How the Malaysian government has made insurance more affordable, and how TNG eWallet has helped
Making basic insurance more accessible has been a clear policy priority for the Malaysian government. One of the main initiatives is Perlindungan Tenang, a programme designed to bring simple and affordable protection to underserved households and people in the B40 income band. To further help in this effort, the government has also rolled out a Perlindungan Tenang voucher to make coverage even more affordable and incentivising for the underprivileged group.
To support this initiative, TNG eWallet has helped distribute and scale these offerings so more people can access them quickly and conveniently.
Here is a clear summary of what Perlindungan Tenang is, how the voucher scheme works, who is eligible, and how TNG eWallet supports the government’s effort to make affordable insurance more reachable.
What is Perlindungan Tenang?
Perlindungan Tenang is a government-backed effort to make basic insurance and takaful more affordable for Malaysians, especially for lower-income and underserved groups. The idea is simple: give people access to protection plans that are low cost, easy to understand and cover common risks such as accidental death, accidental injury and selected hospitalisation needs.
When was Perlindungan Tenang introduced and what was the objective?
Perlindungan Tenang was introduced in 2017, calling for insurance and takaful providers to create simple and affordable coverage plans that are easy to understand and buy.
Subsequently voucher programmes were also introduced, ... (expand here about household redemption or discounts for eg. Per your next sentence). These vouchers allowed eligible households to redeem financial help and use it to buy Perlindungan Tenang insurance or takaful plans.
Perlindungan Tenang aims at giving people access to important financial protection at a price they can afford, so families have a safety net when unexpected events happen.
How much do Perlindungan Tenang insurance policies cost?
Perlindungan Tenang really is designed to be very affordable — far lower than what many people imagine for “insurance.” On platforms like TNG eWallet, some Perlindungan Tenang plans start at around RM50 per year, which is renewable every year. It also provides daily cash hospitalisation allowance and compensation in case of a critical illness or injury (for example, up to RM100 a day for a certain number of days, depending on the plan).
Here are some examples of available plans and costs:
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Allianz’s PerlindunganKu Plan 1 is about RM53 (including service tax), and the hospital income benefit is RM50 per day for up to 30 days in a government hospital.
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For a more hospital-focused product, MSIG’s Tenang Hospital Income plan starts from RM75 per year. In that plan, you could receive up to RM160 per day for hospitalisation, depending on which part of coverage you use.
Because these plans are built to be simple and low cost, they do not provide very high benefits like full medical insurance. Instead, they give basic financial support when something happens, like an accident, hospitalisation, or illness. This type of protection is ideal for people who don’t currently have any insurance and want something safe and cheap to help with smaller financial shocks.
The Perlindungan Tenang Voucher initiative and its evolution
The government first introduced the Perlindungan Tenang Voucher (PTV) scheme in 2021 to help B40 households and other eligible groups afford basic insurance and takaful plans. During PTV 1.0, recipients received a RM50 voucher that they could use to buy Perlindungan Tenang products for that year. This early version of the programme helped many Malaysians access simple protection for the first time.
In 2022, the government improved the initiative through PTV 2.0, increasing the voucher to RM75 to make coverage even more accessible. The Ministry of Finance confirmed this upgrade in its 2022 announcement. To redeem it, eligible recipients only needed to contribute a RM5 co-payment, as explained in the PTV 2022 FAQ and detailed further in the official terms and conditions.
The latest phase, PTV 3.0, was launched in 2025 for Sumbangan Tunai Rahmah (STR) recipients. Under this updated programme, eligible individuals receive a RM30 voucher to offset the cost of Perlindungan Tenang micro-insurance products. Depending on the plan, they may need to top up a small amount. Across all three phases, the voucher model has served one clear purpose: to lower the entry barrier for insurance, introduce more Malaysians to affordable protection and encourage long-term financial preparedness among lower-income groups.
Who is eligible for the vouchers and Perlindungan Tenang products?
Eligibility depends on the voucher phase. In the current PTV 3.0, vouchers were allocated to STR recipients, with redemption terms defined by participating insurers and takaful operators. Earlier phases targeted recipients under Bantuan Prihatin Rakyat (BPR) and Bantuan Keluarga Malaysia (BKM) depending on the year. Eligibility conditions and supporting documents are explained in official FAQ and insurer guidance.
Because the programme is centrally administered, recipients must redeem their vouchers within the specified window using valid identification at participating channels.
However, even if you are not eligible for the PTV, you may still qualify for the Perlindungan Tenang insurance scheme itself.
One common area of confusion is that people are not aware that the voucher and the scheme are two different parts of the initiative.
The voucher is limited to selected B40 recipients, but the insurance plans under Perlindungan Tenang are open to all Malaysians between the age of 18-65 who want simple and affordable protection. This means you can still buy coverage through participating insurers, including those available on TNG eWallet.
How TNG eWallet has helped in making insurance affordable
Digital channels play an important role in scaling government assistance. TNG eWallet has supported Perlindungan Tenang by distributing voucher-linked products within its platform. In 2022, TNG eWallet announced its participation in the Perlindungan Tenang Voucher programme, enabling users to redeem vouchers and purchase eligible products directly from the app. This reduces friction for redemption and makes the process more convenient.
Beyond voucher distribution, TNG eWallet also offers an insurance hub that lists Perlindungan Tenang products alongside other protection options. Users can review, compare and buy plans in one platform, supporting the government’s inclusion goals.
Putting government-supported insurance offerings into a widely used eWallet increases accessibility, keeps documentation in one place and helps recipients complete their redemption without visiting a branch.
Why this matters for affordable insurance in Malaysia
The combination of government vouchers and digital distribution addresses two major barriers: cost and accessibility. A small voucher reduces financial friction, and digital platforms simplify purchase and renewal. This helps improve insurance inclusion, especially among households that might otherwise lack protection.
As regulators and industry players refine the Perlindungan Tenang model, Malaysia is moving towards a more inclusive insurance ecosystem that offers simple and affordable protection to lower-income communities.