Bank Negara Launches Semak Kasih Portal to Help Families Trace Unclaimed Insurance and Takaful Benefits
KUALA TERENGGANU: Bank Negara Malaysia (BNM) has introduced Semak Kasih, a new online portal designed to help families determine whether deceased relatives left behind insurance policies or takaful certificates that remain eligible for death benefit claims.
The initiative comes in response to estimates indicating that around 50,000 insurance policies and takaful certificates carrying death benefits have yet to be claimed by eligible beneficiaries, leaving substantial financial assistance undistributed to families who may need it most.
The portal was officially launched by Deputy Governor Adnan Zaylani Mohamad Zahid during the Terengganu Financial Literacy Carnival held at Mayang Mall.
According to Adnan, the digital platform serves as a convenient starting point for beneficiaries to verify whether their deceased family members held insurance or takaful protection before contacting the relevant providers to begin the claims process.
He said the initiative is expected to improve the efficiency of benefit payments while reducing the likelihood of legitimate claims remaining undiscovered for extended periods.
Adnan stressed that insurance and takaful protection should not be viewed merely as optional financial products, as they play a critical role in helping families cope with unexpected financial burdens arising from death, medical emergencies, accidents or property damage.
Despite their importance, many beneficiaries remain unaware that their loved ones had purchased insurance or takaful coverage before their passing, resulting in thousands of policies remaining inactive despite being eligible for claims.
He noted that insurance companies and takaful operators have undertaken various efforts to locate beneficiaries through written notifications and assistance from insurance agents.
However, Semak Kasih is expected to complement these efforts by providing a centralised, user-friendly platform that enables the public to conduct preliminary checks independently.
Beyond the launch of the portal, Adnan highlighted the broader importance of strengthening financial literacy among Malaysians in response to growing economic uncertainties.
He said financial resilience depends not only on adequate insurance coverage but also on disciplined financial planning, emergency savings and responsible spending habits.
Current statistics indicate that 41 per cent of Malaysians remain inclined towards excessive spending, while 61 per cent do not have emergency savings of at least RM1,000.
These figures, he said, underline the urgent need to encourage stronger household financial management across the country.
Adnan also reaffirmed the financial sector’s continued support for micro-enterprises and small and medium enterprises (SMEs) through various financing programmes, including unsecured micro-financing facilities of up to RM100,000.
In addition, BNM has established a RM5 billion SME Sustainability Assistance Facility to support businesses affected by economic disruptions arising from conflicts in West Asia.
Addressing financial crime, he revealed that scam-related losses in Terengganu alone approached RM18 million during the first six months of last year.
Victims included civil servants, retirees and small business owners, demonstrating that sophisticated fraud schemes now target individuals from every segment of society.
He warned that scammers are becoming increasingly convincing in their methods, often causing victims to lose lifetime savings, education funds and business capital within a very short period.
Adnan therefore urged Malaysians to improve their financial knowledge, verify information through official channels and ensure adequate financial protection so that families are better prepared to face unexpected challenges while safeguarding their long-term financial wellbeing.
