malaysianinsuranceOnline

Do It Yourself Web Traffic #2

2010-08-31T17:58:00.000-07:00

Do It Yourself Web Traffic #2

Keats The Sunshine Girl: On the streets where you live

2010-02-26T19:31:00.000-08:00

Keats The Sunshine Girl: On the streets where you live

reBlog from malaysiainsurance.info: A RM500,000 GenPage web portal….. for Web Cage?

2010-02-21T08:56:00.001-08:00

I found this fascinating quote today:

Just can’t help taking a swipe at MSIG’s recent launch of their RM500,000 GenPage website portal. OMG! Is this some exorbitant show or what! In the days of open source, cloud computing and free templates for website building, why is there a need to create website portal to cage up a group of agency websites?malaysiainsurance.info, A RM500,000 GenPage web portal….. for Web Cage?, Jan 2010

You should read the whole article.

Insurance against housing defects? Two insurance products......

2009-09-12T02:20:00.000-07:00

Under the current Housing Development (Control & Licensing) Regulations 1989, house buyers are given a 24-month defect warranty period..... But which house buyers do not want more nowadays, especially involving defects in materials and labour, and building envelope, including defects resulting in water penetration given the fact that shoddy workmanship and usage of low quality materials are common and widespread!. The existing 24 months should be extended to a period of at least 72 months period.......so demanded by many Consumer's Associations nationwide over the last couple of years.
However, which developer is willing to acede to such demand?
In the recent meeting on the 24th August this year between the Housing and Local Government Ministry, National House Buyers Association (HBA) and the various stakeholders in the building industry has endorsed a decision to introduce a newly mooted (by PIAM) "Housing Defects Liability Insurance" to make it mandatory for all developers in this country to buy for the purpose to safeguard the house buyers. In addition, house buyers can also have another option to purchase a "House Defective" Insurance policy...

Looks like the non-life insurance industry has proposed two different products within a three hours sitting during this 24th August's meet:
1. Housing Defective Liability Insurance (Mandatory for all developers)
2. House Defective Insurance

Well, the industry is still silent about the conceptual aspects of these two new products... Anyway, it is extremely important that the Ministry also enforce certain benchmarks in respect of both quality and standards to be adopted by all contractors, otherwise, it would be back to square one, ie. passing all possible grouses and claims for damages to the insurance industry.....and the premiums go up, which then would cascade down to the house buyers' pocket! Ultimately the house buyers are still paying for the inadequacies and inefficiencies of developers and contractors that they appointed. Looks like CIDB would have to improve further.

BACK TO BAHASA FOR MATHS AND SCIENCE

2009-07-09T23:21:00.000-07:00

When the government changed the medium of teaching for Science and Maths in 2003, many parents were joyfully praising the government's foresight and their governing will to bring the nation not only to the forefront of the world globalisation but also to elevate the country towards realising our "Wawasan 2020". We emphasised on productivity and focus towards attaining the said wawasan within the shortest possible timeframe; even with a view towards achieving it before 2020.

The piece of news yesterday was not good for the ears and our soul for the matter. This government is too focus towards achieving results they themselves are not sure of. They made the decision by just merely comparing the results of the implementation of teaching science and maths in english..... the results were obviously bad. It was bad simply because the teachers teaching the subjects were not proficient enough with their english. But this was despite the government spending more than RM4.3 billion since 2004! Mind-bloggling because despite spending such a huge sum the teachers concerned still failed in achieving necessary proficiency level in english. Our education minsiter told us that they actually did not really learn grammar in school and university.....

Totally mind bloggling, RM4.3 billion spent and the results to show were science and maths teachers can't teach and students can't understand as all do not have the necessary grammar... the science and maths books written in BM were totally uncoordinated with sense and certainly weird looking in terms of meaning because the Dewan & Pustaka wanted to maintain the originality of the malay words......and blah! blah!

Despite all the hurdles created by those implementing English as the teaching medium, we did have some improvements, albeitly small...but nevertheless improvement we got, which the government begged to differ. Those who are in the education ministry for umpteen years making proposal and continue making proposal were proud to proposed again that BM as the teaching medium should be more appropriate. These people should be SHOT for failing to implement the English medium and squandering RM4.3 million and parents' time. They should be removed first and then we test out again English as the teaching medium....

Are you working well with you colleague

2009-07-08T05:58:00.001-07:00

In a recent development at OneBestWay, a company specialises in design and marketing over at Newcastle upon Tyne staff stripped naked during office hours at the encouragement of their boss. After consulting with some motivators and psychologists, the company decided the only way out of business dolddrum is to work NAKED.

Front-of-house manager Sam Jackson, 23, told The Sun: ‘It was brilliant. Now that we’ve seen each other naked, there are no barriers.‘We weren’t put under any pressure. If we wanted to come in clothed or in our underwear, we could. But I love my body and I wasn’t ashamed.’‘It was emotional but we found we were much more able to talk to each other honestly – and have been since. The company has improved massively.’

During the week leading up to the strip-off, the workers were encouraged to photocopy parts of their bodies to make them more confident about themselves. A nude model was also brought in for the workers to sketch and talk to.

The experiment in April was filmed for a one-off TV show Naked Office, which will be screened on Virgin1 on July 9. How, Where....don't ask me, I am not sure but why not have a NAKED OFFICE for your company as well!

Hmmmm.... I wonder how does the situation over at my department would be like if I am to implement one of this. The department is 90% filled by the women folk - probably have a field day for me (guessed.....) but then all of them would be looking at me. Don't think I so! It is unlikely for me to get any proposal working - remember, our company sells Lady PA that provides for legal fee in pursue against sexual harassment!

A H1N1 or Swine Flu?

2009-07-02T22:47:00.000-07:00

Information Communication and Culture Minister Datuk Seri Dr Rais Yatim said all media should return to using “swine flu” or "selsema babi" instead of A H1N1...... He said people would not be able to understand and appreciate the danger of this current influenza if we use A H1N1; sort of difficult to pronounce, not to mentioned remembering it. I supposed the minister has not discuss the issue with his people before making such a statement. Although nothing sensitive to those who are pork eater, it sort of dawn upon me that the word "babi" could easily make people twitch their ears more once it is being spoken upon.... I am sure the our kampung (village) folks would immediately be alerted to this disease. I have to admit, the "babi" word is effective, once mentioned loudly in public would trigger alot of reactions.

This time both pork and non-pork eaters are going to make a hoo-hah out of it....(for the good of it or the bad side to it....whatever...) and the pigs would be sensitive too. Why bothered to accuse us (the pigs) again and again when there are animal flu in circulation? Just eat us alive will do.... and making sure the pork would cost more...

If you would also notice, whenever there are some diseases having some connection to swine or pigs, the "babi" community got slaugther in totality, meaning none were left behind. However, for the non-pig animal community, the authority would merely slaughther a few that look sick, leaving the others (looking healthy....) untouched. The pigs are complaining, "What the heck....why pick on us, do it fairly man! There should not be any quota when coming to slaugther order!

Well, it's a PIGs' Lives.....

Are the insurance industry workforce a lowly paid lots?

2009-06-29T09:40:00.000-07:00

Just last year I read an article posted on The Insurance Journal, a US -based magazine. This article was about the workforce that we found within the Financial (mainly relating to investment, banking, etc) industry and the Insurance industry; there are just two distinct groups - remarkably those in the financial circles certain have better educational grades and academic clout than the our group.....the insurance group! They were the cream of the best university could possibly produced and the they have had to consistently soak up pressure in their job, working to deliver the best....and of course making tonnes of money on their way up the career ladder. For the poor insurance group (you and I...don't forget), we would alway stick to our job, lie low, stay contended.....so that we have lesser pressure....longer life was the only reason why we love our insurance job despite retiring poor! By using the word, "cream....." meaning they are truly the high achievers, not just in their academics but also in their pursue of personal wealth.... Before the subprime crisis, all aspiring graduates of the best university aimed towards getting into the best merchant or investment bankers workforce - their starting pay was horribly high. It was reported not just in US but all over the world....you don't have to leave out Malaysia.

Sadly for us we just can't make it there within the ranks of achievers (creams of any nation) .....although on the contrary, these groups also cause the remarkable downfall of the Wall Street....and they were out of their job; their fat paying job! The insurance group however are still around not doubt in Malaysia holding the paddle trying to get the sampan to shore before retirement one day.

Whatever that is we belong to a group that the Insurance Journal deemed us as "drop-outs" - not fit and sharp enough for a pressure cooker job like high power finance. Anyway who cares..... we all know we are lowly paid lots....because our industry runs on a marginal underwriting profit, there is actually nothing much to make given the fact if any non-life company competes substantially in an opened markets.

Of course, because we are not genius enough, we throw away good practices...all in the name of roping in the $$ first...lose money, "belakang kira". Stupidly, stupidly......forward, we are still here, the industry is still here - 20 years today still same...not much of major changes unlike our high finance brothers and sisters; their industry changed by leaps and bounce.

Whatever that is, beat around the bush or otherwise, the fact is that the industry change so little is because we are not academically inclined enough during our student's says......we play marbles, catch spider, 'poteng sekolah' but thinking outside the box lah - "no-lah, day dreaming" only! Thus, that's the reason why we are not experimenting with new things years ago...... Never mind lah, poor also good, stupid also good.....we are still chugging along the way...... like the image, "WITH THE POLES BETWEEN THE LEGS" on a motorcycle that build for TWO!

Blogging Tutorial for Insurance Practitioners

2009-06-29T03:45:00.000-07:00

After having scanned through the cyberspace for blog sites of insurance practitioners practicing in Malaysian markets, sadly there are none, save for some life practitioners who owned websites as well as blog about the life insurance industry and relevant products hoping to make some sales. It is a notable fact blogging about insurance matters (...serious stuff) is time consuming and getting the blog site in working order is also a challenge for beginners, to a big extent weared down any bloggers having big dream.

But as practitioners, we need to blog so that our Malaysian insurance industry can be kept vibrant and robust. So, dude....in order to get you guys into the cyber ecosystem, malaysian insurance will be offerring some classes to begin with to give a feel into the world of blogging.... are you ready for it and are you charge up?? If you are, please register your name, email address and put in some comment.... we will contact you.

Cheers

Blogging the insurance industry trades

2009-06-29T02:03:00.000-07:00

This Malaysian Insurance Online blogsite would be used for centralised viewing of all the relevant sites blogged by myself and business associates over the last 9 months. It has undergone substantial refurbishment to get to this friendlier and certainly welcoming sort of looks.... I supposed more handsome and good looking...

Where thou art “Job Security”?

2009-05-03T07:32:00.000-07:00

While most companies are bracing for the worst case of economy brewing, the Gen-Y graduate employees are still busy shifting jobs and as a result getting a sizeable pay rise. Gen-Y of Chinese origin tends to achieve better in this respect compared to their other counterparts. Why is that so?

I guessed this is really about this Chinese Gen-Y’s fast-track and highly self confidence outlook that push them into an adventurous mode. They have no qualm about taking on a greener pasture even if this means moving to a totally green-field; something totally new to them. They just wanted to challenge themselves and push their boundary while they are still at it, ie. this young era of their life. Job security is not important….is also not part of their vocabulary either.

Over the last three years, I have trained or rather coached at least 3 graduates to undertake some work aspects that are near entirely new to the company. We have to learn and review issues arising, as well as innovate from scratch to work out something viable that can be good building blocks to what I wanted to achieve in the shorter term future. Whilst doing this, I tried my very best to inculcate in them to need to have a steeper and constructive learning curves, I simply do not want them to be mere task handlers as there are already aplenty in the company……and also work out the best possible career path as well as salary that is competitive to the market.

Alas, the willingness of the market to pay cannot be under-estimated….especially coming from the non-insurance industry….. Another important comment they made was, “Look! The existing staffs that gave their major part of their lives are still normal executives, and they are already near retirement…..yet not achieving anything substantial” It is a reality that increment (year-in-year-out) to existing staff are usually nominal if there is no promotion, and this is not unusual for other industry as well. Frankly speaking, although the insurance industry may not be paying the workforce extremely well but it is still better than most and it is also an enviable industry during this trying economic times being more resilient to any downturn. We can’t be rich but able to live our daily lives contented and possibly save a couple of ringgit off-and-on….

To the Gen-Y, this is not going to be music to their ears…. What? You mean we have to save a couple of hundred ringgit or so on, and hope to have a secure job with a big company….and further hoping to retire with the EPF….that is may be the “Baby-boomers” sort of thinking….not ours!

So, in the next era of urban Gen-Y making a splash into the job market, there is no such thing as job security….the word security is nothing more than their confidence and capability to push their boundary……

(Gen-Yers are people born between 1985 and 2004)

BAD ECONOMIC TIMES OF OUR MAKING?

2009-04-01T08:35:00.000-07:00

The media have been consistent with their report.... yes! It is really bad times because US is having a bad time, Europe and Japan is sliding into recession.... In Malaysia (somewhere closer....), not that many unemployment although is slightly on the uptrend. But the more the media reports the seemingly very bleak future, the more adamant that malaysian companies are not into employing as well as not even want to employ for replacement of staff having left! Companies are now being dragged along and driven by the pessimistic outlook painted by the media. Some are even thinking of pay-cuts..... pay-cuts??? What's that? Pay cuts for this insurance industry? Come On, it can't be that bad lah! I think our industry captains are just not driving hard enough. This is the real test of their captaincy and we followers truly need them delivering on their true potential as capability as industry captains. The captains now must truly drive as hard as if lives depend on their driving ability. This driving ability can't be drifting towards the negative end....Not going down south.

May the REAL CAPTAIN stands up and be counted please! Please don't making bad times out of the already bad economic situation........ Thank you very much.

Networking the industry

2008-11-17T07:03:00.000-08:00

The industry is just an overcrowding of people trying to make it....the old ones goes out, the young ones trying to make headway, impressing one another as they go along. The babyboomers are still around nevertheless, holding key industry positions and still an important part of the key decision makers deciding the direction of our industry. The Central Bank is also composed of old baby boomers, some have little inkling of where other advanced contries are heading, nevermind the IT perspectives....but still insisted that micro managing the industry is the best options going forward. Still in this last part of the first decade of the 21st century, our industry is still not going forward....which I believe was a result of too many events of networking between people trying to scramble for key position....thus very little on thinking; thingking that involves intensified clashes of opinions. If our industry is too much into netwroking rather than strong exchanges of thoughts, then we are just moving around, where the right people supposedly to helm higher positions may not be able to make it. Off course networking gets people of this industry in a "political correct" platform thus it is much easier to exist compared to a platform that entails a consistent clashing of great minds. But as our country is struggling to navigated through to tonnes of political rubbles, the economic pretence and the world markets going down, networking alone will not do a great job of pushing this industry forward.....wines, drinks and an occassion rubs will create nothing than a standstill.....

If you know what I mean..... Cheers

Risk-Based Capital framework - Implementation?

2008-11-05T17:40:00.000-08:00

This morning the newspaper reported that the risk-based capital (RBC) framework will be implemented come 1st Jan next year. However just two days ago the Central Bank raised a circular to all insurers requesting for comment in respect of its intended implementation; whether the industry intends to proceed given the current bad economic position the world markets are going through. I supposed the Bank may have secured enough reply for the go ahead......

For some information or write up in respect of Malaysian Risk-based Capital from the perspectives of the non-life underwriters, please visit: http://malaysianinsurance.com/RBC/RBC.html

Durian and Heavy Metals..... What do they have in common?

2008-11-05T08:39:00.000-08:00

Durian rind can be processed into some powdery substance to remove heavy metals in the human body. Wonder how these metals come into us? Through touch, inhalation and frequent consumption of contaminated seafood...lead poisoning from toys manufactured with paint containing heavy metal....

So what is heavy metals? They can be mercury, petrol vapour, lead poisoning, arsenic or even copper. Heavy metals accumulate in the body's tissues and cause serious health problems.

It is not in too long into the future that insurance company will be measuring your saliva or your fingernails for such metals.....before approving any life insurance or even health insurance....or perhaps it is better if the insurers force you to buy and consume the said powder....what did they called it? mDRP or in long, modified durian rind pectin.

MalaysianInsurance.com

2008-10-30T00:08:00.000-07:00

MalaysianInsurance.com was born on the 29th October 2008. As a prelude, this site will have 3 main sections:
1. Everything to do about the insurance market, ie. from products, services to pricing comparison
2. Promoting strategic agents for Berjaya Sompo Insurance Berhad. This is intended to support the geographical categorisation of agents to better build a more viable insurance buying online platform for the malaysian community
3. Community news uploaded by members of the public including matters pertaining to crime watch and general public wellbeing

Hope to see you in 6 months time......on www.malaysianinsurance.com