Are these little outfits of local banks even considered investment banks?

I was wondering because none of the investment bankers I've met so far in Singapore considers RHB, CIMB, MBB or for that matter DBS, OCBC or UOB as their peers in the ASEAN context. They are still considered retail banks with little ill staffed outfits that are only capable of feeding off the leftovers.

Well, at least that was their vehement position.