

to support customers from early detection and treatment through to long-term recovery. The product is developed in response to findings from Manulife’s Asia Care Survey 2025, which points to a shift in how Malaysians perceive ageing and well-being, with greater emphasis on quality of life and financial preparedness. MME is offering multi-stage, multi-claim coverage of up to 188 conditions, with

U Mobile partners Pavilion REIT to enable seamless in-building 5G connectivity KUALA LUMPUR: U Mobile has partnered with Pavilion Real Estate Investment Trust (REIT) to enable seamless 5G in-building coverage across some of Kuala Lumpur’s most high-traffic commercial and lifestyle destinations. deploy and manage its 5G-Advanced (5G-A) in-building coverage (IBC) system across these properties, improving network performance across high- traffic retail, office and hospitality environments where reliable connectivity is critical to day-to-day operations. hours, helping Pavilion REIT operate its properties more efficiently while supporting a more seamless experience for tenants and visitors. they are whether indoors or outdoors. “This allows us to support not just everyday usage, but also more advanced, business-critical applications that require consistency, reliability and scale.”

For the public, this means better indoor connectivity whether shopping, working or staying in these properties, along with smoother digital experiences such as navigation, payments and real-time services throughout the buildings, no matter which floor they are on. The deployment reflects a growing need for networks that can support both connectivity and the systems that power modern buildings. U Mobile chief technology officer Woon Ooi Yuen said: “U Mobile’s approach to ULTRA5G deployment goes beyond just outdoor coverage. We also believe in prioritising deep in-building coverage to ensure that customers experience seamless, high- performance connectivity wherever

Pavilion REIT CEO Datuk Phillip Ho said: “At Pavilion REIT, we are committed to continuously enhancing the quality of our properties through technology that improves both operational efficiency and the overall visitor experience. “This collaboration with U Mobile supports our efforts to strengthen in building connectivity across our assets, complementing the broader 5G ecosystem within our properties. “By enabling more reliable indoor coverage, we are better positioned to support the evolving needs of our tenants, business partners and visitors, while advancing smarter and more responsive building operations.”

The partnership is aimed to enhance the overall indoor connectivity to support smarter building operations and complements the broader 5G infrastructure within the properties. The rollout will cover Pavilion Kuala Lumpur, Pavilion Hotel Kuala Lumpur, Pavilion Tower, Pavilion Elite, Banyan Tree Kuala Lumpur, Intermark Mall and Pavilion Bukit Jalil, spanning some of the city’s busiest retail, commercial and hospitality spaces. Together, these properties see high daily footfall, making reliable indoor connectivity increasingly important for both businesses and visitors. Under the partnership, U Mobile will

The system is designed to support multiple mobile network operators, helping to ensure that tenants, businesses and visitors experience more consistent indoor coverage, regardless of their service provider. This is particularly important in large, high-density buildings where network performance is often challenged. As part of the deployment, U Mobile will also be collaborating with Pavilion REIT to explore 5G-A use cases to support the digitalisation of their building operations. This allows systems such as security monitoring, smart sensors and parking solutions to run reliably, even during peak