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IBPO Announces Strategic Partnership with FWD Insurance to Provide Protection for Its Loan Financing Services

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KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 13 August 2025 – IBPO Group Berhad (“IBPO”), a leading fintech company, has announced a strategic partnership with FWD Insurance Berhad (“FWD Insurance”), a leading Pan-Asian life insurer to safeguard its customers’ loans with life protection at a momentous Strategic Partnership Launch Ceremony held yesterday.

IBPO Group Berhad and FWD Insurance Berhad officially launches their Strategic Partnership to protect IBPO Customers’ loans with complimentary life insurance by FWD Insurance Berhad. From the middle left; IBPO Group Berhad, Founder & Group Managing Director, Andy Lim and the Chief Technology Officer, Samuel Quek. From the middle right, FWD Insurance Berhad, Chief Executive Officer, Mak See Sen and the Chief Digital, Direct & Telemarketing, Ann Lim.

Officiated by Andy Lim, the Founder & Group Managing Director of IBPO and Mak See Sen, Chief Executive Officer of FWD Insurance, the signing ceremony was witnessed by Samuel Quek, Chief Technology Officer at IBPO and Ann Lim, Chief Digital, Direct & Telemarketing at FWD Insurance.

With this integrated partnership, selected IBPO’s loan financing facilities come with inclusive life protection, with no underwriting questions required. This will be applicable to IBPO’s Payday Financing and i-Bridge Financing programs, that are both launching this month.

What’s unique about these programs is that customers can now have peace of mind when applying for these programs, as the complimentary insurance coverage ensures that, in the event of unforeseen circumstances, their loved ones are protected from the burden of outstanding loan obligations.

Customers can easily apply for Payday Financing and i-Bridge Financing through IBPO’s online customer financial portal, myIBPO+, or via the upcoming all-in-one financial app. Both platforms are available 24/7 to help users manage and improve their finances.

Payday Financing is an interest-free advance cash for customers to cover urgent expenses before their monthly salary day. It’s fast, safe and 100% Shariah-compliant.

Meanwhile, i-Bridge Financing provides immediate short-term financing for homeowners, property sellers and SMEs to ease urgent cash flow gaps while awaiting disbursement of long-term bank financing, which typically takes up to 4 months. i-Bridge Financing is fully Shariah-compliant, in accordance with Islamic financing properties.

This initiative supports Bank Negara Malaysia’s Financial Sector Blueprint 2022–2026, which aims for greater digitalisation, inclusive financial access, and enhanced protection for households. By bridging fintech and insurance, IBPO and FWD Insurance are collectively supporting national goals to strengthen financial resilience, improve the financial well-being of Malaysians, and accelerate the adoption of secure, tech-driven financial solutions.

As part of this partnership, a total financing fund disbursement of RM100 million has been allocated exclusively for its customers, offering immediate financial assistance and for emergencies, business needs, property purchase and more, all backed by life insurance coverage for added security.

To provide greater convenience, customers can learn more about individual insurance plans with premiums starting from as low as RM8.10 per month, made available on the IBPO website starting this September 2025. These plans are designed to be more accessible and tailored to suit various lifestyles.

“We’re proud to partner with FWD Insurance, a customer-led brand that shares our commitment to improving financial literacy among Malaysians. This collaboration is key to empowering individuals to make smart, secure money moves that support both their immediate goals and long-term financial stability,” said Andy Lim, Founder & Group Managing Director of IBPO Group Berhad.

He added, “Our initiative with FWD Insurance allows customers to take on financing with maximum peace of mind and security in the event of an unfortunate incident, providing life coverage to our customers and to ease unexpected financial burden to their loved ones or if one faces any disability throughout the financing term – their loans are covered.”

“FWD Insurance is committed to changing the way people feel about insurance, by making it simpler, more accessible and truly meaningful. This partnership with IBPO is a powerful step forward in that vision. By embedding protection seamlessly into everyday financial solutions, we’re not just offering convenience, we’re delivering peace of mind. Through innovation and customer-first thinking, we’re helping Malaysians celebrate living, knowing their loved ones are protected no matter what life brings,” said Mak See Sen, CEO of FWD Insurance.

*Individual plan offer includes death, total and permanent disability (TPD), accidental death, hospitalisation benefits, critical illness, and a medical card, with protection up to RM500,000.

This initiative reinforces IBPO’s Fusion Finance model, a personalised, 360° innovative integrated approach with AI-powered technology and traditional finance solutions.

For more information, visit www.ibpo.com.my
*Subject to each individual policy’s terms and premium details.

Hashtag: #IBPOGroupBerhad #FWDInsuranceBerhad #LoanFinancingProtection

The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

IBPO Group Berhad

is a fusion financial company that provides holistic personalised financial solutions to help clients achieve their financial aspirations and live a better life. Incorporated in 2012, IBPO Group became a public limited company in 2020.

We deliver bespoke financial consultancy services with our cutting-edge Fusion Financial System, a financial technology (“fintech”) system powered by Artificial Intelligence (“AI”) that was developed through extensive in-house IT research and development and ANIKA, the first AI-powered virtual financial consultant chatbot in Malaysia.

Our financial programs include; i-Refinancing, i-Connect, i-Console Plus, Payday Financing, i-Bridge Financing and Housing Value Investment. Discover personalised solutions tailored to your needs with mortgage refinancing, personal loans and financing, property management and more. To learn more, visit .

Follow Us: | | | | | @IBPO Group Berhad
Address: Level 28, Mercu Aspire, No. 3 Jalan Bangsar, KL Eco City 59200 Kuala Lumpur.
Head Office Contact No: +603 2201 2828

FWD Insurance Berhad

is part of FWD Group, a pan-Asian life and health insurance business that serves approximately 30 million* customers across 10 markets. FWD’s customer-led and tech-enabled approach aims to deliver innovative propositions, easy-to-understand products and a simpler insurance experience. Established in 2013, the company operates in some of the fastest-growing insurance markets in the world with a vision of changing the way people feel about insurance and takaful. FWD Group is listed on the Main Board of The Stock Exchange of Hong Kong Limited under the stock code 1828. For more information, please visit .
FWD Insurance Berhad offers a variety of family and life insurance products, such as medical, critical illness, savings, and investment-linked plans. The company operates under the regulation of Bank Negara Malaysia in accordance with the Financial Services Act 2013.
For more information, please visit .

*including BRI Life in Indonesia.

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XTransfer Joins Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026

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Signals Plan to Make Malaysia Regional Compliance Hub

KUALA LUMPUR, MALAYSIA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – XTransfer, the world’s leading B2B cross-border financial platform, was honoured to be invited to join the Malaysia Economic Forum (Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026). Bill Deng, Founder and CEO of XTransfer, shared insights on how Malaysia can accelerate technology application and innovation to help micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) scale exports under the 13th Malaysia Plan (13MP), during FEM 2026’s panel discussion, “Made by Malaysia: Accelerating Technology Applications & Innovation”.

Bill Deng (second from the right), Founder and CEO of XTransfer, joins as a speaker at Forum Ekonomi Malaysia 2026.

Bill was honoured to join YB Tuan Liew Chin Tong, Deputy Minister of Finance of Malaysia, and Mr Ooi Ching Liang, Senior Director of Engineering at SkyeChip, for a discussion focused on strengthening high-growth, high-value industries, advancing R&D commercialisation, increasing productivity and competitiveness, and supporting MSMEs in global value chains.

Drawing on XTransfer’s work with MSMEs across markets, Bill noted that many Malaysian businesses are “able to export,” but face persistent barriers to scaling exports. The most common issues are trust, compliance, and scale, which often surface as payment delays, repeated documentation requests, FX uncertainty, and working capital pressure as orders grow.

“For B2B SMEs in foreign trade, the biggest constraint isn’t demand. It’s the operational complexity behind cross-border payments, foreign exchange, and compliance,” Bill said. “In particular, AML requirements can be difficult for both traditional banks and SMEs to manage efficiently, creating friction that slows down legitimate trade.”

Bill highlighted a structural shift in global trade flows from a single dominant corridor to non-U.S., intra-Asia, and broader South–South routes. This trend is increasingly clear in real SME transaction patterns. Bill shared, “In 2025, XTransfer’s average collection amount from Asia, Africa, and Latin America grew by 106% year-on-year, with Africa exceeding 270%, Latin America reaching 94%, and ASEAN reaching 82%.” YB Liew noted the trend and thinks it is a direction Malaysia should pursue.

XTransfer also said it plans to establish Malaysia as its regional compliance centre, citing Malaysia’s strong geographic and time-zone advantages, a mature regulatory environment, availability of talent in compliance and risk operations, and cost efficiency. “Malaysia gives us the talent, governance environment, and regional proximity to scale compliance as intra-Asia and emerging-market trade accelerates,” Bill added.
Hashtag: #XTransfer #Malaysia #SMEs #13MP #FEM2026




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

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CGTN: Little Chinese New Year opens big window to China’s soul

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BEIJING, CHINA – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – As China marks Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year, there is growing evidence of its ancient traditions evolving into global lifestyle trends. CGTN published an article analyzing how this prelude to the Year of the Horse – from the folk ritual of “sweeping the dust” to the cross-cultural fusion of the Spring Festival Gala – illustrates China’s growing global cultural resonance.

As the lunar calendar turns its final pages, China enters a period of joyful anticipation known as Xiaonian, or Little Chinese New Year. Often celebrated as the Festival of the Kitchen God, it marks the official start of the “busy year” – a traditional term for the intense, joyful period of preparing food, cleaning homes, and shopping for the upcoming Spring Festival.

The Spring Festival is a deeply significant time for family reunion. In 2024, UNESCO inscribed the “Spring Festival, social practices of the Chinese people in celebration of the traditional Chinese New Year” onto the Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.

While daily routines continue to evolve, they remain anchored in rituals that provide a sense of normalcy and meaning. It is perhaps no wonder that in a climate of uncertainty, traditional Chinese lifestyles are finding a new audience beyond the country’s borders, with the Spring Festival chief among those unique traditions that are fast becoming a shared human experience.

Diverse traditions, shared aspirations

In a prelude to the broader celebrations, Xiaonian, observed on February 10 and 11 this year, kickstarts a focused period of preparation. According to ancient lore, families offer Zaotang, or sticky “Kitchen Candy,” to the Kitchen God to ensure he delivers a favorable report on the household’s conduct before he ascends to the heavens. This lighthearted tradition marks the beginning of several symbolic rituals aimed at welcoming a fresh start.

A key element of this transition is donning new clothes. In Chinese culture, the New Year represents a moment when “all things are renewed,” and wearing new garments symbolizes shedding the “dust” or misfortunes of the past to embrace auspicious energy for the year ahead. Alongside this personal renewal, families nationwide engage in “sweeping the dust,” a deep-cleaning ritual to purify the home and prepare it for new blessings.

Whereas these practices are universal, celebratory flavors vary by geography. In the north, families traditionally gather over steaming plates of dumplings, whereas in the south, the menu often features sweet rice cakes (Niangao) and glutinous rice balls (Tangyuan).

As Mao Qiaohui, a researcher at the Institute of Ethnic Literature at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explains, these variations highlight the inclusive nature of Chinese civilization.

“Although folk customs differ between different regions across China, this diversity reflects the cultural pluralism within the Spring Festival tradition,” she notes. “Different regional identities contribute to a shared pursuit of harmony and reunion.”

The vitality of these traditions is also evident in local craftsmanship. In northern regions like Shandong and Henan, artisans are currently making Huamo, decorated steamed buns, featuring horse designs for the upcoming zodiac year. Meanwhile, in Shuozhou, Shanxi Province, intangible heritage inheritors are carving spirited stallions onto traditional gourds. These creations reflect the regional diversity of the festival and a collective desire for progress in the year ahead.

Cultural dialogue: From global stage to daily life

The festive atmosphere is reflected further in preparations for the Spring Festival Gala (Chunwan), produced by China Media Group.

Recent rehearsals show performances meshing traditional Chinese culture with international artistry. One performance piece combines the wooden clog dance of the Hani and Lisu ethnic groups with the rhythmic tap of Spanish Flamenco and Hungarian folk dance. And with global stars like Jackie Chan and Lionel Richie on the bill, the Gala’s stage is set to become a stage for the world to come together.

The reach of the gala has expanded far beyond a domestic audience. Through the “Spring Festival Gala Prelude” events held in the United States, Russia, France, Italy, and several African nations, the program has become a gateway to Chinese New Year customs and cultural exchange.

This interest extends beyond art and into the lives of people worldwide, as seen in the #BecomingChinese trend. This phenomenon features international social media users adopting elements of Chinese daily life – such as keeping a thermos of hot water handy, wearing quilted indoor slippers or practicing mindful movement with Baduanjin exercises.

The festival is no longer a distant event but a gateway to Chinese lifestyle, rooted in ancient wellness wisdom and constantly updated by modern convenience, and the first step to a journey of exploration into a culture that values ritual, safety and hospitality.

Whether through global broadcasts or shared daily habits, the Spring Festival increasingly strengthens a sense of cultural empathy between China and the rest of the world.

For more information, please click here:

https://news.cgtn.com/news/2026-02-10/Little-New-Year-opens-big-window-to-China-s-soul-1KEhJjMX2fe/p.html

Hashtag: #CGTN

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De Beers Group and Assouline Celebrate the Launch of “A Diamond Is Forever: The Making of A Cultural Icon 1926-2026”

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LONDON, UK – Media OutReach Newswire – 11 February 2026 – In the 1930s, De Beers redefined the role of diamonds in society, celebrating them as masterpieces of nature and craftmanship. Before this, diamond jewelry pieces were treasures exchanged discreetly amongst society’s elite, as luxury houses, fearful of diminishing their mystique, fostered only private relationships with their clients. De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds to a wider audience, shifting the perception of them from luxury item to a gift integral to romantic milestones and aspirational, glamorous lives, as well as a way of marking personal achievement.

De Beers Group And Assouline Celebate The Launch Of “A Diamond Is Forever: The Making Of A Cultural Icon 1926-2026”

When copywriter Frances Gerety captured the diamond’s essence with the phrase “A Diamond Is Forever” in 1947, the declaration enshrined the diamond as a promise of love and endurance, a sentiment resonating far beyond the notion of a simple gift. Gerety’s words, seen on archival advertisements, magazine placements, and celebrity endorsements, reflected the deep cultural connection between diamonds and enduring relationships. Commissioned artwork from artists such as Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí, and Raoul Dufy draw a direct line between a diamond’s rarity—each one formed deep within the earth over billions of years—and the creative genius of fine art. By sharing these artistic visions with the world, De Beers revealed the wonder of diamonds—nature’s oldest treasure—to a wider audience, elevating their aura and allure while preserving the sense of rarity and significance that sets them apart.

For a century, the story of diamonds has been one of transformation and continuity. In the 1960s, stars like Elizabeth Taylor and Marilyn Monroe adorned themselves with diamonds, embodying the elegance and glamour associated with the gemstone. The 1990s “Shadows” campaign, with its evocative pairing of diamonds and the neoclassical composition Palladio by Karl Jenkins, captured the essence of the diamond: authentic, unique, and everlasting.

In recent years, the conversation around diamonds has expanded to include provenance, sustainability, and ethical stewardship, affirming the diamond’s place as a symbol not just of love but of responsibility and conscience. Much like walking through a gallery that traces the evolution of artistic expression, A Diamond Is Forever offers a view into how diamonds have come to embody the shifting ideals and aspirations of society itself.

Hashtag: #DeBeersGroup #NaturalDiamonds #diamonds #ADiamondIsForever #Assouline




The issuer is solely responsible for the content of this announcement.

About De Beers Group

Established in 1888, De Beers Group is the world’s leading diamond company with expertise in the exploration, mining, marketing and retailing of diamonds. Together with its joint venture partners, De Beers Group employs more than 20,000 people across the diamond pipeline and is the world’s largest diamond producer by value, with diamond mining operations in Botswana, Canada, Namibia and South Africa. Innovation sits at the heart of De Beers Group’s strategy as it develops a portfolio of offers that span the diamond value chain, including its jewellery houses, De Beers Jewellers and Forevermark, and other pioneering solutions such as diamond sourcing and traceability initiatives Tracr and GemFair. De Beers Group also provides leading services and technology to the diamond industry in the form of education and laboratory services via De Beers Institute of Diamonds and a wide range of diamond sorting, detection and classification technology systems via De Beers Group Ignite. De Beers Group is committed to ‘,’ a holistic and integrated approach for creating a better future – where safety, human rights and ethical integrity continue to be paramount; where communities thrive and the environment is protected; and where there are equal opportunities for all. De Beers Group is a member of the Anglo American plc group. For further information, visit .

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