Because of market developments and increasing competition which has led to product innovation and diversity, the Prudential Financial Policy Department of Bank Negara Malaysia has reviewed the regulatory framework for insurance and Takaful products "to further enhance consumer protection while according greater flexibility for insurers and Takaful operators to respond to changing market conditions, both in managing risks and enhancing their competitiveness".
The guidelines, stressed Bank Negara, which is also the insurance and Takaful regulator in Malaysia, aim to improve the time-to-market for insurance companies and Takaful operators to introduce new products; to promote sound risk management practices in managing and controlling product risk; and to further strengthen the duty of care owed to consumers in ensuring that products developed and marketed are appropriate to the needs, resources and financial capability of targeted consumer segments.