Extracts from the Address of the Chairman,

Mr Thomas Zachariah

at the Third Annual General Meeting held on 10th May 2002

Since the inauguration some 3½ years ago by YM Tunku Ya'acob bin Tunku Abdullah, the Chairman of National Insurance Association of Malaysia (NIAM), NICS has successfully carried out several activities to benefit members.

The motivating factor for the formation of this Society was the need for a forum for claims managers and claims examiners in the industry to meet and exchange views concerning claims services and other matters such as fraud and claims leakage. NICS is also intended as a platform for members to interact and network effectively.

In September 2001, NICS organized a Hi-Tea gathering for member to meet and get to know others from the Insurance Companies.

Then in January 2002, a cocktail reception was organized to give members the opportunity to know, to better understand and to exchange views with the members of the Federation of Automobile Workshop Owners' Association of Malaysia.

Then again in March 2002, NICS organized a Dinner gathering for members to meet and network with the members of the Association of Malaysia Loss Adjusters.

In all these the response was encouraging not only with the participation of NICS members but also those of some non-member companies. With the success and positive response seen NICS has decided to make these gathering an annual event. Such positive interaction within the industry will surely go a long way in ensuring better understanding of the role each has to play. We also believe that these gatherings and sessions only goes to further enhance interaction, exchange of knowledge and dissemination of claims information.

NICS will always endeavor to enhance the professional image of claims personnel. It is undeniable that the most effective way of achieving this objective is to improve the skills and knowledge of claims personnel and help them attain the capability to handle claims with utmost efficiency and proficiency. Despite the many constraints faced during this tenure, NICS organized a 1½ day Seminar on Techniques of Insurance Claims investigation conducted by experienced police officers and well attended by 50 participants. This seminar gave participants an insight into the actual police investigation carried out and since then we have had several requests for such seminars covering fire and other classes of insurance as well. NICS is only too pleased to look into these requests for the future.

NICS also successfully conducted a visitation to the West Port at Port Klang in August 2001. This visit enabled claims staff to have a first-hand view of the port operations thus giving them a slightly better understanding of the workings of Marine Claims.

The Theft Claims involving motorvehicles have been a great concern for the industry and to this extent, the EXCO of NICS had a successful closed-door dialogue with the Ketua Polis and Senior Officers of the Ibu Pejabat Polis Daerah Hulu Langat, which has the highest rate of vehicle thefts reported in the Selangor/Wilayah Persekutuan area. This meeting enabled the EXCO to be briefed on the motor theft situation in the district and the investigations carried out. This meeting also discussed the procedure to retrieve recovered stolen vehicles from the police.

NICS is proud to announce that the IPD Hulu Langat has favored NICS with a periodical list of motorvehicles both stolen and recovered which NICS extend to all member companies for their perusal. NICS is continuing in it's efforts to establish similar rapport with the police at the various state levels to assist in some way to contain the rampant rate of vehicle theft in the County.

Since inception the EXCO's over the years have strived to gain better recognition for the Society. We recognize the need for NICS to establish and maintain rapport with the Bank Negara, PIAM, IBAM, MII and other industry players. Only by such contact and rapport can others know of who and what NICS is about and it is by co-operating with such parties that NICS can be more effective. To this end, the EXCO of NICS paid a courtesy visit to PIAM in January 2002 to formally introduce ourselves to the key general insurance body of the industry. NICS will continue to extend co-operation and work with all such bodies for the betterment of the Malaysian Insurance Industry.

During this tenure, the EXCO also felt the necessity to replace the NICS logo as the design and color scheme of the existing one posed considerable problem and cost when reprinting stationery and designing backdrops/props for NICS functions. As such a new logo competition was held among member companies and a design created by one Cik Rasyihan Ghazali from Mayban Life Assurance Bhd was chosen over many others for it's simplicity, impact and easy recognition.

This Society was formed with noble intentions. However, for it to be truly effective, it will require the Member's support and involvement.

With the advent of the globalisation, the development of a professional and highly competent claim management capability in the industry is of paramount importance. If we are serious about managing claims better we must commit our time and resources in improving our skills and capability. Claims being a cost component of our operations should never be underestimated or under regarded. As the saying goes, if there is a will, there is a way.