The Breakfast Grille

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.

On the Breakfast Grille this morning, Philip See is joined by Tindaro Danze, President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia to talk about the company’s involvement in the country’s data center industry, automation in manufacturing plants, the adoption of Industry 4.0, and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In conjunction with International Universal Health Coverage Day, Philip See speaks to  Dr Khor Swee Kheng, CEO, Angsana Health & Specialist in Public Policies about the most pressing healthcare issues in Malaysia right now - affordability, overworking and inconsistent contracts of public healthcare staff, whether the government is relying too much on private healthcare and more.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Futurise, a wholly-owned company under the Ministry of Finance, is a key driver of the National Regulatory Sandbox. We ask Shafinaz Salim, Acting CEO what the company does, how it works with other Ministries and agencies, how it is funded, and have they achieved commercialisation with any of their companies.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This week was International Anti-Corruption Day, a good reminder of Malaysia’s ongoing struggle with high-level corruption as we aspire to be amongst the top 25 countries in the Corruption Perceptions Index by 2033. How will that be achieved when we currently rank 57th? A question we pose to Pushpan Murugiah, CEO of C4 Center, and Raymon Ram, President of Transparency International Malaysia, as we look at what legislative reform the country needs.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Austria is a land known for its pristine moutains but there is more in common with Malaysia than expected. His Excellency Gerhard Eisl, Austrian Ambassador to Malaysia, discusses how our countries are fostering closer ties in trade, education, and tourism against a backdrop of increasing geopolitical tensions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daryl Foong, Group CEO and Executive Director of Aquawalk talks about the company’s listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market recently, its expansion plans in the region, how to get people to return after their first visit, how resilient the business is in the event of a slowdown in foreign tourism, and more.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, I’m joined by Liew Yoon Poh, Group CEO of LAC Med Bhd. They are a company specializing in supplying, integrating, and servicing medical devices and healthcare IT solutions - think MRI machines. In light of LAC Med’s listing tomorrow on Bursa Malaysia’s Main Market, I’ll be asking him about the company’s purpose for the exercise, whether he is worried about renewing contracts with partners, expansion into Indonesia, status of its order book, and whether you should be a shareholder.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Orkim Bhd, Malaysia’s largest clean petroleum product (CPP) tanker operator, is heading for a Main Market listing on December 9th. CEO Capt Cheah Sin Bi discusses the company’s evolution from a one-vessel operator to a major player transporting refined petroleum across the region as well as its plans for the RM92 million it hopes to raise from this listing.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kelington Group is expanding its presence across Asia and now Europe, while diversifying from ultra-high purity gases into industrial gases. Raymond Gan, its founder and CEO talks about this engineering firm's financial outlook, its role in the semiconductor supply chain, and the competitive landscape it operates in.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GDEX is navigating one of its toughest years yet amid rising competition and a rapidly evolving logistics sector. On today’s Breakfast Grille, Philip See talks with CEO Teong Teck Lean about how the company is adapting, leveraging technology, and reshaping its services to stay profitable and drive future growth.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MiRXES is a Singaporean biotech company that’s listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Today Elaine Boey will be sitting down with co-founder and CEO, Dr. Zhou Lihan to talk about the technology that the company employs, challenges as Southeast Asia’s biotech unicorn, when it might turn profitable, and whether you should be a shareholder.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Russia remains at the centre of some of the world’s most consequential geopolitical tensions, while for Malaysia, navigating its relationships with major powers, understanding Moscow’s position has never been more relevant. Naiyl Latypov, Russia's ambassador to Malaysia, discusses bilateral relations as well as what the prospects for peace with Ukraine is like.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On Saturday, the results of Sabah’s 17th state elections were revealed after a very crowded race. This was followed with the quick installation of GRS Chairman, Datuk Seri Hajiji Noor as Chief Minister early Sunday morning. We discuss the election outcome with our panel, Ibrahim Suffian, Co-Founder & Programme Director of Merdeka Center, and Ariff Adi Putera Anwar, Research Associate at the Institute for Development Studies Sabah and how this changes the state's relationship with the Federal government.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uzma Berhad may be best known for its oil & gas roots, but the group has been steadily reshaping itself into a broader energy and technology solutions player. Philip See speaks with Dato’ Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed, MD and Group CEO of Uzma Berhad, to unpack the company’s evolving portfolio, the strength and visibility of its current order book, and how its diversification strategy is translating into performance across key segments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 1957, Japan and Malaysia has built strong ties, shaped by Japan’s Official Development Assistance and Malaysia’s Look East Policy. Today, with geopolitical tensions and protectionism on the rise, we ask H.E Shikata Noriyuki, Japan’s Ambassador to Malaysia, how both nations can keep strengthening trade and their long-standing partnership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nicholas Lim Pinn Yang, CEO of Foodie Media Berhad talks to us about the company’s upcoming listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market, what sets it apart from its competitors, where the company’s focus is in terms of growth given its 34 brands across Southeast Asia, and whether it justify its valuations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Electricity distribution may not be the flashiest business, but it sits at the heart of one of the biggest investment themes of 2024 and 2025: data centres. We speak with Catherine Wong, Managing Director of ACE-listed Powerwell Holdings, to explore how the group is positioning for growth, the realities of today’s operating environment, and what this means for their share price performance.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Yee Chee Meng, CEO of ACE-listed Infomina Berhad, a company that provides mainframe systems and solutions on their strategy for growth which includes a look east policy. We also ask about the rationale to move into the AI space and why one would want to be a shareholder of this company.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

November 21st is recognised by the United Nations as World Television Day, where we continue to ask how influential and relevant this medium is in today's age of AI and social media. Ashwad Ismail, editor-in-chief of Astro Awani, shares his views on the trust in journalism, the role of TV entertainment, and how the medium is reinventing itself for the future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Children’s Day 2025 is a timely reminder of the growing challenges governments, schools, and parents face in keeping children safe in the digital age. Saskia Blume, Chief of Child Protection at UNICEF Malaysia, highlights the alarming rise in both online and real-world crimes against children, drawing on UNICEF’s latest research. She also shares insights on the critical support and skills children need to better protect themselves from predators.For more, refer to UNICEF’s Parenting in a Digital Age report.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We mark World Toilet Day by examining one of Malaysia’s most overlooked essentials, our national sewerage system. Rising costs, ageing infrastructure, climate risks and rapid urbanisation are straining Malaysia’s sewerage system. We speak to Indah Water Konsortium’s CEO Narendran Maniam, on how it is tackling this issue and more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

1.8 million people will be voting in the Sabah elections, of which more than half a million will be under the age of 30. However, voter turnout for this segment is low at just 55%. We speak to grassroots movement HAI MANDAK, as to why this is the case and what are the issues facing young Sabahans.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.