The Breakfast Grille

Once again the FBMKLCI disappoints. Why and will 2022 be a better year or are there other markets that will provide better returns. 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 views. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ProtectHealth Corporation, a subsidiary company under the Ministry of Health, is playing a key role in accelerating the distribution of vaccines by galvanizing private healthcare sector involvement. We speak to CEO Dato' Dr Anas Alam Faizli on the complexities of the vaccination roll-out and the potential of public-private partnership in healthcare. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pejuang is the latest Malay political party with 4MPs. But what does the party stand for and will it make any headway in the next elections? Datuk Seri Mukhriz Mahathir, its President and the son of former prime minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad tell us whilst giving us his thoughts on the current political landscape and even the NEP.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Although the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the global economy, there were undoubtedly some players that managed to come out on top. We revisit conversations with businesses that have leveraged on their strengths during the pandemic to emerge stronger. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The travel and tourism sectors were the hardest hit by the pandemic as global and domestic borders shuttered. How have different industry players navigated the patchy border reopenings? We revisit conversations on travel and tourism amid the uneven pandemic recovery. Image credit: Unsplash.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2021 was touted as the year of pandemic recovery - but as the Covid-19 virus mutated and new variants emerged, uncertainty dominated the economy and markets. We revisit conversations on the outlook for the global and Malaysian economy at different stages of the year. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The tumultuous politics of 2020 which witnessed the Sheraton Move continued into 2021, with a national state of emergency declared in January followed by another change in government in August. We revisit conversations on the twists and turns of Malaysian politics and what this means for the nation. Image credit: BernamaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Covid-19 pandemic took a twist this year with the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants throwing obstacles into recovery, despite the robust national vaccination programme. We revisit conversations on lessons learned in pandemic management and navigating healthcare in the post-pandemic era. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to recent surveys, fintech investments in the Southeast Asian region tripled this year to a record USD3.5 billion amid pandemic-driven digitalization trends. ASEAN Fintech Group, part of the ASX-listed FatFish Internet Group, is hoping to snag a slice of the lucrative pie. How does AFG plan to make its mark in a space that’s packed with contenders? We find out from Douglas Gan, AFG Executive Director.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic has changed higher education permanently but is that better for students and universities? Professor Sibrandes Poppema from Sunway University tells us. We also ask if ratings mean anything and is a degree still relevant today?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legoland Malaysia Resort in Johor had reopened in October after months of closure. Philip See speaks to CS Lim, the Divisional Director of LEGOLAND Malaysia Resorts to breakdown the costs of running LEGOLAND, brick by brick, the impact of the pandemic on operations and how it will thrive as it relies heavily on foreign tourists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tiles manufacturer Niro Ceramic Group was first established in 1979 now has plans to go public in 2023. We speak to Managing Director, Ian Kok about operations, challenges and the outlook of the tile industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Property and construction firm Jade Marvel Group Bhd wants to transform into a mini private equity firm with initial interests in seafood processing and moneylending. Joint Managing Director Dato’ David Khoo Yik Chou discusses. Image credit: Shutterstock.com & Jade Marvel Group BhdSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NanoMalaysia Berhad, a not-for-profit government venture builder has spent the last 10 years building a nanotechnology ecosystem in Malaysia from the ground-up. How ready as a country are we to leverage on nanotechnology advancements? We speak to CEO Dr. Rezal Khairi Ahmad on what's on the horizon for NanoMalaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 2014, Ally Logistic Property is Taiwan’s first and largest institutional logistic property developer and is setting up their first SEA logistic park in Malaysia. We speak to Charlie Chang, CEO about their business model, competition as well as their investment worth US$ 1 billion in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matin Ng, Deputy CEO of UWC Berhad helps us understand how they grew from a wire cutting machine manufacturer into an integrated engineering services provider as it navigates the multiple challenges of the pandemic, supply chain challenges and skills shortages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Swift Haulage Berhad is slated for listing on Bursa Malaysia on 21 December. Will this much anticipated IPO be a success despite its rather lofty valuations? We speak to Loo Yong Hui, Group CEO about their growth plans and can they maintain margins despite inflationary pressures.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sick of damaging racial and religious political ideologues, negative sentiment towards Peninsula Malaysians are at peak levels, with decolonisation gathering momentum. Political Analyst Dr Arnold Puyok and Economics Professor Dr Dayang Affizah Marikan both of Universiti Malaysia Sarawak, comment, adding that betrayals of MA63 are exacerbating affairs.Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The theme for Human Rights Day 2021 is Equality: Reducing inequalities, advancing human rights. What human rights issues have risen to the surface in Malaysia's pandemic experience? We discuss how the pandemic has impacted discussions on inequality and why a rights-based approach should be prioritised in the government's response. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Parliamentary Public Accounts Committee plays a crucial oversight role in monitoring government spending. To mark International Anti-Corruption Day, we speak to the current chair, YB Wong Kah Woh, Member of Parliament for Ipoh Timur, who takes us behind the scenes on the workings of the committee and discusses the challenges faced in carrying out their duties during a tumultuous political and pandemic period. Image Credit: Uwe Aranas / Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Home-sharing app Airbnb’s revenue grew by 67% y-o-y to $2.2 billion in the third quarter of this year. But how will the Omicron variant impact travel and Airbnb? Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager for India, Southeast Asia, Hong Kong and Taiwan of Airbnb shares with us on the Breakfast Grille. Image credit: AirbnbSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In the midst of the pandemic, Callum Chen, CEO of the family-owned plastics manufacturer LH Plus Sdn Bhd, achieved greater efficiency with fewer humans and more machines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia and Australia elevated long-standing bilateral ties to a Comprehensive Strategic Partnership (CSP) earlier this year. How do the fortunes of the Lucky Country impact Malaysia, in light of the Covid-19 pandemic and rising geopolitical temperatures in the region? We discuss the opportunities and challenges in enhancing cooperation with the newly-minted High Commissioner of Australia to Malaysia, H.E. Dr Justin Lee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

At the back of COP26, we’re extending the discussion with Cedric Rimaud, ASEAN Program Manager, Climate Bonds Initiative and Raymond Tang, Chief Executive Officer of Eastspring Investment Berhad on climate change from a financial standpoint and ask with the commitments made so far in previous COPs, why has progress been disappointing thus far? Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With over two decades of experience in logging, sawmill operator BTM Resources Berhad is looking to venture into renewable energy to diversify its income stream and provide for sustainable revenue and income for the company. We speak to executive director Datuk Woo to discuss this new green future for the company and understand the industry landscape. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As a platform that provides full-stack technology for businesses with hotels and homes. Country head for OYO Malaysia and Singapore, Tan Ming Luk shares the impact of the pandemic on operations as well as OYO’s future plans to become the world's largest hotel chain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to one of the world's largest MOOCs, Massive Open Online Course providers Coursera on their expansion plans and their road to profitability as their India and Asia Pacific Managing Director Raghav Gupta shares how Coursera has managed to navigate the pandemic. Credit: CourseraSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taiwanese semiconductor company Phison Electronics is small but mighty in the industry, with a significant market share in NAND flash controller IC design and storage solutions. But with its Malaysian-born CEO Datuk Pua Khein Seng facing potential imprisonment in a financial fraud case amid a global chip shortage affecting supply chain logistics, can Phison maintain its growth trajectory? We discuss the business strategy for Phison Electronics Corporation with Datuk Pua Khein Seng. Image credit: Phison Electronics CorporationSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia-Cuban relations have been established since 1975, but why has bilateral economic activity remained minimal? Ambassador Batista Gonzalez explains the challenges to enhancing bilateral cooperation as well as potential areas that should be explored for mutual benefit. He also provides an overview of the pandemic effect on Cuba, including its effort to vaccinate the population with homegrown vaccines. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BN had a resounding win in Melaka with 21 seats. What was the reason for this? Is this a wake-up call for Pakatan Harapan? Will the existing coalitions hold? And is this a barometer of GE15? The many questions we ask Dr Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate at the University of Nottingham Asia Research Institute Malaysia, and Ibrahim Suffian, Programme Director at the Merdeka Center.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Hin Joo (Malaysia) Berhad made its debut on the Ace market more than 2 years ago just a few months before the pandemic. But how has this franchisee of Mothercare, ELC and Entertainer Toy Stores weathered the covid storm? Pang Fu Wei it's newly appointed Managing Director tells us. We also speak on growth plans and its omni channel marketing the way forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has just a population of 32 million people but 21 general insurance companies. To grow market share, is consolidation the way forward? We ask Puneet Parischa, CEO of Liberty Insurance Malaysia that question on the back of news of their acquisition of AM General and also if the real threat is insuretech.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chin Ying Loong, Regional Managing Director for ASEAN and SAGE (South Asian Growing Economies) from Oracle Cooperation shares with us Oracle's strategy to expand its cloud products and services in this fast-growing market and how it will outpace its competitors in both application and infrastructure offerings. Image credit: OracleSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Sheyantha Abeykoon, CEO of Boost about the pathway to profitability for its e-wallet business and the status of a joint application with RHB for a digital banking license with Bank Negara Malaysia. Image Credit: BoostSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bata has cultivated the brand "shoes for everyone" to great success, but does this everyman approach put it at a disadvantage compared to other more niche international brands? Additionally, the pandemic has also eaten into its bottom line, with Bata Malaysia recording a loss for 2020. What is newly-minted Country Manager Vaibhav Manrao's strategy to turn the ship around? He joins us on the Breakfast Grille to discuss Bata Malaysia's growth strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Justin Chen, CEO of Arcc Spaces, one of Asia’s leading flexible work spaces operators about how the pandemic has changed the future and design of co-working spaces in Asia Pacific, as businesses decide whether they need to shift from fixed working spaces to more flexible solutions to meet the uncertainties of the future. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Established in 2015 from a partnership between MIT Sloan School of Management and Bank Negara Malaysia, Asia School of Business has been specializing in business administration-related courses like full-time MBAs and executive education classes for students from Malaysia and globally. We ask Professor Charles Fine, the dean of the school to talk about how the school has weathered the pandemic and where the future lies in executive education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia wants to be a formidable player in the aerospace industry and has set in motion plans and blueprints to make this a reality. The 12th Malaysia Plan hopes the aerospace industry can generate RM30 billion in revenue, with 30,000 jobs by 2025. The Malaysian Aerospace Industry Blueprint 2030, launched in 2015, sets out similar lofty goals. Image credit: shutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environmental groups like the WWF have long sounded the alarm over the impact of human development on the natural world, and these calls are becoming increasingly urgent in the face of an imminent climate crisis. How best can humanity balance the imperatives of economic development and environmental sustainability? We discuss this conundrum and the pandemic impact on conservation work with Sophia Lim, Executive Director and CEO of WWF-Malaysia. Image credit: WWF-Malaysia & Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Environmental groups like the WWF have long sounded the alarm over the impact of human development on the natural world, and these calls are becoming increasingly urgent in the face of an imminent climate crisis. How best can humanity balance the imperatives of economic development and environmental sustainability? We discuss this conundrum and the pandemic impact on conservation work with Sophia Lim, Executive Director and CEO of WWF-Malaysia. Image credit: WWF-Malaysia & Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Previously called Tanjung Offshore, Datuk Seri Dr. Nik Norzrul Thani Bin N. Hassan Thani, Chairman of T7 Global comes on the Breakfast Grille to share the performance of their oil & gas services business and the progress and expansion they have taken in the aerospace sector. Image credit: T7 Global BerhadSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Woon, Managing Director of Faber-Castell Malaysia, talks about how the the 260-year-old German stationery company is navigating the digital era and the production intricacies of its 43-year-old Subang plan, which exports all over the world. Image credit: Faber-CastellSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A clear poster child of the winners of the pandemic is Zoom as we all turned to video conferencing for work, education and even socializing. But with vaccine optimism and a return to old lives, what does it mean for this company or has their growth peaked? Ricky Kapur, Head of APAC, Zoom tells us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get an external perspective from Tricia Yeoh, CEO of IDEAS and Tai Lai Kok, Executive Director and Head of Tax KPMG Malaysia on Budget 2022 and its implications for the future as we dissect the largest ever budget the Malaysian Government has ever revealed. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The largest budget in Malaysian history at RM332billion but does it achieve the 3R's - recovery, rebuild and reform? And will the Budget initiatives be spent wisely to achieve its objectives? We speak to Datuk Johan Merican, the Director of the Budget Office from the Ministry of Finance to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Expectations are sky-high for Budget 2022 to set the tone for Malaysia's post-pandemic recovery. It will also signal the policy direction of Prime Minister Dato' Seri Ismail Sabri's fledgling government. Ahead of the tabling of an anticipated populist Budget 2022, economist Dr. Nungsari Radhi explores the challenges of funding an expansionary spending plan while remaining prudent about capital expenditure to ensure the nation keeps pace with a fast-developing region. Image Credit: EPA-EFESee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Maszlee Malik has been described as the most unpopular minister during his short stint in Cabinet as the Minister of Education. He’s recently published a book, titled "Memori Bukan Memoir" to set the record straight, detailing the reforms that he initiated throughout his 20 months as Minister. We speak to him about reflections on his time in office, and what's needed to improve the Malaysian education system in the post-pandemic era. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 2021 narrative has been one of global economic recovery - but it’s not without its twists and turns, as the Delta variant emerged and disrupted business. And as we enter into the final quarter of the year, the world’s economic engine, China is facing multiple challenges from a property debt crisis to energy shortages that could threaten its recovery. How will this affect global economic growth in 2022? We discuss the trends with independent economist Andy Xie. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The pandemic may have ravaged the global aviation industry but there are clear signs of recovery, giving impetus to the KL, Malaysia-based maintenance, repair and overhaul (MRO) business belonging to the 125-year-old US industrial conglomerate General Electric. Suresh Shunmugam, the Managing Director of General Electric Engine Services Malaysia, discusses the local MRO business, the health of local airlines (whom it serves) and the future of engine technology. Image credit: General Electric Engine Services Malaysia & Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In less than a week, COP26, the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Glasgow begins. We ask how nations around the world are going to resolve one of the planets biggest challenges and whether the commitments will translate into action in a panel discussion with Lavanya Rama Iyer, Head of Policy and Climate Change, WWF Malaysia, and Dave Sivaprasad, Managing Director and Partner from· Boston Consulting Group. Image credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.