The Breakfast Grille

The most intensive oil and gas activity in Malaysia is presently carried out in Johor, where major oil storage, trading, bunkering, warehousing and manufacturing projects are located. Acting CEO of Johor Petroleum Development Corp, Izhar Ismail tells us how they plan to turn Johor into a regional Oil and Gas hub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Developing apps is becoming increasingly a necessity in an increasingly connected world. This is how businesses today reach their customers and this tool is even more crucial after various Covid-19 lockdowns forced us to stay home and go online. OutSystems is a US-based company that provides tools for businesses to develop apps. Its Asia Pacific Vice President Mark Weaser tells us about how much potential he sees in this space in the region and in Malaysia, in particular.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Climate Governance Initiative works with boards around the world to accelerate the net zero transition and has established a global network of national and regional Chapters in 53 countries worldwide. As the IPCC report released last year emphasized the need for global emissions to be halved by 2030 to ensure average temperature rise does not exceed 1.5 degrees by 2050, we ask Karina Litvack, Chairman of the Climate Governance Initiative how difficult is it to make climate a boardroom priority and the backlash against ESG.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over a century, Ford Motors has been one of America's top car companies delivering its trucks and SUVs to the hands of consumers globally. But as the supply chain issue continues to worsen and inflation concerns rise, will the carmaker be able to remain profitable and grow in a region not so familiar with the brand name? Philip See speaks to Ford's ASEAN president to understand the challenges she faces in a post-Covid era for the auto industry as well as Ford's EV strategies for the region.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

United Nations Development Programme works in around 170 countries and territories and aims to achieve 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by 2030, some of the goals are to eradicate poverty and reduce inequalities and exclusion. Kanni Wignaraja, Assistant Secretary-General, and Director of the Regional Bureau for Asia and the Pacific, at the UNDP tells us the challenges it faces and gives us the behind the scenes of how conversations take place with governments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia briefly saw a federal government that included DAP for the first time ever after the Pakatan Harapan coalition won the 14th General Election in May 2018. Yeo Bee Yin was put in charge of the newly created Ministry of Energy, Science, Technology, the Environment and Climate Change, which she oversaw using her engineering training for 20 months until, the Sheraton Move, led by Azmin Ali, upended all plans. The Bakri MP talks to us about her new book, The (Un)Finished Business, her future plans and hopes for Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TVB is a name synonymous with the golden age of Hong Kong entertainment, cult classic TV series and Cantopop at its best. After 55 years, where is it headed as demand for Cantonese language content appears to ebb? Desmond Chan, the General Manager of TVB International, tells about the challenges in finding talent, producing content while ensuring profits and maybe even discovering the next Chow Yun-fat in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listed on the Singapore Exchange, Sim Leisure Group designs and builds theme parks all over the world. The group currently owns ESCAPE parks and recently acquired loss-making Kidzania KL from Khazanah and Boustead. Founder and executive chairman, Sim Choo Kheng shares with us how the leisure industry is doing now, the business of designing fun and why is he advocating against roller coastersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Philip See asks Professor Steve Keen, an Australian economist and Author of The New Economics: A Manifesto about creating alternative and realistic economics for a world that is trying to recover from the effects of the pandemic. He also asked him whether raising rates is still effective in tamping down inflation and why the study of economics need a major reformation to intertwine with energy, environment and social media.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic boosted demand for quick diagnostic testing to unprecedented levels, bringing into focus the crucial role of pathology players in the healthcare ecosystem. What trends in healthcare and medicine are driving the regional growth potential of the pathology industry? We find out from Dr Christopher Ting, CEO of Pathology Asia Group, which runs a network of pathology labs across Southeast Asia, including Innoquest Pathology in Malaysia (formerly known as Gribbles Pathology).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Logistic companies are facing the perfect storm of challenges of global supply chain shortages, soaring commodity prices, and border closures. We speak to Venkateswaran Lakshmanan, Sub-Regional Managing Director of Southeast Asia at Geodis if the worst is over and what are their growth prospect in this region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After hitting a revenue of RM1 billion, SNS Network Technology Bhd, is heading for a listing on the ACE market but what is the next catalyst for growth? Is the market saturated and with cost pressures, will we see margin compression? Co-founder and managing director, Ko Yun Hung comes on the Breakfast Grille to answers these questions and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cloud storage and analytics services provider Snowflake had one of the most impressive debuts on NYSE in 2020, with its share price reaching a high of USD401 in November last year. However the stock has tumbled sharply amid investor concerns over the prospects of tech players in a challenging global economy. What bearing do global market signals have for Snowflake’s expansion in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in ASEAN? We speak to Sanjay Deshmukh, Snowflake's Senior Regional Vice President for ASEAN and India to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a month since the 25th anniversary of the 1997 Asian financial crisis which wreaked havoc in much of East Asia and Southeast Asia.  What were the fundamental impact of the crisis to the region's economic policies and what lessons can we take away from it as concerns of another economic crisis draws near? Russell Napier, author and cofounder of the think tank ERIC explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the cost of goods continue to rise on the back of supply chain issues and inflation, how does a multinational fast moving consumer goods company like Dutch Lady manage costs while ensuring profitability without pushing customers away?Ramjeet Kaur Virik, its newly minted managing director for Malaysia talks to us about her strategies moving forward and whether you'll have to pay extra for your favourite milk in the coming months. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a national debt of above RM 1 trillion and ever ballooning subsidy bill, Malaysia is in a tight fiscal position. We speak to Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican, Deputy Secretary General for Policy of the Treasury at the Ministry of Finance to find out what the priorities of this government are that strikes the right balance between pro-growth policies whilst ensuring fiscal consolidation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rising feedstock and energy cost has impacted the UK egg industry with many farmers on the verge of shutting down. What are the solutions to ensure that one of the cheapest sources of protein is available for all? Mark Williams, CEO and Secretary from British Egg Industry Council, share his thoughts whilst reminding us that there are many similarities with the Malaysian egg industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fandbee began life as Lee's Frozen Foods in 1972 at a small retail shop in Kampung Attap, KL. Today, 60 years and 3 generations later, it continues the business in Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam. Fandbee's Managing Director, Gareth Tan, shares how the company managed to weather at least 4 global recessions, the Asian Financial Crisis and pandemics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Singapore-based company Kaer is pioneering Cooling as a Service (CaaS) to the ASEAN market and recently announced a 15-year contract with The Exchange TRX for RM150 million. We speak to Kaer CEO Justin Taylor on the business proposition of CaaS and how it plans to leverage on the global push towards decarbonisation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UMediC Group Berhad is involved in the distribution of various branded medical devices and medical consumables and also in developing, manufacturing, and marketing of its medical consumables. The group will be listed on the ACE Market on 26th July 2022 and targets to raise around 31 million ringgit. CEO of the group, Lim Taw Seong shares with us the outlook and demand for healthcare products and the group's expansion plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venture Capital is common as a source of funding for start up's but its usually equity rather than debt. We speak to Dato' Wan Kamaruzaman Wan Ahmad, Chairman of Iris Capital Partners as to the advantages and disadvantages of using debt whilst delving into what sectors they are focusing in. We also ask about his views on the Malaysian economy and why our capital markets are so anemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unique Fire Holdings, a family-run business, has been in the fire protection system business since 1975. It is now set to list on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market on August 5th to raise RM21.8 million to set it on its next growth path. Its Executive Director, Ryan Liew, talks about UFH's journey navigating the challenges of the business amid rising costs and slowing demand, while remaining confident that this industry remains hot.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listed on the Singapore Stock Exchange, Silverlake Axis provides software solutions and services to the Banking, Insurance, Retail, and government.Andrew Tan, the group managing director of Silverlake Axis shares with us the financial performance and the impact of the 5 new digital banking license in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest unemployment figure for Malaysian youth aged 15 - 24 years old stood at 12.5%, far higher than the national unemployment rate of 3.9%. Are we doing enough to ensure that youths are equipped with skills and opportunities to navigate a changing economic landscape? We discuss trends in youth employment with our panel on World Youth Skills Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After 25 years of the MSC Malaysia programme to attract digital and technology investment, the Malaysia Digital Economy Corporation (MDEC) is revamping the flagship scheme into Malaysia Digital and introducing new catalytic initiatives to bring in new investors. We sit down with MDEC CEO Mahadhir Aziz to discuss these plans and whether Malaysia can rival regional peers in attracting foreign investment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 1988, Dilmah Tea has grown from a household name in Sri Lanka to an international icon of Ceylonese tea available in over 100 countries. But now as Sri Lanka's economy crashes and global supply chains issues continue to plague the world, how will Dilmah continue its operations?And what role can it play in rebuilding Sri Lanka's economy moving forward? We speak to CEO Dilhan Fernando to get his thoughts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of our bi-annual series on where equity markets are heading, we speak to Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research, Maybank Investment Banking Group and Patrick Chang, Chief Investment Officer for ASEAN Equities, Principal Asset Management. We ask if China is ironically the safe haven markets and are there still gems to be found on Bursa Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Florence Tan, SSCG Small Spacecraft Coordination Group Chair and Deputy Chief Technologist at NASA on the National Aeronautics and Space Administration's science mission directorate on space exploration and how her early years at Muar keep her feet firmly planted on the ground. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic, the conflict in Ukraine, and climate change impact are all contributing to the rising cost of food, which in turn has rocketed food security to the top of national concerns. How is the ASEAN region impacted by disruptions to the global food supply chain, and is there a way to future-proof ourselves against similar shocks moving forward? We discuss this with Dr. Paul Teng, Professor & Adjunct Senior Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two long years, international borders have finally reopened. But what is the pace of recovery for travel companies and has the nature of travel changed forever in a post covid world. We speak to Dato' Sri Koh Yock Heng. Co-Founder & Group Managing Director of Apple Vacations on their future plans after two years of almost zero revenue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two years of losses due the pandemic, has listed auto parts company, MCE Holdings, turned the corner? Or will the near headwinds of rising material costs, supply chain disruptions and the end of the Sales and Service Tax chip away at margins. Questions we pose to Dr Goh Kar Chun, Group Managing Director, MCE Holdings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plus Solar Systems, the renewable energy company recently rebranded itself to be known as Plus Xnergy Holding as part of its pivot to restructure and optimize its business. Group CEO Ko Chuan Zhen takes the hot seat to talk about their restructuring, the recent JV with Yinson Holdings as well as future expansion plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Half a year after the economy's reopening after a lost two-year period due to Covid-19, Datuk William Ng, Chairman of Small and Medium Enterprises Association SAMENTA and Jeremy Lim, Vice President of Persatuan Pemilik Restoran dan Bistro, discuss the economic state of their respective members and what more needs to be done to repair the scar tissue.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite moves since 2020 to diversify its market- and client reach that's led to a return to profit amidst globally buoyant energy prices, oil services firm Icon Offshore Bhd continues to see little interest in its stock. Managing Director Datuk Seri Hadian Hashim addresses these company specific issues among other larger macro-economic and geopolitical reasons behind his company's and industry's performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A whirlwind tour of Asia and the Pacific Islands is indicative of the shift in Australia's foreign policy after the election of the new labour government. But what is the key agenda and is the priority to counter China's growing dominance in the region. We speak to Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs to find out whilst delving into the role of strategic partnerships like the Quad.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, offers an update on Russia's invasion of Ukraine, and a wider reading of its implications on the Asia-Pacific region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many Malaysians have a nostalgic attachment to A&W, which first set up a presence here in the 1960s. But with rapidly changing consumer tastes and global supply chain shocks affecting the F&B industry, how does A&W plan to stay relevant to the next generation and beyond? Philip See will be speaking to its global CEO Kevin Bazner about his growth strategy for the franchise in Malaysia and the region.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With inflation upon Malaysia and wallets still tight, the govt is spending on aid packages and other election-friendly goodies, all of which come at a cost -- explaining a growing drumbeat advocating a return of GST.Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, the Immediate Past President of Malaysian Institute of Accountants & YB Ong Kian Ming, Former MITI Deputy Minister, discuss the pros, cons, permutations and possibilities, while also offering insights into Budget 2023 and the coming Fiscal Responsibility Act.Image credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month, the government decided to abolish the PT3 examinations in favour of school based assessments to determine students’ performance in their studies. But how will this sudden abolishment in the middle of the school year impact school operations? Are teachers ready to rejig their syllabus to accommodate school based assessments? In a special Breakfast Grille panel, we discuss this with former deputy education minister YB Teo Nie Ching and Conrad Fernandez of the education service provider, LeapEd.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Indonesian online travel start-up Traveloka has grown over the past decade into a USD$3 billion unicorn with presences across Southeast Asia and Australia. With the regional travel and tourism industry slow to pick up in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic, Traveloka has been biding its time by strengthening its evolution into a travel superapp. How does the Malaysian outfit fit into the broader growth picture for Traveloka? We sit down with Country Manager Angelica Chan to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Before sustainability became the mainstay for cosmetic and toiletry brands, the Body Shop was already ahead of the pack with their focus on fair trade, women's issues and animal rights. However with the plethora of competition, can this edge be maintained. We speak to Qas Qayyum, Body Shop's Managing Director and Global head of franchise to discuss global trends and the importance of staying relevant.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With crypto bellwethers like Bitcoin and Ethereum falling below critical price levels amidst the entire industry facing a maelstrom of regulatory, reputational and sentiment-driven headwinds, there has never been a more existential reckoning for the fledgling cryptocurrency landscape. Hong Qi Yu, Founder and CEO of Tokenize Xchange, addresses key industry and company issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sandy Tan, CEO, Optimax Holdings walks us through how the vision care business has evolved over the past 20 years and how it has been able to leverage the pandemic to drive its expansion in Malaysia and beyond. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cathay Pacific Airways has been one of the worst impacted airlines during the Covid-19 pandemic due to China’s zero Covid policy. It started the year USD5.5 billion in the red and its fleet remained grounded for most of the first half amid the Omicron wave. With Hong Kong finally easing international travel restrictions in April, can Cathay’s recovery plan take off? We discuss the business prospects of the beleaguered airline as well as the outlook of Hong Kong as a regional hub with Roger Li, Country Manager for Malaysia and Brunei of Cathay Pacific.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the Look East Policy turns 40 years old, what should the new areas of focus be as the relationship between Malaysia and Japan matures especially in an era of heightened geopolitical tensions. H.E. Takahashi Katsuhiko, Japan Ambassador to Malaysia gives us his views and how we can also improve trade relations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a cost conscious environment, Rimini Street which has been listed on Nasdaq since 2017, has seen double digit growth due to its unique business model. However, is this sustainable and aren't software vendors aggressively finding ways to lock them out? We ask Seth Ravin, their CEO and Chairman those questions and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AirCarbon AirCarbon Exchange ("ACX") is a global exchange involving the voluntary carbon market by tokenizing carbon offsets into 3 fungible carbon asset classes. Managing Director and Co-Founder, William Pazos explains the mechanisms of carbon trading and it's leveraging on the green aspirations of countries and businesses for future growth.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pre-pandemic, supply chains were invisible - but the disruptions over the past two years have put these mysterious networks into the spotlight. We discuss how supply chains have been impacted by the three Cs - Covid-19, conflict and climate change - as well as how businesses need to adapt to the challenges with Associate Professor Dr. Shardul Phadnis of the Asia School of Business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Global logistics giant DHL is injecting some €690 million worth of investments into its Asia Pacific operations over a two year period, with Malaysia being one of the key beneficiaries in Southeast Asia. Why is DHL investing so much into the country and how does it feature in the company’s broader plans? We discuss logistics trends and strategic growth plans with Julian Neo, Managing Director for DHL Express Malaysia and Brunei.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Anna Teo, Founder and Group CEO of Hernan Corporation shares how Malaysia's largest durian exporter has grown from strength to strength as it expands across the value chain and solidifies its presence in China. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.