The Breakfast Grille

The global pharmaceutical industry experienced extraordinary profits due to the circumstances of the Covid-19 pandemic, but how are players coping now that the Covid effect has receded? We speak to Deepti Saraf, General Manager of Roche Malaysia on the current pharmaceutical landscape, as well as efforts to improve affordability and accessibility of life-saving drugs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

L’Oreal is a centennial beauty brand that has become synonymous with its iconic tagline, Because You’re Worth It. It also carries brands such as Garnier, Kiehl’s, La Roche Posay, and YSL Beauty under its umbrella. Can it continue to hold on to its leading position in the Malaysian beauty market amid increased competition from regional and local brands? We speak to Tomas Hruska, CEO of L’Oreal Malaysia about the brand presence in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bespoke travel is increasingly common as travelers want a specially curated itinerary. Chan Brothers Prestige part of one the largest travel agencies in Singapore is monetising that trend. We speak to their Executive director, Chloe Chan if travel has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, their growth strategy and the challenges of working in a family business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Energy Transition Roadmap has a goal of achieving 70% renewable energy installed capacity mix for the power sector by 2050 which is good news for RE players. We check in with Chow Pui Hee, Group Managing Director of listed, Samaiden Group Bhd on how they intend to benefit, the growth expectations for FY24 and is there still upside to it's share price which has rallied by 300% since its listing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The World Bank cut its target for Malaysia’s GDP from 4.3% to 3.9% for 2023. Dr Apurva Sanghi, the World Bank Lead Economist for Malaysia shares his impressions of Budget 2024, the structural issues faced by Malaysia whilst providing some policy recommendations including what will reverse the weak Ringgit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been 20 days since the current war in Gaza was launched, stemming from the assault by Hamas fighters in Israel on October 7th, which led to the Israeli military bombardment of the enclave. But in reality, Gaza and the West Bank have been under war-like conditions with Israel since the illegal occupation of Palestinian Territories by Israel since 1967. We discuss the situation on the ground with H.E. Walid Abu Ali, the Ambassador of Palestine to Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Madani Economy Framework sets the lofty ambition of catapulting Malaysia into the world’s top 30 economies with a consistent 5.5% annual GDP growth in 10 years. Additionally, the government aims to break into the top 30 countries in the Global Innovation Index by 2025, as well as achieve high-tech nation status by 2030. How integrated are science and technology policies in achieving these outcomes? We discuss this with Chang Lih Kang, the Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Sri Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah, former Health Director-General, and the chairperson of UCSI Healthcare Group, offer a candid glimpse into his journey managing the pandemic, his personal aspirations, and his invaluable insights into Malaysia's healthcare system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the pandemic over and visitorship returning to 2019 levels, Aquawalk Group which owns aquariums in Phuket and Jakarta as well as Aquaria KLCC, is now looking to expand to Vietnam and India. Executive director, Daryl Foong, also talks about a plan that was halted because of Covid; an IPO on Bursa Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Evergreen Max Cash Capital (EMCC) became only the second pawnbroker to list on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market, debuting in September at a 33% premium on its IPO price of 24 sen. How will they use the IPO proceeds to grow their market presence? Executive director Low Kai Loon joins us to discuss the business of pawnbroking and EMCC's expansion plans in a competitive sector. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UCSI Group is a conglomerate today but started life as Sedaya College with only 4 PCs for its computer science classes in 1986. Its founder and executive chairman Dato' Peter Ng talks about his personal humble beginnings, his views on Malaysia's education system and the direction he wants the business to go for the greater good.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GDEX Berhad is now confident of returning to the black after recording 6 consecutive quarters of losses. Its CEO Teong Teck Lean shares with us how this Bursa-listed delivery firm is navigating the challenging logistics industry with more and more players emerging and as costs continue to rise.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brahim’s is a household name especially for Malaysian travellers given its long association as the in-flight caterer for the national carrier. However its fortunes have taken a tumble since 2019, and following the end of its relationship with Malaysia Airlines this year, can this company survive? We hear from Group CEO, Mohd Fadhli Abdul Rahman on the company's turnaround plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New Industrial Plan has lofty targets by 2030 from value adding RM587bn to GDP, creating 3.3mn jobs and pushing the average salary to RM 4510. We speak with Minister of Miti and previous Deputy Minister; Tengku Dato Zafrul Aziz and Ong Kian Ming to find out if the NIMP hits the mark or is it too old school economics whilst seeing if there was alignment with Budget 2024.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In Budget 2024, the government proposed a spending plan of 393.8 billion ringgit. Various strategic measures have been proposed, including the introduction of new taxes and a shift from broad subsidies. Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Treasury Secretary-General, Ministry of Finance joins us to delve into the specifics of Budget 2024, why was there no petrol subsidy removal yet, and if we are balancing our books like a prudent and financially responsible country should.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW) is one of the largest accounting professional bodies in the UK, with over 300,000 members worldwide. But with the rapid advancement of technology and automation impacting the future of work, how well is the body preparing for radical changes in the profession? We discuss the evolution of the profession with ICAEW Chief Executive Michael Izza.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Signify, the lighting division of Dutch multinational Philips, is very optimistic about the future of its business in Malaysia as well as the region and is looking to expand its manufacturing footprint. Its CEO for Malaysia, Sukanto Aich, talks to us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Do you enjoy eating peanut butter crackers? If you do, there is a high chance that it would have been a Julie’s Biscuit. This Melaka based local brand has become one of the largest biscuit manufacturers in the country and exports to over 80 countries. We speak with Martin Ang, Director of Julie's Manufacturing to find out their plans for growth, the changing retail landscape, challenges exporting abroad, and whether the company can maintain profit margins in this environment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today marks World Mental Health Day, and it was estimated that mental health conditions in the workplace cost the Malaysian economy 14.46 billion ringgit. Deepa George, Managing Consultant of MYHRC Services and Azran Osman-Rani, CEO of Naluri shares with us if Corporate Malaysia is taking the mental health of their employees seriously enough, how impactful bosses could be on the wellbeing of employees and what should happen if an employee or employer is unfit to work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Porto Digital Tech Park, Brazil’s largest technology park was born in 2020 with an aim to turn the port city of Recife to be a centre of technological development and innovation. Prof. Silvio Meira, it's founder and chairmen tells us the roots of their success and how this can be replicated in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KNM group, a PN17 company has recently been thrust into the spotlight with a boardroom tussle with German businessman Andreas Heeschen, submitting a notice to remove all existing KNM directors. Chairman Tunku Datuk Yaacob Khyra, who holds an indirect 9.44% stake in the company shares with us the developments behind this, whether he has the confidence of majority shareholders, and how he intends to turn this company around despite its RM1.2 billion debts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate change is an existential threat for low-lying states like Singapore, which is vulnerable to rising sea levels and flooding, in addition to the ongoing food and water security challenges. How does the Singapore Green Plan 2030 address the myriad complexities of climate change impact involving multiple stakeholders? We discuss Singapore's sustainable agenda with Grace Fu, the Minister for Sustainability and the Environment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hong Kong saw its biggest net ouflow of residents since the beginning of the Covid pandemic and money continues to shift away to other financial hubs. Dr. Brian Wong, Assistant Professor in Philosophy at the University of Hong Kong shares why he remains optimistic about Hong Kong and how the city could bridge relationships between ASEAN and China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On German Unity Day, we take stock of what this means for a country that was divided since the end of the Second World War and only reunified 33 years ago. Dr Peter Blomeyer, Germany's Ambassador to Malaysia discusses what unites and still divides his country, geopolitical issues from Ukraine to China, and getting on with business with Malaysia and ASEAN.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a series of mergers and acquisitions, WS Audiology has become the world’s leading hearing aids manufacturer in the world, WS Audiology produces a third of the global supply and generates annual revenues of more than 2.3 billion euros. We speak with Olivier Chupin, the Regional President of APAC, to share this Danish multinational company growth strategy and product development, and whether an affordable hearing aid is within reach for the mass market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, Group Chief Executive Officer, Malaysian Green Technology & Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) joins us to have a conversation about upcoming COP 28 preparations and discuss MGTC’s role in the Government’s NETR (National Energy Transition Roadmap). We also deep dive on how we as a country can accelerate green mobility in view of the recent developments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GTR a joint venture between SATS and Capital A, is a ground-handling service provider. In this competitive landscape with 30 licensed providers, we ask CEO, Musdalifa bin Abdullah about their expansion plans into the ASEAN region, how profitable is this business and is inclusivity just talk.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Research consultancy Crescent Rating projects that global Muslim tourist numbers will swell to 230 million by 2028, accounting for USD$225 billion tourist spend. How much of a headstart does Malaysia have in courting this lucrative segment and are we doing enough to stay ahead of the regional competition? We find out from the newly minted Director General of the Islamic Tourism Centre, Nizran Noordin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GEMILANG is a Johor based manufacturer of bus bodies and bus assemblies, and with over 30 years of experience, the Group has become one of the leading companies of its kind in Malaysia. We speak with Pang Jun Jie, Executive Director, Gemilang International Ltd on how the company has been transitioning from the domination of diesel-powered vehicles to electric vehicles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After the merger of Celcom Axiata and Digi.com in December last year, CelcomDigi now forms the single largest telco in the country as well as the largest local-listed technology company on Bursa Malaysia. CEO, Datuk Idham Nawawi shares with us updates on the integration of two networks, whether we will see products being streamlined, and updates on the 5G rollout.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the International Energy Agency, energy accounts for more than three-quarters of global greenhouse gas emissions, with oil and gas operations alone making up 15% of that pie. Is there a pathway for the energy sector to achieve the ambitious target of Net Zero Emissions by 2050? We discuss these themes with Brandon Spencer, President of ABB Energy Industries.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global halal market is already worth 3 trillion US dollars and is expected to grow to 5 trillion by 2030. Malaysia should be in a position to capture a large share of this market due to the already existing halal ecosystem but are we catalysing our natural strengths? Khairul Azwan Harun, Chairman of Halal Development Corporation tells us this and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What do you do with your used cooking oil? More often than not, it will probably end up going into the kitchen sink or drain, but should this be the way we dispose of the waste? Or can we make some money from recycling it? Today, on the show is FatHopes Energy Sdn Bhd and we speak with Founder and CEO, Vinesh Sinha to talk about the business regulations, customers of recycled used cooking oil and the biodiesel industry value chain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Open universities pioneered distance learning long before the Covid-19 pandemic disrupted higher education. However with more institutions delivering flexible courses online and amid a sea-change in attitudes regarding the necessity of university qualifications, are open universities still relevant in the education landscape today?We discuss this and more with Prof. Dr. Ahmad Izanee Awang, President and Vice-Chancellor of Open University Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over the weekend, Muar MP Syed Saddiq announced that he will be a third force opposition as a sign of protest against the dropping of 47 charges against Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Zahid Hamidi in the corruption trial. This leaves the ruling coalition with 147 seats in Dewan Rakyat, one seat short of a two-thirds majority. We ask Syed Saddiq about the future of the party after suffering major defeats in the six-state election and the rationale behind his decision to quit the government bench. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with Malaysia Day, we discuss the business of a sport loved by many Malaysians, football. Stuart Ramalingam is the CEO of the Malaysian Football League as well as the road-to-gold programme coordinator. He speaks to us about the financial health of MFL and its clubs since the privatization exercise, income from broadcasting rights, and how realistic is our target of an Olympic gold.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the Mid-Term 12 Malaysia Plan, 3 key themes: Sustainable, Prosperous and High-Income Nation were introduced. The Government also recognizes the need to regain trust by ensuring good governance. Lofty and worthy goals but are they achievable? Economy Minister, Rafizi Ramli joins us to make his case.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an environment of shrinking adex, Media Prima has seen a challenging 1st half. However is the worse over for this media conglomerate. Rafiq Razali their Group Managing Director tells us while we discuss if AI is a threat or opportunity, the fight for eyeballs and the value of their digital media brands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eye specialist service provider, Optimax has obtained a licence from the Ministry of Health Malaysia to offer plastic surgery and aesthetic services. We will discuss this decision to pivot to other services, their latest financial results, and share price performance with 2nd generation leader Sandy Tan, the CEO of Optimax Holdings. And whether this new vision of aesthetic services will help turn around their share price which has dropped 13% year to date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Belgium will take up the Presidency of the European Council in January 2024, where the topic of EU expansion will likely heat up. H.E. Peter Van Acker, Ambassador of Belgium to Malaysia discusses what's at stake in enlarging the membership, and weighs in on areas of opportunity in Malaysia-Belgium bilateral ties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's largest independent power producer has seen losses for the last 2 quarters. We check in with Anwar Syahrin Abdul Ajib, their CEO as to why this is happening since IPPs are supposed to be a defensive business. We also ask if Malakoff's Transformation plans are robust enough to compensate for their ageing power assets as the country moves towards a carbon-neutral future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hup Seng ping pong biscuits are no stranger to most Malaysian households as they are a classic snack that we grew up with, dipping the biscuits into our favourite hot beverage. We speak with the family’s 2nd generation, Kerk Chian Tung, Executive Director of Hup Seng Industries Berhad, to share with us the legacy of the company, maintaining product quality, keeping true to its brand values, dividend yields, and how it intends to stay profitable in these challenging times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence advanced manufacturing solutions and technologies are used to design and make 95% of the cars and 75% of the smartphones manufactured around the world. Lim Boon Choon, President of Hexagon Manufacturing Intelligence for Korea, Asean, Pacific and India shares with us the company’s outlook, and the Swedish company’s mergers and acquisition strategy to keep ahead of the competition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the announcement that the Progressive Wage Policy (PWP) will be voluntary, incentive-based and productivity-linked, we speak to Dr. Geoffrey Williams is an economist and a Professor at the Malaysia University of Science and Technology (MUST) to get his insights and perspectives.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After almost 19 consecutive quarters of losses, there is urgency for Pos Malaysia to transform itself. We speak to their Group CEO, Charles Brewer on what their other revenue sources will be as the core postal business faces a structural decline in an era of digitalisation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 26 years, Secret Recipe has a global and local footprint of 500 stores. We speak to 2nd generation Managing Director, Patrick Sim on their strategy for the next phase of growth, the challenges of the F&B industry and their monetisation plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian outbound travel agency Apple Vacations was making over RM270 million in sales pre-pandemic, but the Covid-19 pandemic torpedoed revenues amid prolonged lockdowns and border closures. One year after the reopening of borders, have they managed to return to 2019 highs? We speak to Group Managing Director Dato' Sri Koh Yoh Heck on the travel group's fortunes and how the company is adapting to changing consumer preferences.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FMCG company Mamee-Double Decker, now helmed by the third generation of the Pang family, and boasts a range of food products sold in over 80 countries, including iconic brands Mamee Monster and Mr. Potato. What’s their recipe for longevity in the fast-paced consumer goods sector? We find out how a homegrown Malaysian company conquered the ASEAN snack market with Pierre Pang, Group CEO of Mamee-Double Decker.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the six-state election now behind us, what institutional reforms and policies must be the focus of state government moving forward, and should Parliamentary Select Committees be formed and institutionalised at the DUN level in all states? Questions we pose to the CEO of IDEAS, Dr Tricia Yeoh.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, Ukraine celebrates 32 years of independence following the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. The country's chargé d'affaires, Denys Mykhailiuk, talks about what it means as war to defend his homeland from last year's Russian invasion continues, the ongoing counter-offensive to retake annexed territory annexed by Moscow and what a post-war future might look like. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.