The Breakfast Grille

Selangor is said to be the most competitive in this upcoming state elections. Datuk Seri Amirudin Shari, Caretaker Menteri Besar of Selangor tells us why they are confident of winning at least 33 out of the 56 seats and what strategy they intend to pursue to ensure vote transferability from UMNO supporters. He also tell us if the economic track record is really due to their efforts or thanks to geography.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

WASCO, an integrated energy solutions company in the oil and gas industry known for its pipe coating segment has an order book of RM3.5bn, close to the record high. We speak to Giancarlo Maccagno their Managing Director to find out if renewable energy will be the catalyst for growth and is there still upside to their share prices after a rather stellar run already.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

If you have ever picked up the game of golf, then the name MST Golf would not have escaped you. MST is the largest golf retailer in Malaysia and Singapore, and sells 90 brands across their 44 stores. They now seek to list on the main market of Malaysia on 20 July. We speak with Ng Yap, Executive Director and Group Chief Executive Officer to find out if this elitist sport is growing, and is the business of golf really that lucrative?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Caretaker Chief Minister of Penang Chow Kon Yeow talks about his first term as the state's chief executive and what he and his administration have accomplished since taking control of the state government since 2018. Now with the contest for all 40 seats in the Penang Legislative Assembly happening on August 12th, Chow is offering voters unity and a development plan that hopes to balance progress and sustainability. How will this battle play out?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ERM describes itself as the largest pure-play sustainability consultancy, in an era where all consulting firms are dabbling in the ESG space. Global CEO Tom Reichert shares with us the challenges in driving the sustainability agenda and how that’s buoying the business of consultancy. We’ll also ask him about the opportunities he sees in growing their business in the Asia-Pacific, which currently accounts for just 10% of revenues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SkyWorld Development will be listed on Bursa next Monday 10 July, with an IPO price of 80 sen per share. Will the recently announced FY2023 record results give its IPO a boost ? We speak with Datuk Seri Ng Thien Phing, the Founder and Executive Chairman, to understand their relationship with DBKL, their landbank acquisition strategy, and development philosophy, and what he plans to achieve with the IPO proceeds for the company and himself.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a crowded competitive market, how does Bermaz Auto, the franchise holder and sole distributor of Mazda, Kia and Peugeot intend to stay ahead of the pack. Dato Francis Lee, CEO of Bermaz Auto Berhad answer that question and also if the share price is undervalued.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The QS World University Rankings 2024 was released last week and three new metrics were introduced this time. We discuss the the value and accuracy of university rankings, as well as how Malaysian institutions stack up to global peers with Dr Edward Harcourt, Senior Vice President & Managing Director of QSSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prasarana subsidiary Rapid Bus manages urban bus networks in Kuala Lumpur, Penang, Kuantan. How is the company responding to longstanding complaints of lack of adequate bus services and poor connectivity? We discuss efforts to improve the coverage, efficiency and ridership of the city's bus system with CEO Muhammad Yazurin Sallij.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MyDIGITAL Corporation was incorporated in 2021 as an agency and is tasked to monitor the progress of the Malaysian Digital Economy Blueprint and the National 4IR Policy (N4IR). We speak with Fabian Bigar, CEO of MyDIGITAL, to see what they have been doing this past 3 yearsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2016 as a Business Process Management company, DayThree has been competing with the big boys like TDCX, VADS, SCICOM, and Aegis. How have they been fairing, what inroads have they made and what is their market share? We speak with Raymond Davadass, Founder & Managing Director of Daythree Digital Berhad to understand their 7 year growth story and what the ACE Market listing in July means for future expansion.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

REDtone an integrated telecommunications and digital infrastructure services provider has just moved from ACE to the Main Market, We sit down with their CEO, Lau Bik Soon to discuss strategy, competition and is the rollout of 5G more hype than substance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Funding Societies has launched its comprehensive Islamic Financing solutions for both the micro SME and SME segments, in line with Malaysia’s aspirations to be a leader in Islamic finance. But is this enough for the platform to penetrate the semi urban markets? We speak with Chai Kien Poon, Country Head, Funding Societies Malaysia to share the strategic objectives, channel strategy and the path to profitability for the company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With 6 states heading to the state polls, will the outcome be status quo. What is the psyche of the voter especially the Kelantanese who have been loyal to Pas since 1990. We speak to Datuk Mohd Zaid Ibrahim, Political Commentator & Former Law Minister for his thoughts and also why he has shifted political allegiances multiple times in his political career.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Six states in Peninsular Malaysia are heading to state elections by August, in what is widely viewed as a referendum on the fledgling unity government of Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim. What are the current dynamics at play in Malaysia’s ever-shifting political landscape, and how will this determine what happens at state level polls? We discuss themes and trends ahead of state elections with our panel of experts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson resigned from his parliamentary seat this month, sending shockwaves throughout British politics and posing yet another headache for current Prime Minister Rishi Sunak. What are the implications of his exit for the Conservative party and the stability of the UK government? We discuss these developments with political scientist Prof. Chandran Kukathas.Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the proliferation of devices, cybersecurity attacks have been on the rise. Victims are not only enterprises but consumers as well. We speak to GU Renukanand, Regional Vice President of F-Secure, a Finnish listed company on their strategy for growth in Asia and why they choose Malaysia as their regional hub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) sector has been intensively competitive over the years, and only a few companies remain in the space. We speak with Farid Yunus, CEO of redONE Network on what it takes to survive, his plans to be a Superapp, market expansion around ASEAN and when will the long awaited IPO take placeSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 26 year relationship between Brahim's Food Services and Malaysia Aviation Group will come to an end this month, and the airlines will only have 24 days to find alternative suppliers to fulfil the 20,000 meals per day required for its in-flight services starting 1 July. We speak with Shukor Yusof, Founder and Primary Analyst of Endau Analytics to find out what’s the backstory to this and also MAG’s strategy for growth after what appears to be a successful turnaround.Image by: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world is dividing itself into various blocs - based on ideology, economics and religion. What does this say about the role that a small country like Malaysia can play in the greater scheme of things? Dr Prashanth Parameswaran, is a senior columnist at The Diplomat and a fellow at the Wilson Centre’s Asia Programme, he is also a founder of the ASEAN Wonk newsletter. He gives us an assessment of how Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has navigated foreign policy since taking office over 6 months ago.www.aseanwonk.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EA Tech, an oil and gas company was declared a PN17 company in 2022 have submitted their regularisation plans to the regulators. We sit down with Nasrul Asni Muhammad Dain their CEO, to unpack the details of it whilst keeping an eye on their growth plans and what profit they can achieve in 2023 after registering RM20mn in 2022.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Public transport woes have been increasingly common with infrequent bus and train services, overcrowding and breakdowns. We speak to Minister of Transport, Anthony Loke about this being resolved and can KLIA return to it's former glory despite infrastructure issues. As state elections are around the corner, we also discuss seat allocations and has DAP sacrificed too much for this Unity Government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From Putin, Trump, and Bolsonaro to Erdoğan, and Xi, the world has been seeing the rise of authoritarian leaders. Gideon Rachman, author of The Age of the Strongman and chief foreign affairs columnist for the Financial Times shares with us if this is a recent phenomenon, and what are the ingredients or environments that are ripe for these kinds of leadership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The General Insurance industry enjoyed positive growth for 2022, but competition remains fierce amongst the existing players. And with 2 recent mergers taking place, industry market rankings have changed. We speak with Chua Seck Guan, CEO of MSIG Malaysia for a 2023 outlook, BNM liberalisation, and will MSIG rely on organic growth or look to buy to regain back its no 2 market ranking spot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BNM has issued 5 digital bank licenses in an already competitive landscape. We speak to Rafiza Ghazali, Designate CEO, KAF Islamic Digital Bank on whether they are ready to launch, how they intend to disrupt the market and their competitive advantages in a crowded landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent statistics reveal that up to 40% of graduates are underemployed. Is this structural issue that Sunway University is facing? Professor Sibrandes Poppema, President Of Sunway University tells us whilst we discuss their financial performance, international student enrollment and is AI a boon or bane to education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In renewable energy, Solarvest Holdings can boast of a first mover advantage, having operated in this space since 2012. But as the solar PV landscape becomes increasingly saturated, can Solarvest stay ahead of the competition? We catch-up with CEO Davis Chong about the company's plans to expand beyond solar and Malaysian borders, as well as views on regulatory direction on renewable energy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sweden is at the forefront of green technology, being one of the best recycling countries in Europe. And they just signed an MOU with Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change to promote Green Transition efforts in our country. We speak with Emma Broms to talk about all things Green and Trade, and whether the colour of money is still green.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded more than 150 years ago in Canada, Sun Life provides life insurance, health insurance, investments, and financial planning services. Global president and CEO, Kevin Strain shares with us their financial performance and expansion plans in the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwan's largest institutional logistics player, ALP is on track to complete its first overseas OMega warehouse in Klang this year, with ambitious plans to build more facilities across the region. We discuss the company's business philosophy, the progress of their logistics hub in Malaysia and their Southeast Asian pipeline with CEO Charlie Chang.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a very competitive life insurance landscape with 14 players, what niche is Generali Life Insurance intending to carve for itself? We speak to Rebecca Tan, CEO of Generali Life Insurance Malaysia Berhad to find out about their integration, are volatile capital markets a challenge and their financial KPIs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the United Nations, global smoking rates are on a decline; however smoking prevalence in developing economies like Malaysia remains elevated.How much progress have we made to reduce preventable illness caused by smoking and are we equipped to deal with the risks stemming from the fast-rising use of alternative nicotine products? We compare anti-smoking policy initiatives between Malaysia and New Zealand with our panel of guests.Image by: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Synergy House Berhad is an e-commerce retailer for ready-to-assemble furniture whose products are in many homes in the UK, US and UAE. It will be listed on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market on June1st. Tan Eu Tah, its executive director, talks to us about the company's plans to grow the business post-listing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In light of global economic headwinds resulting from the Covid-19 pandemic and geopolitical tensions, what does this mean for developing countries' growth prospects? Prof. Robert Wade of LSE weighs in on how countries could use industrial policy to spur economic development amid the challenging environment, and why free markets are not an automatic recipe for prosperity for the Global South. Prof. Wade is a speaker at the Malaysia Futures 2023 forum jointly organised by the LSE Saw Swee Hock Southeast Asia Centre (SEAC) and Khazanah Research Institute (KRI).Image by: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mitsui & Co Japan has raised its LGMS stake to 25% in ACE listed IT and cybersecurity firm LGMS Berhad, opening new markets across 60 countries. We speak with CEO Fong Choong Fook on how plans to take full advantage of this new partnership against the backdrop of increasing data breaches and scams reported.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business model of accounting firms have evolved from mere compliance auditing to advisory. Revenues have jumped as a result but does arise potential issues of conflict? Deloitte CEO, Yee Wing Peng tells us how they navigate this and the operating landscape considering the threat of a global recession. We also discuss if human capital is their most important asset but also challenge.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the heyday of IBM behind them, with the likes of Microsoft, Google and Amazon grabbing more headlines these days in the fields of cloud service, machine learning and artificial intelligence ? Or is the giant finally awakening? We speak with Catherine Lian, Managing Director, IBM Malaysia to find out how IBM plans to respond to the competition, talent management, and accelerating growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Santiago, Chairman of National Water Services Commission (SPAN) and former Klang MP shares his plans to avoid a water crisis, including checking on dam water levels and raw water availability, and proposals on an inter state water connectionSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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According to the Malaysian Plastics Sustainability Roadmap, Malaysia targets 76% of plastic waste to be collected for recycling by 2030. How far away are we from these end goals - and does the economic environment incentivise players operating in this space? Seah Kian Hoe, Founder of Johor-based recycler Heng Hiap Industries gives us the lay of the land in plastic recycling and responds to greenwashing allegations in the recycling industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Niro’s recovery from the pandemic goes from strength to strength and on track for a Bursa listing next year. But is it good enough to qualify for the main board? We speak with Managing Director, Ian Kok about the recovery, regional expansion, their roadmap to list on Bursa.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G Capital Berhad is a transportation specialist turned utilities player poised to capitalise on Malaysia's renewable energy transition with power purchase agreements in small hydro power and solar power. We speak to Executive Director Datuk Yap Yee Ping on why GCAP is betting on renewable energy to bring the business back in the black.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

G Capital Berhad is a transportation specialist turned utilities player poised to capitalise on Malaysia's renewable energy transition with power purchase agreements in small hydro power and solar power. We speak to Executive Director Datuk Yap Yee Ping on why GCAP is betting on renewable energy to bring the business back in the black.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Siemens has had a long history in Malaysia - stretching back more than 110 years ago when it recorded its first sale - until it became Siemens Malaysia in 1972. More than half a century later Siemens Malaysia is in many industries - healthcare, power generation, energy management, mobility, building technologies. The new President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia, Tindaro Danze, talks to us about his expectations and his priorities.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Generali Malaysia has completed its acquisition of a controlling majority in AXA-Affin joint ventures in Malaysia and is the second largest general insurer in the nation. Fabrice Benard, the Country CEO of Generali Malaysia and CEO of Generali Insurance Malaysia Berhad shares with us the timeline for business integration, how will insurance penetration rate be improved and competition in the industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last month, the government announced the delay of the gazettement of the KL Structure Plan 2040 to allow for engagement sessions by DBKL and other stakeholders after complaints that inputs and objections were not responded to. In a special Breakfast Grille panel discussion, our expert guests discuss what should be considered in this plan to make KL a more liveable city.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Communications & Digital Minister Teo Nie Ching sits down to discuss what the government plans to do to take even further, Malaysia's 40-rung jump in Reporters Sans Frontières' 2023 World Press Freedom Index. She prioritises what changes need to happen to the Communications & Multimedia Act 1998 which was enacted before Twitter, Facebook and TikTok were even conceived. With 6 state elections happening soon, what is it like for once-sworn-enemies, DAP and Umno, to be working together?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DXN Holdings Berhad is involved in the sales of health-oriented and wellness consumer products, and they are distributed through its direct selling network or sales branches. The group is bound for a main market IPO in mid-May, after a delist in 2011. Philip See asks CEO, Teoh Hang Ching on how the raised funds will be used, why a relist on the main market, as well as the sustainability and the outlook of its business operations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last year the IRB collected a record RM175 billion in taxes, the highest in history. Much needed since the government is targeting to lower the fiscal deficit but is our tax system, fair, efficient, consistent and certain? Questions we pose to its CEO, Datuk Mohd Nizom Sairi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Coinciding with the 20 years anniversary of the EU Delegation to Malaysia, we ask the Ambassador of the EU to Malaysia, H.E. Michalis Rokas, on the role of the EU in an increasingly multi-polar world, why did EU raise concerns about security risks in Huawei’s bid for 5G role in Malaysia and their position on palm oil.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.