Quality MP From Tasek Gelugor

Tasek Gelugor MP Shabudin Yahaya is mulling legal action against media agencies and reporters, following reports on his remarks about child marriage and rape.

"I will check everything, if all is ok, I will proceed to sue the newspapers and the reporters concerned, because they must be responsible," Shabudin was recorded as saying in a video posted by Nanyang Siang Pau.

Shabudin also called on the media to repent. "Repent, don't create fitnah (slander). Listen properly, be a good reporter that is ethical, responsible," he said.

Shabudin was reported as saying in the Dewan Rakyat that marriage between a rapist and his victim could be a cure for social problems.

He also said that girls who reached puberty as young as 12 years old were physically ready for marriage.

Shabudin, however clarified that what he meant by "rape" in his speech, refered to consensual sex with an underaged girl, which under criminal law was classified as statutory rape. But when asked by Pasir Puteh MP Nik Mazian Nik Mohamad on whether he was talking about zina (extra-marital sex) or the coercive crime of rape, Shabudin said regardless, marriage could be a social remedy for such problems.

The BN lawmaker had made the remarks during a debate on whether child marriages should be banned. In his debate, he explained that there were laws that allowed girls under 16 to be wed, with consent from syariah courts.

He also said that statutory rape - that is sexual relations with an underaged individual regardless of consent - was a crime, but that there was no legal provision preventing a victim from marrying her rapist.

Dai-ichi Opens in Myanmar

Dai-ichi Life Insurance has opened a representative office in Myanmar, as it looks to increase its foothold in the rapidly developing Southeast Asian insurance market.

The Japanese insurer set up office in Yangon in late March, having been given permission by the Directorate of Investment and Company Administration, a government agency under the Ministry of National Planning and Economic Development of Myanmar. Dai-ichi becomes only the second Japanese life insurer to open an office in the country, after Taiyo Life Insurance opened one in 2012.

Amid the shrinking domestic market, Dai-ichi has aggressively pursued business opportunities overseas, especially in Asia. The insurer has been present in Vietnam for 10 years, and operates in India, Singapore, Indonesia and Thailand. The company has earmarked the Mekong region as an area for further development, and opened an office in Cambodia last year.

Myanmar's insurance industry is still in its infancy, with the state-owned Myanma Insurance having long enjoyed a monopoly. But the country's population of 53 million and an economic growth rate of over 7% offer significant opportunities for insurers like Dai-ichi. Added to that, the market is gradually opening up; 12 new domestic companies were licensed in 2012, three of which were life insurers.

The government currently does not allow foreign insurers to offer their services outside of the Thilawa special economic zone, and only three Japanese nonlife insurers have been given permission to operate there.

However, in response to growing interest, the government recently notified all foreign insurers with local representative offices that they would be eligible to apply for an SEZ license. Local media have also reported that the government is contemplating further liberalization in the near future.

Strip To Bra For Job Interview

With the words ‘We won’t ask you to strip down – Just zip up and be a part of the world’s best low-cost airline team’, the ad clearly appeared to be a light jab at rival airline Malindo Air.

The ad was for AirAsia’s cabin crew recruitment drive, set to be held on April 15 at the Asian Aviation Centre of Excellence at KLIA.

Malindo Air earned criticism from social media users today following a report claiming that its interview process involved having female candidates having to strip to their bras.

Malindo Air has since explained that this was necessary to see if candidates had scars, pimples or tattoos that could be seen through the uniform.

Coles U-turn Life Insurance

Supermarket giant Coles once described selling life insurance as a "natural progression" for the business. But the Wesfarmers-owned chain has quietly stopped selling life insurance, amid an apparent move away from financial services under Coles boss John Durkan.

"It [life insurance] was announced with a bit of fanfare, but it never really realised its potential," said one person familiar with the decision. "It's well publicised that Durkan is not a fan of financial services within a retail environment."

Coles started selling life insurance in May 2014, promoting coverage for as little as $1 a week and promising to beat a direct life insurer's price on comparable premiums.

Price matching is unusual and challenging for life insurers because policies are designed to be priced to the individual's health risks.

Coles' then finance director Rob Scott, "Through our home and car insurance offerings, Coles has already helped thousands of families save hundreds of dollars each year, and we think life insurance should be no different."

Mr Scott, who is now deputy chief executive of Wesfarmers, had said that financial services were a great way to leverage the company's brand, distribution and analytics as well as create "stickier" customers.

In response to Fairfax Media's inquiries, Coles said, "As part of a regular review of our product portfolio, Coles ceased distributing life insurance products on 1 January.

"From this date, Coles Life Insurance customers who hold a current policy became MetLife customers.

"MetLife, which has backed Coles Life Insurance policies since their launch, has provided these customers with continuation of cover and no changes have been made to the product as a result of Coles exiting life insurance. The process for customer queries and claims is also unchanged."

Coles rejected suggestions it never had more than 5000 policyholders, and that it had a very high proportion of people agreeing to buy a policy over the phone and then not proceeding.

Coles continues to sell car, home and landlord insurance, as well as credit cards.

Car, home and landlords are simpler products than life insurance, with lower regulatory risks and fewer competitors. Suncorp and IAG have about 80 per cent of the market in home and car insurance.

Rival Woolworths has sold insurance products – car, home, landlords, pet, life, travel and funeral – since 2012 and said it had no plans to stop selling life insurance.

The life insurance sector has been hit with rising claims, expensive premiums and negative perceptions of the industry after the scandal that engulfed the Commonwealth Bank's insurance arm, CommInsure over the use of outdated medical definitions to deny claims.

Wow - The Intelligence Level??

There is nothing wrong with a rape victim marrying the rapist, according to a Barisan Nasional lawmaker who even suggested that some nine-year-olds were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.  

Tasek Gelugor MP Datuk Shabudin Yahaya, in trying to refute Dr Siti Mariah Mahmud (Amanah-Kota Raja), said that some 12- and 15-year-old girls looked older than their actual ages. “When we discuss 12- and 15-year-olds, we don't see their physical bodies because some children aged 12 or 15, their bodies are like 18-year-old women," Shabudin claimed.

The former Syariah court judge added that some girls who reached puberty when they were as young as nine years old were “physically and spiritually” ready for marriage.  

“So it's not impossible for them to get married,” Shabudin said, adding that there was “nothing wrong” with a rape victim marrying the rapist as it could serve as a “remedy” to the increasing number of social problems.  

Shabudin said this when debating the Sexual Offences Against Children Bill 2017 after several Opposition lawmakers suggested amending it to include child marriages as an offence.  

He said that although rape is a criminal offence, the rapist and the victim should be “given a second chance to turn a new leaf in life".  

“Perhaps through marriage they can lead a healthier, better life. And the person who was raped does not necessarily have a bleak future. She will have a husband, at least, and this could serve as a remedy to growing social problems,” he said.  

AES Almost Up Again

Drivers, take note: the Awas system is finally off the ground. This means traffic offenders caught by the system will face suspension and even revocation of their driving licence.

Awas or Automated Awareness Safety System – an integration of the Automated Enforcement System (AES) cameras and Demerit Points System (Kejara) – started from yesterday. It is aimed at weeding out habitual traffic offenders.

Road Transport Department (JPJ) director-general Datuk Nadzri Siron said the system would only utilise the 14 AES cameras installed nationwide and was aimed at two offences for now – speeding and running the red light.

“This is still the initial stage of the project and we want to focus on advocacy. For now, the system will only include two offences for the Kejara system – speeding and running the red light,” Nazri said when contacted yesterday.

JPJ expects to fully include the other offences by the end of this year, and install more cameras. Amendments to the Road Transport Act to allow for the implementation of Awas were passed in Parliament last year.

Besides facing a RM150 fine under AES, drivers could have their driving licence suspended under Awas for overtaking at double lines, running the red light, using the emergency lane and speeding.

JPJ has upgraded its computer system to handle Awas. Under the new system, motorists start with 20 points each and their driving licence will be revoked once all these are deducted.

Malaysia Life Insurance Updates

RAM Rating Services Bhd expects Malaysia's takaful sector growth trajectory to remain higher than the conventional counterpart, underpinned by growth in the family takaful (FT) segment. 

It said on Friday the FT penetration rate was substantially lower (15% of the population) relative to life insurance’s 41%.

RAM Ratings maintained its stable outlook on the Malaysian insurance and takaful sector in 2017, which is supported by the industry’s strong capital levels and regulatory reforms which augur well for the sector’s development. 

“Amid expectations of a delicate economic recovery, general insurance (GI) gross premiums growth is anticipated to stay below 2% in 2017. Meanwhile, subdued consumer sentiment and inflationary pressures will slow the pace of life insurance (LI) gross premiums growth to about 5% this year,” it said. 

It said the market conditions were challenging for general insurers and takaful operators in 2016. 

RAM Ratings cited that gross premiums in the GI segment eked out a 0.9% increase (compared with more than 2.5% in 2015) to RM17.2bil due to weaker growth in the motor and fire lines of business. These two segments which collectively represent more than 60% of the sector’s premiums. 

It also pointed out that general takaful (GT) gross contributions expanded at a slower rate of 4.7% (2015: +6.0%) to RM2.4bil. 

Notwithstanding topline growth moderation, the profitability of the GI and GT sectors strengthened to RM3.4 billion (2015: RM2.8 billion) on account of better claims experience. 

The LI and FT segments delivered a stronger performance in 2016. Total LI gross premiums rose 7.5% (2015: +5.2%), breaching the RM40bil mark, while FT contributions climbed 11.8% to RM7.8bil. 

“Despite financial market volatility, the LI and FT sector’s investment earnings remained steady, backed by capital gains and higher valuations of long-term corporate bonds,” it said. 

RAM Ratings said this, together with the stronger growth in premiums and contributions, supported the sector’s better profit performance of RM13.6bil (2015: RM12.1bil).
 
“Looking ahead, tariff liberalisation initiatives in respect of motor and fire products may result in some initial price undercutting, but will spur an improvement in product innovation and risk selection criteria of general insurers and takaful operators. 

“On the LI and FT front, regulatory measures to promote greater operational efficiency and increase the focus on direct commission-free distribution channels will lead to more affordable product offerings. 

“These will help address the protection gap in Malaysia and steer the sector towards the target penetration rate of 75%. Regulatory reforms are expected to support the industry’s growth prospects, which remain favourable, despite some near-term moderation,” said RAM Ratings.