while waiting for other PROs to clear your doubt, i can answer part of your question, as I'm just newly pass my insurance exam this monday and havent signed to any insurance company yet

1) What is the procedure to become an Insurance Agent?
Register at MII Malaysia Insurance Institute register for the exam at RM80.
2) How many companies an Insurance Agent sign with?
life insurance - 1, general insurance - 2
3) What is the commission rate?
not sure
4) What is General Insurance and Life Insurance? Can I sit for both or either one only?
of course. GI study part A&B, LI study part A&C
5) Which insurance company is best for it's policies and claiming?
not sure

1) Im currently in Ipoh. Am i able to sit for the exam here or do i need to go to KL for the exam?
2) Do i need to sit for any courses or just directly go for the exam after self study?
3) Which insurance company are in your list now? Which one do you think is best?

1) hey, i'm from ipoh too!
my friend told me better take the exam in KL, because in KL, everyday also got several intake for exam. ipoh also got, but maybe once per month and you have to register at least one month earlier.
2) no need. just purchase the book and self study. my friend lend me the book, i heard that the book cost around RM30.
3) i think i'm gonna join my friend's insurance company. all the way she help me a lot, help me register exam in MII KL, provide study material and fetch me to exam

well, she's my senior since secondary school ma...
my friend's dad has a quite well known insurance agency in Ipoh, which will provide training to the newbie like me, to study the products, guide how to explain to customer.. etc.. hehe... wait her to explain in details to me

4) When u study for ur license u will find out the difference
basically, life insurance is anything to do with medical and mortality of a human being. everything else is general insurance. (ie: ur possessions)
yes. can sit for both at the same time.

5) choose a reputable, strong company and a great agency leader (GSM) with track-record of at least few years of MDRT. 

just want to add:
3) 20-30% depending on the product.
4) u can sit for parts A,B & C at the same time if u want.

i only taken exam for Life Insurance (part A & C)
i think you better ask an insurance agent friend to guide you, or you can straight go to MII to settle everything by yourself
all the best!

I suggest you join financial planning company rather than join insurance company...In fp, you can provide products from different companies like prudential, AIA etc...and financial planners can compare the products and provide the best to their customers...while for insurance agents, they can only provide products from their own company...

wow this is great, llJasell.

In my own opinion (and I am in Insurance) it's the team factor that made me choose the agency I joined. The product, honestly, it's about the same with each different company.
To summarize = protection and savings (LI) Protection (GI)

In LI, if you want higher savings it's lesser protection and vice versa. in GI it's just protecting the item for the just in case it gets damaged and how fast and how less hassle it is to get back the monies lost.

to answer your questions: -
1) What is the procedure to become an Insurance Agent?
~ u know already. Take the exam yourself or via ur choice agency.
2) How many companies an Insurance Agent sign with?
~ LI = ONE! GI = i think it was 3
3) What is the commission rate?
~ GI average 3-5%, (1 time only) LI got 2 difference, Ordinary Life insurance 35%, Investment link insurance 25% (6 years reducing commission which totals up 105%)
4) What is General Insurance and Life Insurance? Can I sit for both or either one only?
~ u know the answer already. I m choose to focus only on Life Insurance. Lesser headache and distractions.
5) Which insurance company is best for it's policies and claiming?
~ hahaha all insurance companies are following Bank Negara Ruling, hence average 2-4 weeks claims out d in LI. in GI hahah wait la...cos need an adjuster or surveyor to ascertain the loss and submit an investigation report b4 the claims department look through it and pay, experience about 1-6 month or even more depending on the case.

I'm attached with GMA, Manulife Life Insurance in KL. IF you would like to know more do PM me. I'd be glad to help out.

great having u start this. v wanna clear the air with wat being an insurance agent really means.

which u joined??

can an agent register with more than 1 agencies?