The Breakfast Grille

In conjunction with International Women's Day 2019, Deputy Women, Family and Community Development Minister Hannah Yeoh speaks with us on a raft of issues including the Ministry's proposed sexual harassment bill, child marriage, and sex education.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharamaniaga is confident of getting its concession to supply medicine to the government renewed. We delve deeper into whether such concessions work in lessening the nation's healthcare burden. We also talk about how Pharmaniaga will arrest the profitability decline of the past years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Honeywell is a multinational company that support businesses to deliver solutions in industries such as aerospace, oil and gas, automation and process controls. The decision to locate their headquarters in Kuala Lumpur has led to the Employment of around 1500 workers as well as the first multinational company to have joined Malaysia's new principal hub initiative back in 2017. We speak to Briand on their operation in the new Malaysian landscape, the growing tension in the South China Sea, the development on IoT as well the flight tracking abilities related to the missing MH370.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Packet has been loss-making in all but one year in the last decade, with the net loss widening further in financial year ending 2018. However CEO Kay Tan believes that the investments made towards transforming the business into a digital services provider will bear fruit in 2019. He sets out their path to profitability on the Breakfast Grille and shares the company’s innovative plans for future growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Competition Commission (MyCC) was created to ensure free and fair competition in commercial markets for the benefit of consumer welfare, efficiency of enterprises and the development of the economy as a whole. Joyce Goh speaks to MyCC CEO Iskandar Ismail on the challenges the watchdog faces in carrying out its mandateSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Human Resources Minister M. Kula Segaran discusses a plethora of local human capital issues including minimum wage, foreign and illegal workers, youth unemployment, vocational training, overseas Malaysian talent and the plight of the Indian community.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

"When the call for duty comes, you have to rise up to the occasion," says Chow Kon Yeow, the fifth Chief Minister for Penang. Admitting that he tends to shy away from the limelight, Kon Yeow recognises the fact that as Chief Minister, it is time for him to be at the forefront. In an exclusive interview with BFM, Kon Yeow gave us a glimpse into his low key personality. Groomed for the top job by his predecessor, to what extent is Kon Yeow out of Lim Guan Eng's shadow? We ask him this. We also take a deep dive into the development plans at the Pearl of the Orient - is Penang overdeveloped or is development a necessary cost to incur? Kon Yeow shares updates on the Penang Transport Master Plan and the undersea tunnel. We also discuss about rising competition in the region competing for top FDI (foreign direct investment) dollar as well as tourist and talent. In 2016, Penang saw the exit of 2 large MNCs from Penang - Seagate and Western Digital. Is Penang starting to lose its shine as “the place” for FDIs in this region? We ask the Chief Minister this and look into how the Island city is strategising to stay in the highly competitive game. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A well-established medical brand in India, Manipal Hospital Klang is the brand's only hospital in Asia outside of India. We speak to Dr Gaurav Rekhi, the Managing Director of Manipal Hospital Klang  about the business affairs of the hospital and their growth strategy moving forward. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uni Wall APS Holding listed successfully on the LEAP Market in January, after nearly thirty years in the architecture and building facade business. Among the items on its agenda going forward: a new factory, new contracts, and a possible jump into the Australian market. Uni Wall CEO Siow Hon Yuen, explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 1998, Nando’s opened its first restaurant here in Bangsar and has since then grown to have a network of 76 outlets nationwide. It also has 8 stores in Singapore. Its journey of over 2 decades hasn't been all smooth sailing though, and Lynn opens up to us on the lessons learnt along the way. Where did they go wrong and how fast did they realise they were on the wrong track? Indeed the F&B business is challenging. In the midst of a tough operating landscape, competition continues to intensify as more people dive into the sit-down fast casual restaurant sector with the advent of chicken focused outlets. How does Nando's plan to position itself to standout in such a competitive food environment? And with the ever changing consumer preferences, what is Nando's doing to stay relevant? We discuss all of these topics and more with Lynn. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zainudin Ishak, President & CEO of Malaysian Reinsurance Bhd, discusses the flagging fortunes of the largest national reinsurer (by assets) in ASEAN. Having emerged from what it calls a ‘perfect storm’ of adverse industry events in 2016 and a kitchen-sinking exercise last year, the company now hopes to return to its pre-2014 era when consistent dividends and stability were the normal, not the exception.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Sek Kee claims that the liberalisation of the Motor and Fire Tariff has not affected the insurance industry negatively. He also shared his thoughts on the role of insurance agents in the future as a result of the digital transformation. Listen inSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over five months into the top CEO position, Idham has ambitious plans to transform the 31-year-old company into a startup. But how will the oldest mobile operator in town go about that? We also talk about numbers - CAPEX and earnings. Idham admits that they have lost ground but reckons Celcom-Axiata has caught up in the past two years as they focused on fixing the fundamentals. But is that enough? Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Angie Stephen, Asia-Pacific MD for US-listed Royal Caribbean, fields questions on the cruise line operator's environment-protection strategy, market opportunities, challenges and outlook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Shukor shares Big Tree's expansion plans in the midst of a challenging landscape and how the company has to evolve in the fast changing game. He reveals that the company is in talks with foreign players. But just how concrete are the talks? How long will it take before they finally venture overseas? It is a plan that has been on the cards for some years now. With over a year in the driving seat, Shukor talks to us about the changes he has made at the Big Tree and the strategies the team is implementing to drive the company forward. It isn't a smooth drive though, he shares. The landscape in Malaysia is very challenging with over 300 players in the fray and Shukor says it is tough as cost is escalating, squeezing into margins. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two matters most plague Malaysia’s plastics manufacturers. First, an enmity towards their trade by politicians and public alike that they say can only be solved by more responsible disposal because the technology to replace plastics in food packaging hasn’t yet arrived.And second, a crushing labour shortage that has crippled production and limited business — but which it says can be solved.Dato’ Lim Kok Boon, President of the Malaysian Plastics Manufacturers’ Association (MPMA), explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hup Seng Cream Crackers is a product that many of us grew up on. For such a well-loved brand, it might surprise you to know that Hup Seng is vastly undervalued compared to peers in the sector. Kerk Chian Tung, shares their reasons on why the priority remains in ensuring that their product remains accessible and on product quality over rebranding as well as what motivates Hup Seng to become more than a just local champion. Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Technology and the shared economy are changing the way we interact with each other. But is it for better or for worse? We speak to Philipp Diekhöner, Fortune 500 Innovation and Digital Strategy Leader on the implicit currency of the gig-economy: trust. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ian Ho, Regional Managing Director of the Asia-focused e-commerce marketplace Shopee, expounds on the firm’s necessarily aggressive push for more market share as more web- and mobile-ready Asian consumers go online to meet their retail needs. In doing so, he addresses issues related to marketing & acquisition cost, product breadth, safety, buyer confidence and the need for expansion capital as losses at its NYSE-listed parent, SEA, widen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jirnexu is a fintech company which provides technology and online solutions such as RinggitPlus.com, Kreditgogo.com and Xpressapply, providing consumers with financial comparison tools to help save money and make better financial decisions. Liew Ooi Hann spoke to us about the Jirnexu’s plans going forward and the role it plays in the financial industry, particularly after receiving approval from BNM’s Financial Technology Regulatory Sandbox and also how they manage our personal data online. Listen inSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2018, 9.2 million tourists visited Australia with 63% of them being return visitors. We speak to Tourism Australia's Managing Director John O'Sullivan to discuss what's fuelling this uptrend and what strategies they have put in place to compete for the tourist dollar. We also discuss the evolving tourism landscape where tourists today are all about experiences compared to just visiting monuments. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cagamas was created in the 80s during a time of runaway interest rates and a liquidy crunch. Fast forward to today, will Cagamas be able to step up address housing affordability which are at critical levels.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Airbnb General Manager for Southeast Asia, Mike Orgill as he updates listeners on its ongoing tussles with city authorities. He also discusses why Malaysia is it's fastest-growing market in ASEAN and Airbnb's plans for an IPO in 2019 - despite founder Brian Cheskey's too-public disenchantment with the capital markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GoCar Malaysia, a techbase on-demand car sharing platform, provides car rental services and stands alongside the many other transport service providers in Malaysia. Alan speaks of how they manage the pace of change in technology and competition while vying for dominance in the local car-sharing industry. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While P2P lenders such as Funding Societies Malaysia are seen as a disruption to traditional lenders like banks, large multinational technology firms like Apple, Google, AliBaba and Ant Financial might in turn disrupt both parties.We discuss this with Kah Meng. We also talk about the differences between the markets when it comes to the funding landscape and borrowers. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Christopher Lingle has expertise in International Economics and public policy reform in Asia and we discuss public policy reforms, the US-China Trade War and what he thinks are misguided wealth redistribution policies (e.g. in Malaysia) in a period when he sees ‘potentialities’ for distress due to the huge build-up of debt in the system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Last June, the GIACC was set up to craft the policies for anti-corruption in Malaysia. Previously helming the MACC, Tan Sri Abu Kassim now leads the GIACC. We speak to him about the GIACC's difference from MACC, the penalties that are considered for corrupt officials and what the National Anti-Corruption Plan will hold for the public and private sector. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Minister of Communication of Multimedia had called for broadband connections to be “double the speed, half the price” for Malaysians. Managed service provider, MyKris has to find ways to manage revenues while maintaining its level of service. Recently listed in the LEAP Market, MyKris boasts ambitious plans for regional growth in the second half of the year. We ask Chew Choo Soon, the Managing Director of MyKris, about the service expectation under the new government and the competitive business environment they operate in. Listen inSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julian gets the lowdown on why a global construction specialist like Eversendai is trading at cheap prices on Bursa. We also speak about the tendering system, construction projects and Eversendai's projection for their future. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our non-revenue water (NRW) average is at 35%, exceeding the 25% national target. Our average consumption is 100 litres per capita usage above the WHO recommendation. The National Water Services Commission or SPAN is a technical and economic regulatory body responsible for the regulation and performance of the water services industry. We ask Dato' Mohd Ridhuan Ismail, the CEO of SPAN about the state of affairs of our water services in Malaysia. Dato' Mohd Ridhuan speaks to us about SPAN's efforts to consolidate the water industry in all states under their purview, the underlying issues that are causing the water disruptions and initiatives to conserve water for the future. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People Lender Sdn Bhd - a company that fully owns and manages Fundaztic - was one of the 6 companies out of over 50 applicants to receive the license to operate P2P Financing in the country registered with the Securities Commission of Malaysia. Fundaztic eventually went live in July 2017 with the SME market being their main target. We talk to Kristine about their journey thus far and the state of play for P2P here today. Listen in. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malayan Flour Mills (MFM) is the oldest flour mill in the country, and over the years also established itself as a player in the poultry industry. KC Cheang, the Chief Financial Officer talks about the company’s cash call to fund an expansion that will help it recover from a torrid 2018.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the introduction of new taxes like the sugar and digital tax as well as increased efforts to clamp down on tax avoiders, the Inland Revenue Board of Malaysia is set for a challenging 2019. We speak to its Deputy CEO of Tax Operation, Datuk Mohd Nizom Sairi on how IRB plans to monitor individuals with unexplained extraordinary wealth and how the agency will be working with other entities moving forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Equity Crowdfunding (ECF) was meant to transform fundraising and provide entrepreneurs with an alternative funding option. We speak to pitchIN about the state of Equity Crowdfunding (ECF) in Malaysia and the strides the startup has made since the last time they were on the show 2 years ago. We follow up with pitchIN after 2 years on the company's growth and Malaysia’s fintech landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

GHL has big plans for 2019. Among them is to go deeper into Indonesia, venturing into a new segment there- the offline payment system. But big plans comes with big investments- would that impact GHL’s earnings for FY2019? We ask Danny this and he shares with us the earnings momentum moving forward. We also discuss the company’s business strategies in the midst of a challenging operating landscape. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the introduction of e-hailing services, taxis have been struggling to stay relevant amidst a changing landscape. We speak to Dato' Shamsubharin Ismail. CEO and founder of Big Blue Taxi on his thoughts of e-hailing services and how he plans to take on the challenges 2019 poses.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UEM Edgenta is Malaysia’s largest integrated facilities management (IFM) provider. Dato' Azmir shares his outlook for the domestic infrastructure sector, and the company's strategy of maintaining its dividend policy of paying out 50-80% of its net profit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

DPI Holdings believes that the ongoing DIY (do-it-yourself) culture that is picking up steam here in the region is a catalyst for growth for its aerosol can products. DPI is en-route to a listing on the ACE market next month and is looking to raise some RM31.6 million from the listing. The 35-year old company has also set its sights on a larger international customer base. How do they plan to go about enlarging their geographical footprint? How much CAPEX do they plan on pumping into their foreign ventures? We discuss these matters. We also talk about the company's business strategies to manage forex risk given its transactional currency exposure. What is it doing to minimise this risk? Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Standing committees are part and parcel of developed democracies. YB Wong Chen’s office authored a paper entitled “Standing Committees for a New Malaysia”. As 6 new committees have already been established to add to the 5 old ones, we explore the importance of such committees in the Malaysian political landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SOCAR is a South Korean car-sharing start-up that launched in 2011, and kicked off its operations in Malaysia in January this year. Is car-sharing a viable solution to Malaysia’s mobility problem? Why the need for it since we already have ride-hailing? Leon weighs in. We also discuss the notion of whether car-sharing is mostly limited to the tourist market and simply an updated car-rental service. Is there a pathway to profitability or is the goal for SOCAR simply growth and market share? We ask Leon this. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since early October, oil prices have dropped from over USD $80 per barrel to less than USD $60.As the fortunes of Hibiscus Petroleum is closely tied to the price of oil, how big a concern is this for the company? We discuss this with Kenneth and look into what the company is doing to buffer itself from the volatility in oil prices. We also talk the business strategies and oil production targets. Sitting in a debt free position today, would the company ever consider taking on debt for expansion? Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Habib Jewel’s journey began in 1958, starting out as a small shop at Pitt Street Penang. From a small family business in Penang, Habib has now expanded to sell its products in Indonesia, Brunei, Singapore, the United States, and Europe. But given fast-changing consumer taste and trends today, what is Habib doing to stay relevant? We talk to Meer about their business and diversification strategies. We also discuss rising competition as well as the tough balancing act to juggle volatile gold prices and margins. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lazada says that the 11.11 Singles' Day event was a success and they saw record sales, but just how big a sale was it for them? We ask Christophe this and he revealed that their 1 single day of sales surpassed their 1 year of sales in 2014. We also question Lazada's pathway to profitability. While Singles' Day did help boost up Lazada to record sales, the event also brought about a major flaw in its ecosystem and that is the payments system -- which crashed during the sale. We discuss this and the other challenges the company is facing in the fast moving e-commerce game. Listen in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It's been a decade since the last global financial crisis. Now, faced with heightened debt levels fulled by global central banks, as well as the US-China trade war that's threatening the world economy, are we due for another major market crash? Dr. Xie, named among Bloomberg's "50 Most Influential Persons in Finance”, issues a grim warning for the year ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ken explains the growth strategy for Malaysia's first robo-advisor, and addresses criticisms of such passive investment platforms.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The International Compliance Association (ICA) is a global, not-for-profit professional body that awards certifications and qualifications in anti-money laundering, governance, risk and compliance as well as financial crime prevention. We speak to its Regional Director Andrew Glover on the evolving standards of compliance, as well as lessons Malaysia can derive from major financial scandals.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thought leader Chandran Nair is a known speaker on the international circuit but curiously commands little recognition in his home country Malaysia. We get acquainted with Chandran on the Breakfast Grille and tap into his insights on good governance, sustainable development and environmental conservation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Holstein Milk Company produces dairy products under the Farm Fresh and Yarra brands, which are sold across Malaysia and Singapore. Managing Director Loi Tuan Ee shares how The Holstein Milk Company plans to increase milk yield from its breed of tropical dairy cows, and the social impact of the company's unique marketing approach.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With over 250 stores nationwide, Subway has managed to build a following in the local fast food scene in the decade since its arrival to Malaysia. Master Franchisor Dato’ Vincent Choo shares Subway Malaysia's recipe for survival.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Even with a new name, geographical expansion, and business diversification, share prices for Federal International (formerly known as Federal Furniture) have lost about 70 percent of its value since the company's previous Breakfast Grille appearance in 2016. Datuk Choy shares the company's growth outlook, which will be more reliant on the construction sector despite the property oversupply in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.