The Breakfast Grille

After three years, China eased its zero-Covid policy and reopened its borders on the 8th of January. We speak to Dr. Sri Ganesh Michiel, National President, Malaysia Budget Hotels Association and Hannah Pearson, Founder of Pear Anderson on whether Malaysia could benefit from this and what can we do to differentiate ourselves from regional peers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Herbalife Nutrition sees further growth potential for its meal replacement products thanks to the growing waistlines of Malaysians with the latest National Health & Morbidity Survey showing that 50.1% are overweight and 19.7% facing obesity in 2019. Steven Chin, the Senior Director & General Manager for Herbalife Nutrition Malaysia & Singapore also talks about how the MLM company sees growth in the direct-selling business as many seek to supplement their income in the face of rising cost of livingSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pengerang Energy Complex or (PEC) is developing one of the largest and most competitive Aromatics complexes in the world, to be strategically located within the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex in Johor, Malaysia. Completion is only slated for 2026 where it aims to cater to the growing fuel-related commodities across the Asian market. It is forecasting an export turnover of US$5bn. But is this a realistic target with more competition on the horizon and if a recession in 2023 lasts longer than expected. We speak to its CEO, Alywn Boden for answers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, Phil speaks to Jonathon Dixon, Vice President and MD, APJC short for Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, at Cloudflare, Inc. With 2022 seeing an unprecedented year of cyberattacks from governments to corporates to small businesses, we have a conversation with Jonathan about how Cloudflare's solutions are helping build resilience, with the advent of Zero Trust, and whether their fremium packages it currently offers is a sustainable business model.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History, geopolitics, chip war and the semiconductor industry. In the current world we live in, power be it military, economic and geopolitics is built on the essence of computer chips. The US has maintained its lead as a superpower due to its domination in advanced computer chips but this is in danger of slipping now. In early October, the US also announced a ban on the sale of high-end semiconductor chips to China. What does all this mean for the worldwide semiconductor industry? We speak to Chris Miller, economic historian and author of the book Chips War - The fight for the world's most critical technology. The book has won the Financial Times Business Book of the year.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2022 started with such promise, the world was coming out of Covid hibernation and economies were reopening but that optimism proved short-lived. Most markets ended in negative territory but will 2023 prove to be a better year? Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research, Maybank Investment Banking Group and Patrick Chang, Chief Investment Officer for ASEAN Equities, Principal Asset Management give us their equity market outlook and which stocks will make money this year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DS Sigma Holdings Berhad is a packaging products provider, with an in-house manufacturing of corrugated paper packaging products including cartons, protective packaging and paper pallets. It is en-route for a listing on the Ace Market on 6 January 2023. Although the company has an established track record of 20 years, it operates in a competitive environment. We discuss its prospects with Lucille Teoh, its Managing Director and how its share price will do when it debuts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the conclusion of the general election, several critical issues of constitutional law came to the forefront. Constitutional expert Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi comes on the Breakfast Grille to discuss these issues and what kind of reforms are critical for Malaysia to move forward into the 21st century as a nation that prioritises democracy and the rule of law.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The age of digitalisation and technology that we’re experiencing has enormous potential to drive Malaysia’s economic future, but it also comes with the perils of cybersecurity threats, online disinformation and the risks of a digital divide entrenching inequity. We speak to YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications and Digital, for his thoughts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the final show of the year, we revisit the more unusual interviews we've conducted on the Breakfast Grille, reflecting the unexpected and curious nature of the world. Today's retrospective features a Malaysian-born scientist making strides in space exploration at NASA; the peculiarities of the British egg industry; as well as a trip down memory lane for the Hong Kong entertainment landscape.Featured interviews include:> NASA Trailblazer From Muar To Mars> Is The British Egg Industry Close To Breaking Point?> Delivering 55 Years Of Cantonese Entertainment - Where Next?> WWD 2022: Keep Forests Intact, Preserve BiodiversitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The political uncertainty that dogged the country for the past 2 years has been put to rest for the time being following the 15th General Elections that saw an unprecedented unity government being formed under the leadership of Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim. We look back at conversations with politicians and analysts on the twists and turns of Malaysia's political saga that held our attention hostage this year.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In spite of economies largely reopening in 2022, there were still many trials and tribulations for companies this year due to rising inflation, higher cost of borrowing due to the central banks raising interest rates and consumers generally tightening their belts. This had contrasting impacts on two sectors where banks generally benefited and the F&B sector did not.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite hopes that 2022 would see the global economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the year threw a curveball with the outbreak of the Ukraine as well as the prolonged closure of China's borders, among others. We revisit discussions on how these events have impacted the Malaysian and global economy at different stages of the year.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been more than 1 year since the floods that affected eight states across the peninsula, and left 55 dead. The Disaster Risk Reduction Team from the Netherlands shares expertise with governments in order to find the best possible solution to tackle urgent water issues. Marco Hartman and his team recently submitted the final flood mitigation report to the Ministry of Environment and Water and shares with us the urgent steps needed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AC Ventures is a leading Southeast Asian venture capital firm investing in early-stage startups focused on Indonesia and ASEAN. We ask Ng Yi Chung, partner at AC Ventures Malaysia on the landscape of venture capital in Malaysia, and is tech still the darling?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lagenda Properties is a relatively newcomer in the property business, but it has morphed into a developer with a niche in affordable landed housing, catering to the B40 and M40 income households. Its flagship project is in Setiawan, Perak but it has ventured into other states in an attempt to replicate this success by launching products below RM250,000. Will lady luck still shine when it spreads its wings beyond Perak? We discuss this with Dato Jimmy Doh, Managing Director at Lagenda Properties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the era of ultra low interest rates comes to an end and a global recession looms overhead, how are regional private equity players adapting to the challenging macroeconomic conditions? Dato’ Sri Nicholas Bloy, co-founder and Managing Partner of Navis Capital Partners discusses the outlook for private equity in the APAC region as well as their latest foray into private credit markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listed in 2015, Sedania Innovator Berhad focuses on project-managing and investing in sustainable energy projects as well as sustainable healthcare. Sedania’s CEO, Daniel Ruppert shares with us their latest quarterly earnings and their shift from telco during their IPO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many organisations have realised the importance and benefits of sustainability which ultimately gives it a higher survival rate. Despite many positive trends, surveys point to a low percentage of firms changing their business models to take advantage of trends in sustainability. We speak to Peter McAteer, managing director of SustainLearning on how a company can ensure a smooth transition to become a more sustainable company and how important is talent and change management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite multiple shocks to the global economy and supply chains in 2022, the world’s largest logistics player, DHL Group has thrived, with its express international shipping division, DHL Express, playing a key role in the Group’s overall resilience. But are the good times set to end in the coming year with a global recession looming amid continued geopolitical tensions? We discuss long and short term trends impacting the logistics industry with Global CEO John Pearson.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kopi Kenangan is rebranding itself as Kenangan Coffee as it ventures outside its Indonesian home where it already has more than 800 outlets employing some 5,000 staff. It is also Southeast Asia’s first new F&B retail unicorn - all within a short space of 5 years. Its co-founder and CEO Edward Tirtanata sits down for a bit of coffee shop talk to explain what this grab & go coffee chain's plans are as it sets up shop in Malaysia first before venturing beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Perikatan Nasional lost the bid to form the government of the day, its influence to shape the political future of Malaysia is not to be underestimated. Wan Ahmad Fayshal, MP for Machang, and youth chief for Bersatu, one of the core parties of the coalition, tells us whether PN is a coalition for all Malaysians and what kind of opposition they intend to be.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ekuinas, the Government's private equity fund management company has a focus to promote Bumiputera economic participation. With total committed investment exceeding RM4.4 billion to date, we ask CEO, Syed Yasir Arafat on how the possibility of a global recession will affect the PE landscape and their performance in turn.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has continued to slide down the rankings of Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index CPI), despite pledges to combat corruption by successive governments. On International Anti-Corruption Day, we discuss the institutional reforms that need to be prioritised to make commitments to clean government more than just aspirational rhetoric.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

YTL Communications was the first major telco to launch 5G services in Malaysia. But the rollout of 5G in Malaysia hasn't been smooth sailing. We ask CEO, Wing K. Lee, whether their stake in Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will be worth the money, and when will we see a profit?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PGF Capital Berhad has been listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia since 1990 but has not seen the entry of any institutional investors. However, its share price has rallied by more than 130% YTD. Its core business is in design, manufacture and distribution of glass mineral wool insulation which provides indoor comfort through thermal and acoustic insulation. We speak to Fong Wern Sheng, Executive Chairman on what is driving the share price and their outlook for 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From their retail stores at TTDI and Chow Kit in 1987, Bake With Yen now has over 90 outlets throughout Malaysia. And in 2017, private equity firm Creador acquired a stake in the group for US$13 million. We ask CEO, Alexandre Rosso whether the baking hobby during the pandemic was just a flash in the pan, and was its rapid expansion a piece of cake.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the end, 28 ministers were announced with some surprises, in particular Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also double hatting as Finance Minister. We evaluate the hits and misses whilst diving into the priorities of this cabinet with Pankaj Kumar, Business Commentator and Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, Deputy Managing Director, BowerGroupAsia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Immigration is most commonly discussed through the lens of the emigre seeking a way into a new land and the rules put in place to secure borders from those deemed undesirable to enter the country. But another, less explored approach of looking at immigration control is to consider the impact on the receiving society and whether the costs of exchanging freedom for secure borders is ultimately what we as a society want. Prof. Chandran Kukathas, author of the book "Immigration and Freedom" puts forth alternative views of the immigration debate.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The higher education business has always had a reputation of being lucrative and recession proof. With competition for education dollars on the rise and students opting for the gig or creator economy, does this still hold true? Additionally, there have been instances where Malaysian public universities have been subject to political interference. Are foreign based universities with a localised presence like Heriot-Watt University Malaysia different? We speak to Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, Provost and CEO of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia for insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asset management has been going through structural changes with intense competition, the shift to passive funds and lower fees. So why did CVC, one of the largest PE funds, buy a stake in Malaysia's 3rd largest fund managers? We ask Dato' Teng Chee Wai, Managing Director of AHAM Capital that question and also where markets are headed in 2023.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

25 November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. How effective is the legal framework in Malaysia to address violations against women and girls? We take stock of the progress made and action urgently needed in order for genuine societal shifts in attitudes towards gender equality and women’s rights.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After a long protracted battle for Putrajaya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has finally become Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister. We explore his decades-long ambition to run the country with Jahabar Sadiq, Founder and Editor, The Malaysian Insight and  James Chai, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. We also ask if the hard work actually begins now with the different factions within this Unity government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Islamic bonds or sukuks continued to record resilience compared to conventional bonds despite volatile crude oil prices, a high interest rate environment and general geopolitical uncertainty. How will it fare with increasing awareness of ESG investing? Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings talks to us about the challenges Islamic finance is set to face with a global standardisation issue as well as what Malaysia needs to do to make its mark as an international hub for shariah-compliant investments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The negotiations to form the next government of Malaysia following the 15th general elections have yet to yield results, but there have been surprises and U-turns over the past two days. Meanwhile the political polarisation at the elite level is also reflected in public and social media discourse, raising concerns about the unity of Malaysian society. What challenges will the next government need to contend with to rebuild the consensus of Malaysia? We unpack the developments with our panel of experts.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in Myanmar have highlighted the division between nations in ASEAN. Philip See speaks to Manu Bhaskaran, Founding Partner and President of Centennial Asia Advisors, for an in-depth analysis of ASEAN as a force of global diplomacy, which economies have the right fundamentals, and which governments have put the right policies to drive long-term economic development and growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As predicted, the 15th general elections culminated in a hung Parliament, but few foresaw the rise of the green wave in peninsular Malaysia as PAS secured the highest seats in the august house. Ibrahim Suffian of the Merdeka Center helps us contextualise the GE15 results and discusses where politics in the country is heading.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

History will be made tomorrow as more than 21 million Malaysians will be able to head to the polls to chart the future of the country in GE15. This will be a critical election as it is seen as the make it or break it moment for many key figures of the Malaysian political scene. Will Datuk Seri Anwar finally become prime minister? Or will we see things go back to the way they were with Barisan Nasional taking the helm? What about newcomer Perikatan Nasional which touts itself as a clean coalition that can return Malaysia to its glory days? Experts Tricia Yeo of IDEAS and Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin of the Institute of Ethnic Studies share their views and thoughts on how the future of Malaysia will be made tomorrow.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holland Circular Hotspot (HCH) is a private-public platform in which the local government authorities, experts and companies collaborate internationally to stimulate entrepreneurship in the field of a circular economy. CEO, Freek van Eijk shares with us their collaboration with Malaysian companies and the government, and how Malaysia can improve to have a better circular economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Cup season is upon us and in the years and months leading up to the kick-off in Qatar this November 20th, we can't escape knowing about it. Go to the supermarkets and you see products from potato crisps to beers and fizzy drinks all emblazoned with the FIFA logo. It is for sure a big billion dollar global business which Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport & geopolitical economy, at the SKEMA Business School and also co-author of the Business of the FIFA World Cup, discusses with us.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Khairy Jamaluddin is in the political challenge of his life with a seven cornered fight in Sungai Buloh. He has made known of his ambitions to be Prime Minister of Malaysia. We ask him why he deserves that role, is reform within UMNO possible and his political future if he loses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While all airlines were badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, for Qatar Airways the global shutdown came on top of a blockade imposed by neighbouring countries on Qatar since 2017. With the blockade now lifted and pandemic recovery in full swing, is clear skies ahead for Qatar Airways, especially with the tailwind of the FIFA World Cup this month? We discuss the outlook for Qatar Airways with Dato' Muzammil Mohamad, ASEAN Regional Manager.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many have heard of Adobe because of their best-in-class photo-editing app, Photoshop. That's just one of many software suites of Adobe which has grown by leaps and bounds since its inception. One of Adobe's most impressive moves was the transition from a licensed software company to a completely cloud-based company. How did this happen and what's the next growth phase for Adobe? We will be speaking to Simon Dale, Managing Director South East Asia and Korea of Adobe.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Selangor has many attractions to draw tourists - both natural and manmade - and many locals are discovering them especially in the years before international travel resumed. How has the state helped its travel, tourism and hospitality players survive the Covid-19 pandemic lockdowns and what is it doing now to revitalise this sector? Azrul Shah Mohamad, the CEO of Tourism Selangor, talks about balancing the fragile natural beauty that is Selangor state while pursuing the lucrative tourism dollar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The payment method for Malaysians has transformed dramatically in the last few years and payments remain the largest fintech segment in the industry. But with margins compressing, no thanks to a very competitive landscape, what does this mean for one of the earliest players - GHL? We ask their Group CEO, Sean Hesh these questions and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As one of Malaysia's oldest and largest foreign banks, is OCBC ready for the structural shift in the banking landscape with intensifying competition? We put its CEO, Dato’ Ong Eng Bin in the hot seat to ask this question whilst asking if they would consider inorganic growth via an acquisition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia and the United States have had 65 years of relations ever since over independence in 1957. Despite the changing global geopolitical environment, the US remains one of our third-largest trading partners, after China and Singapore. But with the growing influence of China and uncertainty in Europe, leading to a volatile macroeconomic environment, how will bilateral relations between the US and Malaysia change? Its ambassador, Brian McFeeters comes on the Breakfast Grille to discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since its founding over a decade ago, Wise has expanded to become a global transaction platform moving £9 billion monthly. Its CEO and cofounder Kristo Käärmann takes the hot seat to discuss how the company has grown and the future of Wise, especially in Asia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parti Sosialis Malaysia is the sole party based on ideology, specifically socialism - but ideology doesn’t insulate one from cut-throat Malaysian politics. After the Pakatan Harapan and PSM electoral pact fell through at the eleventh hour, PSM decided to stand on its own ticket in GE15. Can the most principled party in the country make headway with mainstream voters? We speak to Arveent Kathirchelvan, Youth Chief of Pemuda Sosialis on the political future of PSM.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kawan Engineering has been in the business of making and designing heat exchangers and boilers for more than 25 years. It counts companies like Petronas, Sime Darby, Tenaga as well as France's Alstom and Halliburton from the US amongst its clients. Today, it is venturing into the waste-to-energy business mindful of increasing demand for more climate-friendly solutions. Lim Thou Lai, its Managing Director, share what his future plans are for the company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.