The Breakfast Grille

Free market proponents have commonly viewed state capitalism with suspicion. However, global trends indicate increasing state intervention in the world economy by both developed and developing economies alike. What are the implications of this for market players and is this development necessarily a net negative for the global economy? We discuss these themes with Adam Dixon, the Adam Smith Chair at Panmure House, a think tank under the Heriott-Watt University.He's also co-author of the book, The Spectre of State Capitalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Telekom Malaysia is switching its 5G wholesale partner from Digital Nasional Berhad, to U Mobile, a move that comes as Malaysia advances its shift from a single to a dual network model. The announcement has unsettled the market and raised fresh questions about ownership, competition and the economics of 5G. We unpack the implications with Alex Wong, Managing Editor and Co-Founder of SoyaCincau.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In an industry that has been significantly disrupted, telcos are struggling with declining ARPUs and high capex requirements. Does this change the MNO landscape in Malaysia. Gurtaj Singh Padda, co-founder and CEO of Tune Talk, discusses the company’s prospects amidst intense competition,  their monetisation plans and their 5G strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See discusses Malaysia’s clean energy push with Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO of the Energy Commission, discovering how the regulator is balancing reliability, affordability and sustainability while scaling renewables and regional power trade, as rising demand and new climate laws put the power system to the test.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sri Lanka has suffered from a series of crises in recent years, culminating in its 2022 economic collapse and the political turmoil that ousted the Rajapaksa dynasty from government. How is the current left-leaning government charting the country's turnaround? We discuss the trajectory of Sri Lanka with the Acting High Commissioner to Malaysia M.I. Mohamed Rizvi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See discusses Malaysia’s clean energy push with Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO of the Energy Commission, discovering how the regulator is balancing reliability, affordability and sustainability while scaling renewables and regional power trade, as rising demand and new climate laws put the power system to the test.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

February 24 marks four years since the war in Ukraine began, the deadliest European conflict since World War II. To mark this grim milestone, we speak with H.E. Dr. Hennadii Nadolenko, the Ambassador of Ukraine to Malaysia for an update on the situation, his assessment of how peace talks are progressing and potential areas to strengthen Malaysia-Ukraine ties.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Louis Dreyfus Company is one of the world’s largest agribusiness firms, at the centre of global flows of grains, oilseeds, rice, coffee and other essential commodities. Rubens Marques, LDC's Head of South & Southeast Asia, talks about how the company manages price risk, coordinates supply chains across borders, and why Asia and Malaysia in particular, is becoming more central to its strategy.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See sits down with Dato’ Dr Wong Ruen Yuan, CEO & Managing Director of Smile-Link Healthcare Global Berhad to talk about the company’s business operations, financial situation, audit issue with Bursa Malaysia, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan’s University of Tsukuba took a historic step in 2024 by opening its first overseas campus in Kuala Lumpur, offering a unique program that combines science, design, and global perspectives. But can this ambitious initiative attract students and set a new standard in higher education? Philip See discusses this with its Dean of Faculty, Prof. Dr. Maki Tsujimura.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has emerged as a major data centre hub in Southeast Asia, attracting global hyperscalers and cloud giants such as Microsoft, Amazon and Alphabet. What makes Malaysia so attractive for these investments, and how meaningful are the economic benefits? We speak to Cheam Tat Inn, Managing Director of Equinix Malaysia, the global digital infrastructure company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On World Radio Day, Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, Director-General of Radio Television Malaysia, talks about radio’s relevance in the age of streaming and AI, the challenges of talent and innovation within a public broadcaster. And as RTM turns 80 this April, he reflects on what the future is like for the media landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 was the perfect storm for the world's biggest producer of condoms with tariffs, a strong Ringgit and weak procurement demand. Goh Miah Kiat, Executive Director and Chief Executive Officer of Karex Berhad tells us his turnaround strategy to improve margins and why we should still consider their stock.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, February 11th, is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, one of Malaysia's most influential scientists, working in HIV and public health, and who now leads Monash University Malaysia, shares her insights drawing from her experience throughout the decades, assessing what the situation is like today.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s tourism sector has rebounded strongly after the pandemic, but as Visit Malaysia Year 2026 gets underway, the bigger question is whether this recovery can translate into lasting gains. Amirul Rizal Abdul Rahim, Director-General of Tourism Malaysia, discusses strategy, execution, and what Malaysia’s tourism industry could look like beyond 2026.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 was the perfect storm for glove makers hit by the impact of tariffs, intense Chinese competition and their red ocean strategy. We ask Lim Cheong Guan, Managing Director of Top Glove Corporation Bhd if the worst is over for the world's largest glove maker and if margin improvement is in sight.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Colombia and Malaysia have maintained friendly ties since 1978, cooperating on trade, palm oil and drug trafficking. Philip See will speak with Juan Carlos Moreno Gutiérrez, Chargé d’Affaires of the Embassy of Colombia in Malaysia, to explore this bilateral relationship and his insights on the US–Venezuela crisis and its potential regional impact.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The hospitality industry is a challenging one with global brands present. So what are the challenges for home grown hospitality company,  Exsim Hospitality Berhad? Justin Tan, their managing director, tells us their growth strategy and  why we should consider buying their stock.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hock Soon Capital is heading for a Main Market listing after nearly five decades as a privately run egg producer. Executive Director Alex Ong discusses the IPO, expansion plans, margins, subsidies, export ambitions, and what investors need to believe for value to be hatched from this listing.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Papa Zola The Movie has taken Malaysia by storm, grossing around RM60 million ringgit domestically and becoming the country’s highest-grossing animated film to date. On today’s Breakfast Grille, Philip See speaks with Mohd Nizam Abdul Razak, Founder and CEO of Monsta Studios Sdn. Bhd, about the film’s success and the journey of building a homegrown animation studio into a global IP powerhouse.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See speaks to Simon Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, on how intensifying great power rivalry is closing the space for middle powers. As hedging becomes harder and alignment more consequential, they examine Malaysia and Singapore’s differing strategic responses, what this means for ASEAN’s coherence, and whether multilateral institutions still carry real weight in today’s geopolitical order.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Works oversees more than 20,000 kilometres of roads nationwide, including 33 tolled highways. Beyond ensuring road safety, it plays a key role in driving national growth through infrastructure development at both the federal and state levels. Its Minister Dato’ Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi tells us about these challenges, as well as Sarawak’s political direction, MA63, and the Sarawak Formula.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the first year of the Trump administration, the world has seen shifts in allegiances - economic, political and ideological. Even PM Mark Carney of Canada articulated how middle power countries need to band together. Leo Varadkar, former PM of Ireland shares his views on this issue while he reflects on how current geopolitics might shape the world.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

IJN University College is driving advancements in cardiovascular education, research, and professional training for Malaysia’s healthcare workforce. Philip See speaks with its Vice-Chancellor, Prof. Emerita Dr. Durrishah Idrus, about the college’s unique programs, structured upskilling pathways, and its future plans to achieve full university status.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MAG has had its fair share of turbulence with a revolving door of CEOs and multiple bailouts by Khazanah. Today it has emerged with a cleaner balance sheet whilst enjoying 3 consecutive years of profit.  We ask Datuk Captain Izham Ismail, their outgoing Group Managing Director, on the career challenges,  his outlook of the aviation industry and why  it is time to step away now.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alam Flora is best known for keeping Malaysia’s streets clean but behind the green lorries is a company undergoing a major transformation. Its CEO Shariman Yusuf Mohamed Zain shares insights about the company’s shift from a concession-based waste collector into a circular economy and environmental solutions player.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solar District Cooling Group debuted on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market in September 2024 with ambitions to move beyond contracting into long-term, recurring energy solutions. SDCG Managing Director Edison Kong talks to us one year on, reflecting on the company's life as a publicly-listed company as well as its recent strategic stake sale to Solarvest Holdings.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Markets are being pulled in multiple directions, from geopolitics, AI disruption and tariff risk. So how should investors position themselves in 2026? Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research, Maybank Investment Banking Group, and Patrick Chang, Chief Investment Officer, CIMB Bank Berhad give us their perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legoland Malaysia was the first of its kind in Asia when it opened in 2012 and has since grown into a full resort with a hotel, water park, and SEA LIFE aquarium. We speak to C.S. Lim, Vice President of Legoland Malaysia, on the challenges of staying relevant and how the park is tapping into Visit Malaysia Year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s push towards renewable energy is accelerating, but rooftop solar adoption among households remains low. Zeth Lim, Managing Director of newly-listed Verdant Solar shares his insights into the economics of residential solar, policy support and market realities, as well as his company's post-IPO strategy, and whether rapid growth can be sustained.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s homegrown digital bank Boost Bank Berhad has a clear focus - serving the underserved and underbanked, and helping to close the financial inclusion gap. Fozia Amanulla, Chief Executive Officer of Boost Bank, talks about how the bank blends fintech innovation with traditional banking services to deliver on that commitment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is preparing for a new wave of education reforms under the upcoming Malaysia Future Education Blueprint but will these changes actually improve learning in primary schools? We speak with Chan Soon Seng, Chief Executive Officer of Teach for Malaysia, and Datin Noor Azimah Abdul Rahim, Chairperson of Parent Action Group for Education Malaysia (PAGE), on what needs fixing and what must change for reforms to work.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah and Sarawak  are clearly pushing for political and economic autonomy. We speak with James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the University of Tasmania and Dr. Evan Lau Poh Hock, Professor at the Faculty of Economics and Business, Universiti Malaysia Sarawak,  who gives us their respective views on the political and economic outlook for East Malaysia in 2026.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See sits down with Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington to talk about the state of US foreign relations in the wake of the attack on Venezuela and the capture of its President Nicolas Maduro, especially how the White House is viewing its alliances and rivalries.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Guan Huat Seng (“GHS”) Holdings Berhad, specialising in the distribution and retail of speciality and general grocery products will be listing on the ACE market on 22 January. We ask their Executive Director, Yeo Tien Seng why the company is deciding to go public after more than 40 years of operations, what differentiates the company from its competitors and whether you should consider buying its shares.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Edward Koh, Executive Director, Polymer Link Holdings Berhad, on its listing on the ACE Market on Bursa Malaysia. We also ask him how the company, which specialises in compounding high-performance polymers, etched out its niche in the market, what its plans are post-listing, and more.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See speaks to Warren Cheng, Executive Director, SBS Nexus Bhd, a provider of integrated marketing and branding services about its upcoming listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market. They’ll be discussing what makes SBS Nexus different from its competitors, why it chose to list instead of seeking other funding options, whether its valuation is justified and more.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ride hailing in Malaysia is a competitive space with 29 licensed players. We speak to Bolt Malaysia General Manager Afzan Lutfi as to the challenges of operating after a year and does their lean cost model apply in this country. We also ask about their niche and if there is validity to their claims that they put drivers and riders first.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Visit Malaysia Year 2026 puts the tourism sector in the spotlight. Philip See sits down with Hannah Pearson, Director of Pear Anderson, and Nigel Wong, President of MATTA, to discuss gaps in infrastructure and coordination, while exploring the campaign’s theme, “Surreal Experiences".See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EFS Group has been in the solar business since 2013, as the industry in Malaysia graduates from being just about rooftop installations and incentives. Darren Tan, CEO of EFS, talks about how rising costs, contract-based models and large-scale projects are reshaping how his company does business.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly half of Malaysia’s healthcare is delivered by the private sector, even as public hospital fees remain below ten ringgit and medical inflation runs in double digits. In this Best of the Breakfast Grille 2025 episode, we revisit key conversations on what it takes to keep quality care within reach.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia was the best market in Asean for IPOs in 2025 with 60 listings. We spoke to almost half of them who chose to go public asking why they took this route whilst diving deep into their business model. In the mix, we have the winners which include THMY and Oriental Kopi whilst we also include a mix of old and new economy like Foodie Media and Orkim.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Breakfast Grille, we are revisiting conversations on the show this year revolving around foreign policy discussions and of course, notable mentions from Malaysia’s ASEAN chairmanship. This includes US President Donald Trump’s flurry of executive orders, the ongoing Ukraine-Russia war and the recent 47th ASEAN Summit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On today’s Breakfast Grille, we look back at our discussions on the media and entertainment scene. It’s been a tough few years for traditional media, with streaming, online platforms, and AI reshaping the industry. We also explore the role of the Malaysia Media Council in navigating these changes.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Universities may face different challenges, but they’re all aiming for the same result. This episode reflects on conversations throughout the year about the challenges facing higher education from costs to ensuring graduate employability.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 has seen major shifts in Malaysia’s political landscape, from government reforms and cabinet reshuffles to key events like Budget 2026 and the Sabah state election. On today’s Breakfast Grille, we reflect on our conversations about these developments and their implications for the country.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2025 was the year global trade was thrown into turmoil, thanks largely to US tariffs and geopolitical tensions. How are countries and economic blocs around the world navigating the currents? We revisit conversations on trade and tariff issues that dominated the year.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As 2025 draws to a close, the world faces unresolved wars, intensifying great-power competition and growing economic uncertainty. Dr Prashanth Parameswaran, fellow at the Institute for Indo-Pacific Security and founder of the ASEAN Wonk newsletter talks about what 2025 revealed, and what 2026 could bring for the US, ASEAN, and the global order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The University of Nottinghan Malaysia just celebrated their silver jubilee. We speak to  their Provost & CEO,  Prof. David FitzPatrick, about how the university has impacted Malaysia economically, whether our government’s policies support its aims, and if there is any disparity between its UK and Malaysian student outcomes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On International Migrants’ Day we look at how migration has shaped the economy of Malaysia which relies heavily on foreign labour, while laying bare the gaps between policy, law and lived reality.  Sahain Puthucheary of the law firm, Xavier & Koh Partnership and Adrian Pereira, Executive Director of the North South Initiative, a non-profit NGO that works with and empowers migrant workers, share their insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.