KUALA LUMPUR: The life insurance industry recorded a 12.6% decline in total premiums to RM5.24bil in January to June from RM5.99bil a year ago due to a fall in investment-linked products due to the impact of the Movement Control Order on March 18 as the movement curbs prevented face-to-face interaction by agents with potential clients.
The Life Insurance Association of Malaysia (LIAM) said in a statement on Tuesday the decline was mainly due to the drop in investment-linked policies which contracted by 24.5% in terms of total premiums to RM1.72bil.
LIAM said face-to-face selling were restricted for more than three months. Investment-linked insurance is an insurance plan which has more unique features and requires face-to-face interaction by agents to explain these features and ascertain its suitability before an investment-linked plan is recommended.