The Social Security Organisation (Perkeso) Lindung 24 scheme is viewed as a structurally positive development for Malaysia’s insurance sector, according to CIMB Research. The initiative, which was launched on June 1, aims to provide comprehensive 24/7 social insurance protection to eligible workers, including both local and foreign employees.

Perkeso’s deputy chief executive officer, Edmund Cheong, detailed the objectives and framework of the new scheme during a recent meeting with CIMB Research. The Lindung 24 program expands the scope of protection beyond existing workplace-related coverage under the Employment Injury Scheme, which is currently limited to accidents occurring during work hours and on the job.

Unlike the Employment Injury Scheme, Lindung 24 extends accident coverage to a broader range of circumstances, including activities outside the workplace and beyond official working hours. This encompasses accidents that occur during weekends, lunch breaks, commuting, detours, domestic travel, and recreational activities such as hiking, cycling, and sports.

CIMB Research indicated that the Lindung 24 scheme is expected to reinforce Malaysia’s basic protection framework without displacing private medical and life insurance products. While there may be adjustments over time, particularly regarding overlapping personal accident policies and employer-provided accident benefits, the research house considers these disruptions manageable.

The introduction of Lindung 24 represents an expansion of the social security system to address gaps in protection for workers, aligning with broader efforts to enhance social insurance coverage nationwide. The scheme aims to provide greater security for employees by covering a wider array of risk scenarios beyond the traditional workplace setting.

Overall, industry observers perceive the scheme as complementary to existing private insurance offerings, with the potential to improve the insurance sector’s capacity to serve the diverse needs of the Malaysian workforce.