Takaful venture? Not just yet, says Allianz

Allianz SE believes that it is not economically viable to enter into Malaysia's domestic takaful market just yet, board member Manuel Bauer said. He believes that growth in the Islamic insurance sector is beginning to cool down and would therefore be a struggle to justify any major investments to its shareholders. Bound by Bank Negara Malaysia's restrictions that caps foreign ownership at 70% in a local insurers, he said, Allianz's is answerable to its shareholders if it decides to take certain acquisition risk. Bauer also argued that the domestic takaful market has been stagnant and not performing as well as one thought it to be. Bauer said that taking into account Allainz's position in Malaysia as market leaders in both life and general business, the takaful potential figures are not convincing.