Malaysia has just a population of 32 million people but 21 general insurance companies. To grow market share, is consolidation the way forward? We ask Puneet Parischa, CEO of Liberty Insurance Malaysia that question on the back of news of their acquisition of AM General and also if the real threat is insuretech.

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Puneet Pasricha, CEO of Liberty General Insurance Berhad speaks with Ibrahim Sani on how the company is digitalizing its business during the pandemic. They also discuss on the insurance landscape entering into an endemic phase of COVID-19.

Watch the video here.

Originally published on Berita Harian. Read the full article here.

KUALA LUMPUR: Pemilik kenderaan perlu memastikan insurans yang dilanggan mereka mempunyai tahap perlindungan mencukupi, yang mana bukan saja melindungi kenderaan dan menampung kos tuntutan mahal sekiranya berlaku kemalangan tetapi juga menawarkan mereka dengan ketenangan fikiran ketika memandu di jalan raya, demikian kata pakar insurans.

Ketua Barisan Peribadi Liberty Insurance Bhd, Judy Liu, berkata walaupun perlindungan pihak ketiga mungkin mencukupi untuk pemilik kereta memperbaharui cukai jalan dan memandu secara sah di jalan raya, ia hanya menyediakan tahap perlindungan minimum kepada pemilik kereta sekiranya berlaku kemalangan, yang mana seseorang mungkin tidak dapat menuntut untuk sebarang kerosakan pada kenderaan mereka sendiri.

Beliau berkata, jika pemegang polisi berharap untuk menuntut ganti rugi kenderaan mereka sendiri, perlindungan komprehensif mungkin lebih sesuai dan sebagai tambahan kepada perlindungan pihak ketiga, kerugian kepada kenderaan mereka sendiri dilindungi daripada kemalangan jalan raya atau sekiranya berlaku kecurian atau kerugian kebakaran.

Sementara itu, katanya, polisi Kebakaran dan Kecurian Pihak Ketiga pula melindungi pemilik kereta daripada tuntutan pihak ketiga, sama ada kecederaan badan atau kematian, kehilangan atau kerosakan harta benda, yang juga termasuk kerugian atau kerosakan pada kenderaan mereka sendiri akibat kebakaran atau kecurian yang tidak disengajakan.

"Selain perlindungan pihak ketiga, polisi Kebakaran dan Kecurian Pihak Ketiga melindungi pemegang polisi daripada jumlah kerugian kenderaan mereka akibat kebakaran atau kecurian. 

"Walau bagaimanapun, perlu diingat bahawa ia tidak melindungi kerosakan yang disebabkan oleh kemalangan jalan raya kerana perlindungan itu hanya tersedia daripada polisi komprehensif," katanya kepada BH dalam satu temubual menerusi emel.

Liu berkata, secara amnya, sebelum membeli apa-apa jenis insurans motor, pemilik kereta mesti memahami pelbagai jenis polisi dan perlindungan yang ditawarkan.

Beliau berkata, walaupun pemilik kereta mungkin menjimatkan sedikit wang dengan perlindungan paling asas, adalah terbaik untuk menilai dan memilih berdasarkan keperluan dan keadaan mereka.

"Salah satu cara untuk benar-benar memahami perkara yang anda perlukan ialah membaca Helaian Pendedahan Produk polisi untuk mengetahui perkara yang disertakan dan dikecualikan, atau lebih baik lagi, berunding dengan ejen, yang mana seseorang itu akan mendapat penjelasan lanjut. 

"Tidak lupa, pemegang polisi hendaklah sentiasa menginsuranskan kenderaan berdasarkan nilai pasaran kereta mereka," katanya.

Mengenai polisi insurans Pihak Ketiga Kebakaran dan Kecurian ditawarkan Liberty Insurance, Liu berkata, walaupun kebanyakan polisi Kebakaran dan Kecurian Pihak Ketiga mungkin kelihatan sama antara satu sama lain, pihaknya sentiasa memastikan keselamatan pemegang polisi dan pengalaman perjalanan pelanggan sentiasa menjadi keutamaan.

Beliau berkata, sebagai penyedia insurans dalam pasaran Malaysia selama 44 tahun, pihaknya memahami bahawa banyak faktor dipertimbangkan dari segi pemilihan polisi seperti kualiti perkhidmatan penyedia insurans.

"Berpegang pada falsafah teras kami iaitu 'Mendahulukan Orang Ramai', kami sentiasa cuba meletakkan diri kami di tempat pelanggan untuk memahami perkara yang mereka mahu dan perlukan sebagai pemegang polisi untuk berasa selamat, dilindungi dan aman.

"Oleh itu, kami percaya untuk terus berusaha menjadi lebih baik dalam setiap cara yang mungkin, sama ada menghasilkan pakej insurans atau perkhidmatan selepas jualan terbaik, seperti mitigasi risiko dan menyediakan tuntutan tanpa kerumitan," katanya.

Deal with unforeseen circumstances the right way with the right coverage

Originally published on sme.asia. Read the full article here.

Let’s face the facts! Insurance is a very important aspect in any business, especially for small and medium enterprises (SMEs). We often ask ourselves; is insurance really necessary? Will it come off as an unnecessary expense which my business cannot afford

Well, the answer is YES, insurance is necessary and NO, it will not burn holes in the pockets of SMEs.

As exposure to risk is inevitable for any business, it is crucial to mitigate losses with the help of a good insurance plan. However, insurance is something which is often overlooked by business owners with fingers crossed and a wishful hope that nothing will go wrong.

For SMEs in Malaysia, insurance is something that is often brushed over the shoulders due to many reasons such as being financially tight and lack of awareness. That said, with proper business management and financial planning, businesses should think of protecting themselves by prioritising getting sufficient insurance coverage. Planning for the unexpected is one of the keys to a successful business.

“This is where a holistic insurance company like Liberty Insurance comes in. We are a platform which can help minimise risk, safeguard assets and protect business owners from a multitude of unforeseen circumstances. This covers damage to property, liabilities, health and employees’ lives, theft, scam and so much more.” says Liberty Insurance Bhd CEO, Mr Puneet Pasricha.

“True, there is no one-size-fits-all insurance plan but with the right coverage specially curated for each business, I believe that businesses can thrive and grow at a healthier pace. In fact, SMEs without a comprehensive insurance plan stand to lose more as compared to businesses which have one.”

He further expressed his thoughts on how SMEs without a suitable insurance coverage will ultimately be forking out more money to pay for unplanned losses and damages to their business, affecting their overall financial capacity in the long run.

For instance, in Malaysia, where businesses face the unpredictability of burglary, flood and fire, there is no telling what will happen. Buildings can be razed to ash in the blink of an eye, electronic assets can be damaged in flood waters and theft can happen anywhere at any time. With a suitable insurance plan, the insurer can offer an applicable pay-out which will cover loss or damages to the building and its contents resulting from fire, lightning or explosion.

Although insurance plans cannot protect actual lives or properties, it can definitely help protect SMEs against facing huge financial losses. An unplanned financial loss is something that SMEs cannot afford to deal with as most businesses are initially built from their life savings.

“With a suitable insurance coverage plan, SMEs will also appear more credible when it comes to dealing with other financial institutions or when trying to secure partnerships or dealings with other companies. Having an insurance plan will show how serious, committed and smart an entrepreneur or business owner is when it comes down to business and financial management,” said Mr Puneet.

If there is one thing life has proven, it is the economy’s uncertainty as the cost of living escalates. The COVID-19 pandemic has pushed many home-grown SMEs to the limit and has proven that losses can happen unknowingly to anyone. It is times like these that show how crucial it is to protect the business from any unforeseen circumstances which may lead to financial losses.

In today’s day and age, insurance does much more than mitigate loss; it also protects the livelihood of business owners and its employees. For example, at Liberty Insurance, its holistic coverage also offers coverage to employees, liability to third parties and employer’s liability to their employees. This in turn allows businesses to protect its workforce while also protecting themselves from members of the public.

With the right insurance coverage plan, like Liberty Insurance’s BizCare, SMEs can be rest assured and not be burdened by financial woes on a rainy day. BizCare is a comprehensive insurance package that has been specially curated and tailored to meet each business need. It provides coverage for fire, accidental risk, burglary, money loss, public liability and so much more. And is this time of pandemic, Liberty Insurance is helping SMEs to make this more economical by encouraging SMEs to tailor-make the required cover and limits to suit their own exposure.

To find out more on which insurance is most beneficial to your business structure, check out the various coverage plans offered by Liberty Insurance at https://www.libertyinsurance.com.my/business-insurance/bizcare.

Liberty Insurance is a majority-owned subsidiary of the Liberty Mutual Insurance Group. The company’s insurance products and services cover a wide scope including personal & commercial automobile, homeowners, accident & health, general liability, property, surety, workers compensation, personal, travel and specialty lines.

Having served Malaysians with its trustworthy brand and insurance coverage for 44 years, this robust general insurance player – Liberty Insurance is backed by 100+ years of experience globally. Headquartered in Kuala Lumpur, the company is supported by six regional offices, 24 branches and 450 personnel nationwide.

Liberty Insurance’s diverse distribution network is made up of a wide geographic footprint which includes POS Malaysia, Puspakom, affinity partners, franchise holders, dealers and over a 2,000 strong agency force. The company is a MYEG Insurance Partner and a bancassurance partner of UOB Bank.

At Liberty Mutual, the company believes progress happens when people feel secure. By providing protection for the unexpected and delivering it with care, it helps people embrace today and confidently pursue tomorrow.

In business since 1912, and headquartered in Boston, today Liberty Mutual is the sixth largest global property and casualty insurer based on 2020 gross written premium. It also ranks 71 on the Fortune 100 list of largest corporations in the U.S. based on 2020 revenue. As of 31 December 2020, we had US$43.8 billion in annual consolidated revenue.

The group employs over 45,000 people in 29 countries and economies around the world. It offers a wide range of insurance products and services, including personal automobile, homeowners, specialty lines, reinsurance, commercial multiple-peril, workers compensation, commercial automobile, general liability, surety, and commercial property.