The Breakfast Grille

After Malaysia was unceremoniously downgraded by FAA, questions were raised about our safety standard. We speak to Datuk Captain Chester Voo Chee Soon, CEO of the Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM), about how challenging it was to restore our status after 3 years. We also asked if the MAVCOM and CAAM merger is still pending.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It started out in 1923 in Penang as a trading business called Diethelm & Co from Switzerland, today it is a Bursa-listed market expansion services firms dealing in consumer goods and healthcare amongst others. How has DKSH Holdings Malaysia navigated all the economic challenges and how will it continue to grow? Stephen Ferraby, its chairman, talks about how everything from ensuring Famous Amos cookie bins are well stocked while ensuring Covid-19 vaccines are efficiently distributed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scicom (MSC) Bhd has evolved from being just a call centre provider to now an end-to-end service provider in Business Process Outsourcing (BPO). The market globally is projected to grow by a CAGR of 9% from 2022 to 2030. Chong Tjen San will ask its CEO, Dato’ Sri Leo Ariyanayakam whether Scicom can capitalise on this trend and why its stock is not so loved.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FM Global Logistics Holdings Berhad is one of Malaysia’s largest freight and forwarding industry with a presence in the region. Most of its revenue comes from Malaysia and they have also seen significant growth from the US, and Australia is their second largest revenue contributor. In today’s episode of the Breakfast Grille, Philip See will be asking its group managing director, Chew Chong Keat, about how the company plans to expand its footprint, the boom of the logistics industry, the impact of rising costs, and how the uncertain geopolitical and economic situation as well as supply chain disruptions will affect its fortunes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Betamek Berhad is listing on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market on Oct 26th 2022, after 33 years in the business, mostly supplying car audio systems to Perodua vehicles for 28 of those years. Its managing director, Mirzan Mahathir, talks about plans to diversify and take advantage of increasing use of electronics in vehicles.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CTOS Digital Berhad had one of the best debuts on Bursa Malaysia in 2021. It has since been on an acquisition drive including a controversial majority stake in RAM. Few-months old Group CEO, Erick Hamburger Barraza shares with us their next stage of growth, and whether financial performance does justify the expensive valuations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s 15th General Election will be held on Nov 19th, 2022, and political parties are ramping up their preparations. DAP Youth Chief and Pakatan Harapan Youth Chairman, Dr Kelvin Yii, shares his insights into how the coalition plans to face the upcoming national polls after striking out four times in state elections for Sabah, Johor, Malacca and Sarawak.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aerodyne Group is a Malaysian drone-based enterprise solutions provider that has a presence in 35 countries and also plans to raise USD100-200 million to grow to the next stage. We speak to Kamarul A Muhamed, Founder of Aerodyne Group, about what is that next stage of growth and of course, the monetisation plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One of the largest software companies in the world has taken the strategic decision to bet heavily on the cloud. Will it pay off? We ask SAP's Southeast Asian president Verena Siow for her views and also if worries of an economic policy will see a slowdown in IT spend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the US Federal Reserve embarks on an unprecedented monetary policy tightening cycle, the US dollar has also strengthened in relation to most currencies. What's the impact of the global dollar cycle on emerging market economies? We discuss the implications and policy tools that governments have to mitigate the fallout with Maurice Obstfeld, Professor of Economics at the University of California.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prominent legal activist Art Harun created uproar when he took up the post of Speaker of the Dewan Rakyat under the Perikatan Nasional government, with many questioning his independence. We discuss his term in the Speaker's Office, his approach to decision-making in Parliament and views on how the august house should be reformed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former student activist Adam Adli was elected this year as the PKR Youth Chief, beating a more experienced rival for the top post. What does he bring to the table and why is the youth wing against bringing MUDA into the fold? We discuss this and more with Adam.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sunview Group Bhd is a renewable energy player slated to be listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia on Oct 17, with targets to raise 34 million ringgit via the listing exercise. CEO Ong Hang Ping shares with us the purpose of the IPO, how the funds will be used, and competition in the solar PV market.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Accounting firms today have expanded their business to more than just auditing, with many of the major firms like the Big Four expanding into digital services, risk assurance and even consulting. Are we also seeing smaller firms follow suit? Philip See speaks to Francesca Lagerberg, the newly appointed CEO of Baker Till, and also the tenth largest accounting network in the world by revenue, on the industry landscape and the company’s plans moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The dissolution of Parliament was finally announced, thus paving the way for the 15th General Elections. This was not a surprise, even though Budget 2023 was just tabled. We get first hand reactions with our panel of experts; Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director, Merdeka Centre and Pankaj C. Kumar, business commentator.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate Bonds Initiative is an international non-profit organization working to mobilize global capital for climate action. Philip See speaks to Sean Kidney about the development and certification of green bonds, as well as what is required to accelerate its growth as we near COP27.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly three years since Covid-19 ravaged the world's economy and nothing has been the same since. Throw in a war in Europe, and China that still wants to completely eradicate the virus, and you have a recipe for continued uncertainty. Brian Coulton, Chief Economist at Fitch Ratings, helps us unpack the latest Global Economic Outlook that forecasts a global recession amidst rising inflation while trying to pick out some sliver of hope along the way.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a country teeming with long-serving politicians, the emergence of MUDA has galvanised political enthusiasm among Malaysian youth, especially in the wake of Undi18. But can they translate political enthusiasm into actual seats in Parliament in the next GE15? We speak to Syed Saddiq, Member of Parliament for Muar and President of MUDA on the party's plans for GE15.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

German Unity Day, which falls on the 3rd of October, is celebrated in Germany to commemorate its reunification in 1990, when West and East Germany were unified. More than three decades later, the country has grown to become a superpower in Europe and a symbol of progress in the world. But with a war raging on nearby in Ukraine and right wing governments rising in the region, how will this impact Germany's future? H.E. Dr. Peter Blomeyer, German Ambassador to Malaysia comes on the Breakfast Grille to discuss these issues as well as the developments between Malaysia and German bilateral relations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Oil and gas service and equipment company, Uzma Group has faced volatile oil prices in the last two years leading to a sharp deceleration of earnings. We ask founder and CEO, Dato' Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed about the impact of unstable market conditions, what efforts are being taken to detach from black gold, and of course, if we should buy the stock of this listed company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysian-based company, Graphjet Technology will be converting palm kernel shells into graphite and graphene. The company aims to raise 115 million US dollars via a de-SPAC deal for a NASDAQ listing in October this year. Set to be the third Malaysian unicorn, CEO Lee Ping Wei shares with us business expansion plans, why the route of a SPAC listing, and how the rise of EVs will impact them.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

President Joko Widodo has made it his mission to transform Indonesia's economy and shepherd the migration of the capital city to East Kalimantan. We discuss the progress of these plans with His Excellency Hermono, Ambassador of Indonesia to Malaysia, as well as the pain points in Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral relations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the momentum for GE15 heats up, is UMNO ready for elections? UMNO's youth chief, Dato’ Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki tells us the party's strategy to appeal to the voters, party unity and his thoughts on the current political landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Islamic Banking landscape is competitive in Malaysia with 16 players, so is growth for Malaysia's largest Islamic Bank overseas an acquisition?  Dato' Rafique Merican, CEO of Maybank Islamic answers that question whilst also telling us if their plans for a separate listing are on track.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vale is the world's largest producer of iron ore and nickel with operations in more than 30 countries, Malaysia included. Its Malaysian CEO, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Arajo takes the hot seat to talk to us about its operations, plans for expansion and how one of the largest mining companies in the world can operate in an increasingly ESG aware landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While there is widespread acceptance that environment, social and governance or ESG principles are crucial for business continuity, what this looks like in practice is an ongoing debate. What are the trends driving ESG action in the economy today and how should businesses position themselves for resilience? Dr. Andrea Bonime-Blanc, author of "Gloom to Boom: How Leaders Transform Risk to Resilience," discusses the megatrends she sees impacting business decision-making and why the ESG space should also include technology issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

They say prevention is better than cure and information is what helps us win battles. So knowing your genetic history can provide you a snapshot of who you are and how to be on the lookout for any hereditary concerns. The ACE Market-listed Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre has been providing these services and is now diversifying into cancer immunotherapy. CEO Sasha Nordin talks to us about how MGRC can provide these services at a fraction of the price while ensuring the company remains profitable.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hexagon AB is a publicly listed global InfoTech company specializing in hardware and software digital reality that was founded in 1992 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With an annual revenue of 4.3 billion euros, it is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We speak to the Asian head of its leading metrology and manufacturing solution specialist arm Lim Boon Choon to discuss its presence in the region and how the industry has been shaping up.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With international borders reopening and Covid-19 quarantine requirements mostly lifted, the travel and hospitality industry is seeing a return to normalcy after more than two years of near-zero revenue. Hilton International is now positioning itself to tap the increasing demand for hotel rooms across the Asia Pacific. Its Vice President & Regional Head for Southeast Asia, Alexandra Murray, talks about the challenges that lie ahead along with the rewards that are ripe for the taking.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Industrial REITs have outperformed in the last few years on the back of the e-commerce and logistic boom. However in the era of rising interest rates, what does this mean for REITs? Chan Wai Leo, CEO of AME REIT tells us whilst telling us about their asset injection pipeline and their plans for asset enhancement.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia under one national banner has created a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, including generational knowledge in producing crafts and handiworks. Can more be done to promote the economic potential of craftwork and cottage industries to elevate the livelihoods of indigenous and rural communities in the country? For reflections on this issue from an East Malaysian perspective, we speak to Jaqueline Fong, Founder of Tanoti Crafts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tyson Foods is a 90 year old US company that's one of the world's largest frozen food producers, listed on the NYSE. It's been in Malaysia since 1987 but only in the last 4 years it seems to be making its presence known here with acquisitions to expand its operations.Keith takes them out of the freezer, and put them on the grille to find out why it has taken them 3 decades to make their mark here. Also, what does it look like for them going forward .. you know with the higher chicken prices, will it ruffle their feathers?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore is an island that is just 57km wide and 27km long with a population of just over 5.9 million people. However this has not held it back from having ambitions to attract up to 6 million tourists this year and become the destination of choice in ASEAN. Keith Tan, CEO of Singapore Tourism Board tells us what their plans for growth are and how they are overcoming the headwinds of manpower shortages and intense competition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samling Group is a Malaysian conglomerate with diverse business interests from automobiles, to palm oil and most prominently, timber. It was once listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007 and then taken private in 2012. As one of the largest end-to-end timber companies in Malaysia, Samling is often embroiled in allegations of illegal logging and deforestation. We ask CEO, Lawrence Chia, the contentious issues the group is involved in, and can the company do better for the environment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How will the upcoming 15th General Election be fought? Will the same old faces be fielded again? Issues of racial and religious divisions in Malaysia are slowly morphing into one that is split along class lines - between the haves and the have-nots. And this time, the younger generation will be included in the decision making process, adding another dimension to the battlefield. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Vice-president of KEADILAN and author of Malaysian Son, his latest book, shares his insights as a young 40 year-old, having contested in three elections to date.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why do some countries remain poor, despite continuous policy efforts over decades to chart an economic path out of poverty? Development expert Stefan Dercon argues that it comes down to an implicit or explicit bargain among the elites to prioritize national progress. We speak to him about this theory put forth in his book, "Gambling on Development: Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The push towards digitalisation, declining mail volumes and the rise of more nimble delivery competitors have affected the core business of postal service organisations. The more resilient postal services adapt to the changing times before becoming obsolete - can POS Malaysia join the ranks of the survivors? We catch up with CEO Charles Brewer to discuss his report card after one year of taking the helm of Malaysia's iconic company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roche is a global leader in cancer treatments and one of the world's largest biotech companies with more than a century of history. Having established a presence in Malaysia since the 70s, the company has been expanding its footprint here in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and other related products. Its Malaysian general manager Deepti Saraf comes on the Breakfast Grille to share some thoughts on Roche Malaysia's expansion plans, the healthcare industry in Malaysia and her outlook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is the biggest producer of rubber gloves in the world but will China overtake us soon? Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam, President of MARGMA tells us if that is possible and what needs to be done to avoid us losing that crown whilst telling us if the boom and bust cycle for gloves means that the industry is ripe for consolidation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Qmed Asia is a homegrown healthcare tech start-up founded in 2018 by doctors who simply hated the long unproductive queues at hospitals. So, they developed an online appointment booking system for healthcare providers and they now have their sights set on going beyond Malaysia's shores. Its co-founder and CEO Dr Kev Lim talks about the journey, the challenges and the dream of Qmed Asia becoming a publicly listed company some time soon.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having survived through the pandemic, many construction players are now faced with a new set of challenges like rising material cost and labour shortages. Philip catches up with Datuk Dr Lim Jee Gin, group managing director of construction company Nestcon on the Breakfast Grille to discuss how the company plans to navigate rising material costs, labour shortages and returning profit to shareholders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we celebrate 65 years of independence from the British, what economic shape is Malaysia in? What are the structural reforms that are needed to ensure the success of Malaysia Inc and also all Malaysians. Tan Sri Andrew Sheng, a former central banker and financial regulator in Asia, frequent commentator on global finance who is also a distinguished fellow at the Institute of Capital Market Research reflects on these questions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia plans to increase the share of renewable energy (RE) in its installed capacity to 31% in 2025 and 40% in 2035. But is there still money to be made in this very competitive field especially with rising solar panels and a plethora of players? Chow Pui Hee, Group Managing Director at Samaiden Group Bhd , a listed RE player tells us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Classic Scenic Berhad makes wooden picture frames and is listed on Bursa Malaysia's Main Board. It is one of the biggest frame makers in the world and has been steadily paying out dividends since its listing in 2004 - even through the pandemic. Its Executive Director, Eric Vo, paints us a picture of the business and what Classic Scenic can look forward to.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over four billion people around the world live in cities and the number is growing by 1.5 million each week. As urban growth rockets through the region, a holistic approach towards developing our cities is important to ensure inclusive, safe, resilient and sustainable communities. We speak to a panel of experts to discuss this from a global perspective and what Malaysia can learn from. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, the five-person apex court bench chaired by Chief Justice Tengku Maimun unanimously dismissed former prime minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak's appeal to quash his conviction over seven criminal charges as well as the sentencing. We speak to P. Gunasegaram, Author of 1MDB The Scandal That Brought Down A Government and Goh Cia Yee, Criminal Lawyer on this verdict and the court process.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bursa Malaysia wears the dual hat of market regulator and listed exchange company. However, average daily values have been on a declining trend. We ask its CEO Datuk Umar Swift how we can revive interest whilst discussing its latest initiatives in ESG including voluntary carbon trading.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technogym is a maker of premium high-end gym equipment that has been supplying the hospitality, corporate, business and home segments since it was founded in Cesena, Italy, in 1983. Today it is worth over US$2.4 billion and is present in over a hundred countries. It wants to expand its footprint in Malaysia and the region. We talk to James Lyne, Executive Director at Technogym Malaysia, to find out what its strategies are here in these economically challenging times.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Vision Malaysia is a child-focused organization set up in 1997 to support community development and humanitarian programs. We ask CEO, Terry Leong how is World Vision Malaysia bringing the local communities out of poverty and into self-sustainability. And how is the organization utilizing its funds and the ease of collaborating with local stakeholders?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

More people turned to books during the pandemic but was this reflected in revenues. Not likely if operations was just focused on fairs and bookshops. So we speak to Andrew Yap, Co-Founder & Managing Director of BookXcess as to how they made the switch to online sales and are they back in the black with all 19 stores opened.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.