The Breakfast Grille

Naysan Munusamy, the co-founder of transfers and remittances fintech MoneyMatch, discusses being in a winning consortium for one of Malaysia's five digital bank licence winners along with RinggitPlus, CarSome and KAF.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chosen as one of six researchers from around the world to receive this year’s Pew Marine Fellowship, Dr. Jillian Ooi, Seagrass Ecologist and Senior Lecturer at the University of Malaya is on the Breakfast Grille to share the key ecological roles of seagrass meadows. To mark International Day for Biological Diversity on the 22nd of May, we ask her about Malaysia's biodiversity, the education surrounding this issue and how difficult is it to secure funding for her research?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CUCKOO has made itself a household name when it comes to water purifier but they aspire for the brand to represent more than that. However, with CUCKOO Korea owning 86% stake in Cuckoo International (M) Sdn Bhd, how does the Malaysian operation plans to achieve that and is an IPO brewing under the radar? Hoe Kian Choon, CEO of Cuckoo International tells us all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has changed higher education permanently but have institutions been able to pivot? How does it manage to remain profitable yet offer world-class education? And are universities even relevant today? Questions we ask Datuk Parmjit Singh, CEO of Asia Pacific University of Technology & Innovation (APU).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michele Ferrario, CEO and Co-Founder of StashAway shares with us his strategies to navigate market volatility, how investors should react during this time and also on their plans for geographical expansion and AUM growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s health white paper is due soon. Will it however be able to address the plethora of issues that existed even before the pandemic in a sustainable manner? Datuk Dr Kuljit Singh, President, Association of Private Hospitals Malaysia (APHM) & Azrul Mohd Khalib, CEO, Galen Centre for Health & Social Policy give us their views on what the priorities should be. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Unlike Singapore, Malaysia has taken a conservative approach to the cryptocurrency industry, in retrospect a wise approach given the past week's turmoil. David Low, Asia-Pacific General Manager of Luno, discusses Malaysia's regulatory approach as well as his own platform's future plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a sluggish property market, how challenging is it for a niche property company to grow fourfold? Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy, Executive Chairman and Group Managing Director of NCT Alliance Bhd which has that target, tells us whilst explaining the many related party transactions the company has done and why revitalizing abandoned projects can be very lucrative.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Concerns over independence of the judiciary have come to the forefront recently, with prominent lawyers calling for the Malaysian Bar to stage a march for justice. How serious is the threat against Malaysia’s judicial system? Karen Cheah, newly-minted President of the Malaysian Bar discusses these and other developments related to the legal profession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The battle for FDI in Covid-ravaged Southeast Asia has never been fiercer, with Kuala Lumpur also grappling with additional political and policy headwinds. Muhammad Azmi Zulkifli, CEO of InvestKL, offers a situation report. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Europe Day is the the anniversary of the Schuman declaration that is the foundation of political cooperation that was supposed to make war between European countries unthinkable. But with the war in Ukraine, what is the EU's response? H.E. Michalis Rokas, Ambassador of the European Union to Malaysia answers that question and also a channel check on our bilateral trade relations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite comprising roughly half of Malaysia's labour population, women make up a small fraction of seats on corporate boards and as heads of publicly listed companies. Has progress in gender representation in the corporate world stalled or even regressed? We discuss the present scenario and efforts to increase women's participation at the highest levels with our panel of experts. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, CEO of Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) shares his perspective on its catalytic role for green economic growth by driving climate change mitigation actions and mainstreaming the green economy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two years of pandemic restrictions, this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations are highly anticipated by Malaysians nationwide. But are cost pressures and supply chain disruptions crimping retail spending during this festive season? Ahead of festivities next week, we catch up with Datuk Wira Dr Ameer Ali Mydin, Managing Director of Mydin on his outlook for the retail industry amid a turbulent economic environment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

South Africa is one of the leading economies on the African continent and seen as an influential middle-power in geopolitics. So its abstention on several UN General Assembly resolutions condemning the war in Ukraine is noteworthy. We ask H. E. Dave Malcomson, the South African High Commissioner to Malaysia on the country's position vis-a-vis Russia and Ukraine, as well as the opportunities to enhance bilateral relations with Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RHL Ventures, the venture capitalist company that was founded by 3 young founders of illustrious families in 2016, have ambitious plans to triple its assets in 5 years. Its Managing Partner, Raja Hamzah Abidin, tells us how they plan to achieve this goal and also on how the pandemic has impacted deal flows. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we are aware, it has been almost two months since Russia invaded Ukraine and despite strong condemnation by a majority of countries around the world, President Vladimir Putin has shown no signs of relenting. While thousands of lives continue to be upended and the global economic situation drags on, we speak to Poland's ambassador to Malaysia, H.E. Krzysztof Dębnicki to get his thoughts on the war in Europe and Poland’s position regarding the conflict.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Local dairy producer Farm Fresh Berhad debuted on the Main Market in March 2022 to much investor enthusiasm. But will economic cost pressures deflate the high? We catch up with Managing Director Loi Tuan Ee on his ambitious regional expansion strategy, plans to fortify domestic production and distribution as well as how his company is dealing with the fallout of rising commodities prices. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As part of World Book and Copyright day, we speak to Chong Ton Sin, founder of Gerakbudaya, and Amir Muhammad, founder of Buku FIXI on the business of books. We also ask if there is a culture of reading in Malaysia, what are the challenges for independent publishers, and most importantly, content censorship in the book industry. Background image credit: Pixabay.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ghana and Malaysia have more in common than you think, as we were both British colonies that gained independence in 1957 and we also share a similar population size. Ms. Ama Boahemaa Dwomoh, the Acting High Commissioner of Ghana talks to us about the impact of the Russia-Ukraine conflict and how the country is coping in the third year of the pandemic.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Duopharma Biotech Berhad, the distributor of the Sinopharm vaccine, was one of the winners of the pandemic. But with a price cap set by the government, how will that impact the company? Leonard Ariff Bin Abdul Shatar, Group Managing Director, Duopharma Biotech Bhd answers those questions and their strategy for growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Central Global Berhad has been a pioneer in high temp tape manufacturing since 1972 and in recent years the company has also ventured into the construction sector. But how does the company juggle between the two business segments? Chew Hian Tat, Managing Director and also a new major shareholder of Central Global Berhad speaks to us about his plans to turn around the company and also on his strategy to bring the business forward especially the export of masking tapes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with World Art Day, we have a special panel discussion with Lim Wei Ling of Wei Ling Gallery, a contemporary art gallery located in KL and Irsyad Saidin of Pentas.io, Malaysia’s premier NFT marketplace to discuss the business of art. We get their thoughts on how the pandemic has impacted the industry and the future of art in Malaysia in a digital age. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer is a minnow in contrast to market giants Boeing and Airbus, especially in the Asia-Pacific. However, the planemaker has bold ambitions to grow its presence in the region, targeting over 3,000 aircraft deliveries here in the next 20 years. We discuss Embraer's growth strategy and structural changes in the travel sector with Raul Villaron, Vice President for Asia-Pacific.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chong Wai Yen, Managing Director, Carrier Malaysia shares with us how Carrier, the original inventor of the air conditioning system, is planning to expand further into the Asia Pacific region and how it will navigate the challenges of air pollution, climate change and energy efficiency. Image credit:See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CrowdStrike is a well-known name in the endpoint cybersecurity sector. As worldwide spending on security and risk management technology is expected to increase in the years ahead, we ask Jagdish Mahapatra, Asia Managing Director of CrowdStrike on what trends we can observe in Asia, how Malaysia fares in terms of implementing endpoint protection systems, and how the pandemic has driven interest in digital transformation and cybersecurity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Already host to more than 150 thousand Ukrainian refugees, the Czech Republic has also become the first NATO member state to send tanks to Ukraine following the Russian invasion. Today on the Breakfast Grille, H. E. Milan Hupcej, Ambassador of the Czech Republic to Malaysia, talks to Philip See about the Czech stance on the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as the Malaysia-European Union Free Trade Agreement and the social linkages between our two countries. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two years devoid of international tourism, Malaysia fully reopened its borders this month to much fanfare. Has the pandemic provided an opportunity for Tourism Malaysia to reset and restart its promotional activities in a major way? We discuss the outlook and targets for Malaysian tourism this year with Dato' Hj. Zainuddin Abdul Wahab, Director General of Tourism Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and high oil prices plaguing the world, how does it all impact the local automotive industry, specifically Bermaz Auto Berhad who distributes Mazda, Kia and Peugeot in Malaysia? Dato' Francis Lee, CEO of Bermaz Auto Berhad, shares his insights with us. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The government is expecting tourism to contribute as much as 12% towards GDP eventually but is this achievable and what is the roadmap? We speak to Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri, Minister of Tourism, Arts and Culture to find out, and if it's time for a relook at the government framework which some say is too unwieldy. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Dato Mohammad Ariff Md Yusof is the author of ‘Parliament Unexpected’, a book in which he discusses his recollections of parliament, politics and pandemic in Malaysia. Today he discusses the troubles with parliament and parliamentarians and what needs to be addressed. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James McCormack, Global Head of Sovereign Ratings at Fitch Ratings, addresses the possibility of sovereign debt default risks due to Russia's invasion of Ukraine, given the globalised nature of the modern economy. He also addresses the shifting nature of global currencies, including the US Dollar's status as a global reserve currency. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The cabinet has delayed the Anti Hopping Law but is this critical for a democracy like Malaysia? Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, Former Deputy Speaker of Dewan Rakyat and Special Adviser to the Prime Minister for Law and Human Rights, tells us why whilst diving into the MOU between the government and the opposition. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Backed by Navis Capital, Aurelius Healthcare has recently acquired Nilai Medical Center and renamed it as Aurelius Hospital Nilai. But what are their plans for the group post acquisition? Dato’ Amir Firdaus Abdullah, Group MD, Aurelius Healthcare shares key insights with us.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the world continues to grapple with supply chain disruptions caused by the numerous factory or plant shutdowns occurring in parts of the world as the Covid-19 pandemic continues to rage on, how has our largest publicly listed port operator, Westports adapted to this issue? We speak to its group managing director, Datuk Ruben Gnanalingam on the Breakfast Grille for more. Image credit: Westports HoldingsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Sarah Metcalfe, Interim Provost and CEO of University of Nottingham Malaysia, addresses the challenges of getting students back on campus, post-pandemic as well as life after its local partners YTL-Boustead's exit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The MRT3 Circle Line will have 31 stations, with 40km of elevated tracks and 11km of underground tunnels that stretch into a circular alignment along the perimeter of Kuala Lumpur. But with a cost of close to 40 billion ringgit, is this what Malaysia truly needs? Hamdan Abdul Majeed from Think City, and Aziff Azuddin from Citymapper shares their thoughts. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tabling of an anti-hopping law during the first session of Parliament in 2022 was one of the key conditions of the MOU between the Federal Government and Pakatan Harapan. Now that the tabling of the bill has been postponed, how does this affect the historic but uneasy truce between two sides of the political divide? We discuss what's holding up progress on the anti-hopping bill and whether Malaysia is ready for new coalition politics with our panel of guests. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The war in Ukraine continues into its 2nd month with no signs of peace. We speak to H. E. Olexander Nechytaylo, Ambassador of Ukraine to Malaysia for an update on the situation on the ground from the humanitarian crisis, to the war efforts and peace talks. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the squeeze on student enrollment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, BAC Education Group has been investing in hybrid infrastructure to make the best of both in-person and online learning. We speak to Co-Founder and Managing Director Raja Singham on how BAC has pivoted to digital education and their plans to grow with an emphasis on impact over profit. Image credit: BACSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Carousell is one of the leading classified marketplaces that has attained unicorn status with more than USD1 billion valuation. We speak to Tang Siew Wai, the Malaysian Country Manager, to find out their strategy for growth in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After two years of stringent borders control, Malaysia will soon be reopening its borders once again and many in the aviation sector welcome this with both arms. Mohammad Al Attar, Country Manager of Emirates Malaysia shares with us on how they maneuvered the pandemic and their plans moving forward with the reopening of borders. Image credit: EmiratesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, offers a state of play for the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the choices ASEAN might soon have to make if the conflict widens. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for four years straight in the World Happiness Report. What accounts for the high levels of contentment among Finns? We discuss the factors that have contributed to strong institutional safety nets and public trust in Finland with H.E. Sami Leino, Ambassador of Finland to Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the country experiencing an unprecedented level of flooding, we ask Cha-Ly Koh from Urbanmetry and YB Charles Santiago, MP for Klang as to the solutions required to better respond, mitigate and adapt to natural disasters triggered by climate change. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia's largest integrated media company, Media Prima, reported stellar 2021 earnings, marking a return to profit since 2015. Under the helm of newly appointed managing director, Rafiq Razali, how is Media Prima positioning itself amid changes in the industry, especially its broadcasting and publishing segments? We discuss his vision for the company moving forward. Image credit: Media PrimaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Fresh off the Johor state elections, we unpack the results and drama that ensued to understand what it means for politics on a federal level. Is this a bellwether for the 15th General Elections? What were the surprises and what were the letdowns? Political analysts Dr. Azmi Hassan and Dr. Oh Ei Sun share their views and analysis on a special Breakfast Grille panel. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

When it comes to wages, many of us can agree that it should be increased. But the question that provokes intense debate is when and how? Should market forces dictate the quantum of our living, graduate and minimum wage? Or should government policy get into it to set direction? Philip see consults experts Carmelo Ferlito of CME and Zouhair Rosli of DM Analytics on how much you should get paid. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The past few years have been booming for semiconductor players. Automotive LED supplier D&O Green Technologies Bhd’s managing director, Tay Kheng Chiong, is on the Breakfast Grille to talk about supply chain disruptions from the pandemic, how the shift to EVs will impact them, and how ESG trends will impact them. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years into the pandemic and hardly any flights happening, how does a general insurance player tied to an airline like Tune Protect grow and maintain its presence? Rohit Nambiar, Group CEO of Tune Protect tells us their strategy for growth. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.