18/05/2026

MONDAY | MAY 18, 2026

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BANKING & INSURANCE

CIMB to deepen presence in Asean affluent segment

Study: Over 90% of Malaysians delayed seeking medical care in the past year PETALING JAYA: Over recent decades, Malaysia has made sustained progress in improving health outcomes for its population. However, as the country’s population ages and chronic diseases become more prevalent, the focus is increasingly shifting towards how longer lives can also be healthier ones. In 2025, life expectancy stood at 75.3 years, while average healthspan was 64 years as of 2021, highlighting the importance of supporting quality of life alongside longevity. To better understand these challenges, Prudential plc commissioned Economist Impact. a regional study on “Patient Voices: Experiences of Healthcare Access in Asia.” Building on these insights, it launched the Malaysia-specific report, “Patient Voices Malaysia: Making Healthcare Clearer and More Connected”. This study surveyed 1,020 people in Malaysia as part of a broader regional analysis of 4,203 patients. It revealed that 94% of Malaysians have put off seeking medical care in the past year. This is often driven by everyday life pressures, such as work and family responsibilities, alongside uncertainty and limited support in making healthcare decisions. The study highlights three primary chal lenges facing patients in Malaysia: One: Knowing where to turn is a major hurdle. About 54% of respondents admit they do not know where to get treatment when they feel unwell. Without a clear first point of contact, such as a regular family doctor, patients are often left to find their own way through a confusing landscape of public and private providers. Two: Cost anxiety is driven by a lack of clarity. Some 53% of Malaysians worry they cannot afford the treatment they need. While 71% of respondents said their initial healthcare bills were lower than expected, this often reflects the impact of subsidies and insurance coverage. Three: Digital tools are presenting new challenges. While technology could ease delays, 53% of respondents struggle to book or manage appointments online. Disconnected platforms and complex interfaces often leave patients feeling overwhelmed. According to Prudential plc CEO for health Arjan Toor, “Malaysia has been an important part of Prudential’s story for over a century, and ensuring better health outcomes for our customers has always required more than just paying claims. Patient Voices Malaysia highlights an important reality: that many people delay seeking care not because help is unavailable, but because everyday responsibilities and lack of information make it hard to access care. “This is why we are working closely with our healthcare partners to make access to care easier and cost of treatment more predictable, so patients can seek treatment with confidence and only focus on getting better.” According to Prudential Malaysia chief health officer Manisha Keyal, “Our aspiration is to give every patient peace of mind when they need care most. Patient Voices Malaysia shows us that many people delay seeking help not because they don’t care about their health, but because daily responsibilities take priority and they lack the clarity and confidence to make decisions.” The report concludes that building a more patient-friendly future requires strengthening primary care as a clear first step, increasing cost clarity through upfront estimates, and improving digital literacy to ensure technology supports rather than confuses the process of getting better.

comes from a position of strength and is well positioned to capture the growth in the affluent wealth segment. Our ambition is to grow our wealth asset under management twofold and deliver stronger wealth and cross-sell revenue by 2030, enabling us to sustain a non-interest income ontribution between 33% and 34%.” Expansion into affluent wealth forms a key pillar of CIMB’s Forward30 ambition to grow its cash and deposits franchise, which provides a stable funding base while enabling the group to deliver higher-value cross-selling across investment products, lending and advisory services. As at December 2025, the group’s cash strategy continues to demonstrate positive results. Total deposits and current account saving account (Casa) balances grew by 5.4% YoY to RM524.4 billion and 1.6% YoY to RM224.1 billion respectively on a constant currency basis, bringing the group’s Casa ratio to 42.7%. In January 2026, the group launched CIMB Private Wealth in Indonesia, and this will be followed by Malaysia in mid-2026 and other markets during the year – strengthening the group’s regional wealth management ambition. Islamic wealth markets such as Indonesia and Malaysia continue to outpace the conventional segment. Indonesia remains one of Asean’s most attractive long-term wealth markets, supported by strong economic fundamentals, a rapidly expanding middle and upper-income segment, and rising demand for professional wealth advisory.

o Group sees significant opportunity to tap growing wealth market with holistic advisory and banking solutions while building stronger primary relationships

PETALING JAYA: CIMB Group Holdings Bhd is committed to expanding its presence in Asean’s fast-growing affluent and wealth

its digital capabilities to equip frontliners with better AI enabled tools and proprietary insights, provided customers with access to

track their portfolios in real-time, access to CIO content, asset allo cation and product recommend ations. Beyond advisory and digital enhancements, CIMB is expanding its value proposition through strategic partnerships that extend its suite of wealth, protection and legacy solutions ensuring cus tomers gain access to a broader, more specialised set of offerings aligned to their ambitions. The group’s strong presence in

segment, as part of its Forward30 strategy, to strengthen its cash and deposit franchise and deepen cross-sell opportunities across the group. Asean’s affluent segment is expected to grow by 5%-6% per annum to 65-70% of its total population by 2030. CIMB sees a significant oppor tunity to tap into this segment with holistic wealth, advisory and banking solutions while building deeper primary banking relationships.

Singapore serves as a key Asean wealth hub for affluent customers’ growing demands for cross-border and global investment propositions particularly around health, retirement and education. CIMB Singapore also provides a treasury base for multi national and regional firms seeking seam less cross-border financing or looking to scale in the Johor-Singapore Special Eco nomic Zone. CIMB Group consumer banking CEO Haniz Nazlan ( pic ) said, “Across Asean, the affluent population is growing at a robust pace, driven by rising incomes, entre preneurship and intergenerational wealth creation, and their financial needs are becoming increasingly sophisticated. CIMB aims to deepen relationships with high-value clients through an integrated offering spanning wealth management, deposits, financing and investment advisory. “With its strong presence and retail franchise across key Asean markets, CIMB

The group’s wealth proposition is anchored on an advisory-led, insight-driven approach designed to safeguard and grow client’s wealth through a comprehensive, digitally enabled, and personalised ex perience. Today, affluent customers expect their banking partners to journey with them through financial life cycles, including navigating market complexities, adjusting investment strategies as priorities shift and aligning portfolios to their unique risk profiles and long-term objectives. To deliver these, CIMB has invested significantly in deeper, insight-driven portfolio reviews, curated wealth events and market intelligence that is supported by a dedicated Chief Investment Office (CIO) and personalised Relationship Manager advisory, equipped with a product suite of wealth management across conventional and Islamic banking. At the same time, CIMB has strengthened PETALING JAYA: AmBank Group and PayNet have come in support for Apple Pay payments made on the MyDebit network, enabling local debit transactions that help keep domestic payments on Malaysia’s national rails. MyDebit serves as Malaysia’s national payments network and is operated by Payments Network Malaysia Sdn Bhd (PayNet). Apple Pay offers customers an easy, secure, and private way to pay in-store, in-app, and online. AmBank was also among the first banks in Malaysia to offer Apple Pay for its credit cards. Apple Pay is accepted at most points of sale, including in grocery stores and supermarkets, food and beverage outlets, convenience stores, pharmacies, and petrol kiosks. “AmBank’s collaboration with PayNet enables us to bring Apple Pay to our MyDebit cardholders via Malaysia’s own MyDebit infrastructure. As the first bank in Malaysia to do so, we’re proud to support national capabilities while delivering the same seamless, secure, and intuitive Apple Pay experience our customers expect, reflecting AmBank’s commitment to customer convenience and digital innovation,” said AmBank Group retail banking managing director Cheong Chee Wai.

The group expects its expanded wealth proposition to support multiple strategic objectives under Forward30, including deepening primary banking relationships with affluent and high-net-worth clients, strengthening deposit growth thus supporting a resilient funding base, increasing fee-based income through investment and advisory products and enhancing cross-sell across financing, investments, legacy and protection solutions. AmBank and PayNet now support Apple Pay transactions

Cheong (left) and PayNet chief commercial officer Azrul Fakhzan Mainor at the launch. Customers can also use Apple Pay on iPhone, iPad, and Mac to make faster, more convenient purchases in apps or on the web

without having to create accounts or repeatedly enter contact information, card details, or shipping and billing information.

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