The Breakfast Grille

Paul Henry, Founder and Senior Principal of the Australia-based global architecture and design firm Populous, talks about its specialty in sports and entertainment structures, including their track record that includes London's O2 Arena and football team Tottenham Hotspurs' new ground. Populous are in KL to help MRCB design KL Sports City, which is a revamp of the sports facilities at Bukit Jalil.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today is Africa Day, when the founding of the Organisation of Africa Unity is commemorated. The theme this year is “Harnessing the Demographic Dividend through Investment in Youth.” The youngest of the world’s continents, Africa also has the highest level of youth unemployment. We explore how countries on the Continent will make the best use of its demographics, if politics remains an impediment to progress and why trade between Malaysia and African nations is tepid.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From being on standby for US President Barack Obama to treating medical tourists, Prince Court Medical Centre prides itself in being a 'full-fledged' hospital. However, Chong explains how he's managing the challenges in the healthcare industry, from contending with medical inflation to tackling the shortage of nurses and specialist doctors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Creative industries contribute 1.6% to the GDP, and through this investment arm , it aims to boost it further. Established in 2012, the initial funding was RM200 million, and this year MyCreative is targeting to invest between RM50 and RM60 million to finance up to 25 companies. Is this public money well spent and where has the arm taken us in what is essentially a global conversation on the creative class and its role in growth story.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ba U Shan-Ting, President of Domino's Pizza Malaysia & Singapore, discusses the various road-bumps faced by the pizza player in recent years, like GST and rising labour and material input costs. But store openings have been rising and demand has been strong for the franchise player. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andre Stiegler, Studio Manager for the gaming company Codemasters, talks about relocating to Malaysia, the only foreign outpost for the British firm and the dfficulties of navigating sea change in the gaming industry from consoles to online, and trying to stay afloat at the same time. He also talked about Malaysia as an overseas office and the value it adds.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A global paranoia over security threats have settled into the norm of everyday life for most people in cities and on the internet. iCetana, is a company that specialises in the business of surveillance, which has a market that includes perhaps unsurprisingly the retail sector. We ask CEO Chris Farquhar about security trends and whether the world has indeed become a more dangerous place to live in.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amid the oil and gas slowdown in recent years, T7 Global, then known as Tanjung Offshore, also had to contend with a boardroom tussle and allegations of money laundering. Datuk Seri Dr. Nik Norzrul explains how the company is moving past its legacy issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Yesterday, the Malay-right group Perkasa launched a campaign to undermine the electoral success of the Malaysian Indian Congress. They said they would begin in Datuk Seri Dr. S. Subramaniam's constituency of Segamat, Johor. Today we ask the 5th President of one of the founding parties of the Federation, how he views this and other challenges. We also discuss the recently-announced Malaysian Indian Blueprint and the ever-burgeoning public healthcare system.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bringing back some of the approximately 150,000 Malaysians in the diaspora back home, is a hot button public issue. While it represents only 5% of the 6 year old agency’s current work, it probably occupies  the lion share of the conversation that TalentCorp generates on the global issue of talent. Today we look at the government’s efforts on the brain drain issue as well as graduate employability.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael J. Lambert, Director of Banknotes at the Federal Reserve and Head of the US Currency Education Program, talks big themes like the war on cash, counterfeiting, going digital, cryptocurrencies and the Yuan onslaught.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Axiata is betting on a Celcom turnaround to move past 2016, a year which the telco "wants to forget". Investors would probably look for proof that Axiata is a good fund manager of regional telco and tech assets by boosting its share price which has substantially underperformed the FBMKLCI last year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak has a plan to encourage the B40 group to become ride-sharing drivers. Meanwhile, there's a push in Malaysia's parliament to legalise such services. Is it all smooth sailing now for Uber Malaysia? Leon explains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paul Lim Ooi Joo, Managing Director of Inta Bina Group Bhd, the Klang Valley and Johor-focused building contractor, is going for listing on the ACE Market at the end of May. But unlike other builders with CONQUAS and QUALITAS accreditation, has no plans to move into development just yet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the Ministry of Finance's recent report, Malaysia's property market saw an 11.5% decline in transaction volume and 3% drop in value in 2016. Against that backdrop, Goh speaks about the prospects of this boutique high-end developer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Shamsuddin Bardan, Executive Director, Malaysian Employers Federation (MEF) & Sivarajan Arumugam, Secretary-General, Parti Sosialis Malaysia PSM participate in a panel on the proposed Employee Insurance Scheme (EIS), discussing the necessity of starting a social safety net for retrenched workers. Good idea -- but Issues like scheme mechanics, oversight, management and governance come into play. Plus, should the masses subsidise a few?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exactly how free is the Malaysian media? As of 2017, the country ranks 144th on the World Press Freedom Index. Deputy Home Affairs Minister Datuk Nur Jazlan Mohamed does not agree with the ranking, given that the country enjoys unrestricted internet access and a space for independent media outlets to operate. On this World Press Freedom Day, we discuss with him about what constitutes "press freedom" in multiracial and multi-religious Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

“Many of the most highly regarded works on Malaysian history, politics, economics, sociology and law have been carried out here at Australian National University.” The director of the newly set-up Malaysia Institute was also reported saying that  “Australian scholarship on Malaysia has declined in recent years, and more Australians studied the Malay language in the 1970s than they do today.” To understand the larger higher education story as well as the specifics of the Institute, we speak to the Ross Tapsell its newly minted director.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are the doors closing for aspiring immigrants to the New Zealand? Its government is taking a Kiwi-first approach and is tightening the immigration policy as it shifts focus to attracting skilled migrants. But there still are opportunities for Malaysians there: Investors are welcomed especially in sectors, like tourism, which are growing rapidly. As New Zealand and Malaysia celebrates the 60-year milestone in its relationship, we spoke to the High Commissioner of New Zealand about its relationship with Malaysia, ASEAN and China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Brewer, CEO of DHL eCommerce, talks strategy in an ASEAN market that is growing at leaps and bounds in the one area which is upending traditional retail: ecommerce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SilverTech Global is the result of a joint venture between Heitech Padu and SilverLake. Its core business is in the digital government market, specialising in public sector identity management projects for developing countries. Do they have the solutions to transform tedious and complex bureaucratic processes in governments that would better serve the public? We ask its CEO Jonas Lind.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump came to the White House as an outsider. And while he as excelled at signing Executive Orders, his legislative agenda has been beset with problems which in part reflect his inexperience in the complex levers of government, his inability to pander to the Republican who control Congress and his own lack of a coherent policy agenda. But it is early days yet for a man who might end his tenure as a President of consequence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tomorrow is Earth Day with its focus on environmental and climate literacy. The global campaign see literacy as “the engine not only for creating green voters and advancing environmental and climate laws and policies but also for accelerating green technologies and jobs.” It will also see the launch of the autobiography of veteran environmental campaigner, Gurmit Singh. His book is titled “Memoirs of a Malaysian Eco-Activist”. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the Tyre Retreading Manufacturers Association of Malaysia, 30% out of 1.2 million retreaded tires on the market were not manufactured according to specifications. Cheah addresses the concerns surrounding the industry, ahead of Eversafe Rubber's IPO on April 21.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Responsible for the training and development of the 45,000 employees of Malaysia's biggest bank by market cap, Nora Manaf, Group Chief Human Capital Officer of Maybank Group, shares how she's trying to ensure job satisfaction in a VUCA world. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spotify now boasts 100 million users, and about half of them are paid subscribers. Sunita highlights Asia’s role in the overall growth strategy for one of the world’s leaders in online music streaming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Remember those 'economic corridors'? We have the benefit of the Nothern Corridor Implementation Authority describing how employment and self-sufficiency have been created.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Claus Weidner, Mercedes Benz Malaysia managing director, spells out the recipe behind the company's record sales performance in 2016.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jahabar Sadiq aims to migrate personal principles of fairness and independence to The Malaysian Insight, a new news portal he founded after the closure of The Malaysian Insider last year. We ask him whether funding sources and commercial realities can challenge this independence.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Many challenges lie ahead for the small nation of Finland, that has only just emerging from a long recession. In a statement issued in January this year the Finnish central bank said “An improving employment situation and low inflation will bolster real disposable household income. Exports will recover amid better competitiveness and higher external demand." It went on to note that an ageing population is one of the headwinds for a fuller long term recovery. Finland’s GDP growth for 2017 is forecasted to 1.3%. Today we look at the many factors that fed into the recession and prospects for recovery.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ranked 4th in the Times Higher Education World University 2016-2017 raking, Cambridge University continues to be seen as a leader in quality higher education. Today we speak about the development of a fund, named after the late Prime Minister of Singapore Lee Kuan Yew as well as the impact of Brexit on higher education funding.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kim Teck Cheong Consolidated Berhad (KTC) is a Sabah-based consumer packaged goods distributor. CEO of KTC, Dexter Lau, joins us on The Breakfast Grille to provide some insights into the performance of the company since its listing on the ACE Market in November 2016. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Competition Commission has proposed a fine of RM213.45 million for alleged anti-competitive behavior by the General Insurance Association of Malaysia (PIAM) and its 22 members. Philip provides insights into the current state of the domestic insurance sector, along with the associated challenges.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Mohd. Zamzam Jaafar, CEO, Malaysia Nuclear Power Corp, fields questions on the viability of this highly efficient but very contentious power source, as Malaysia gears up for its next and final push to fully developed statusSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The global business services sector is expected to attract some RM6.5 billion in investments and create over 14,000 job opportunities by 2020. Munirah provides an outlook on GBS/BPO, given some high-profile departures and delays in the sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As antitrust cases are becoming more global in nature, so must antitrust enforcement. Marvin N. Price, Director of Criminal Enforcement for the Antitrust Division of the US Department of Justice, discusses the enforcement of anti-competitive behaviour and cartel-like conduct, and the challenges to international cooperation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since its inception in 2005, Andaman Group has reached a gross development value of RM3 billion. Dato Sri Dr. Vincent outlines how this property developer finds its edge among the larger players.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Because CIMB has become a proxy to Malaysian ideals of an Asean bank, their views on fintech and corporate governance are pertinent to how the economy moves forward.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Group Managing Director of Freight Management Holdings, Chew Chong Keat, shares his strategy in navigating the current challenging market outlook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The fintech disruption continues and now allows you to buy gold with just a few bucks. We assess the good and bad of that.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nadiah Wan, Chief Operating Officer for Clinical Services at Sunway Medical Centre explains the "hidden costs" that goes into the running of a private hospital, and why Sunway Medical is banking on medical tourism to drive growth for the company. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the Securities Commission recently introducing 6 registered Peer-to-Peer financing platform operators, Malaysia now embarks on its P2P journey as industry leaders in the US and China endure their respective challenges. Kristine provides an outlook on this potentially disruptive technology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Michael Driscoll outlines his vision for making Taylor's University the "gold standard" in Malaysia, as it contends with industry headwinds including staff retention and falling student enrollment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The general election in The Netherlands is expected to be a test case for right-wing sentiment for the spate of elections slated for the rest of Europe this year, but Ambassador Karin feels that the liberal ethos of the Dutch will shine through and prevent surprises.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Already squeezed by higher commodity prices, Johor-based biscuit maker, Hup Seng Industries Berhad is seeing its margins further impacted by the new Anti-Profiteering Mechanism. Hup Seng's Group Executive Director, Kerk Chian Tung, shares her plans to face these challenges head on. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pertubuhan Tindakan Wanita Islam (PERTIWI) was set up in 1967 as a charitable organisation decicated to championing women and children’s rights.Tan Sri Rafiah Salim, President of PERTIWI takes a look at how how women's issues have changed in the past 50 years. And as a woman who has broken through many barriers herself, Tan Sri Rafiah also discusses the 'glass ceiling' for women in Malaysia and the kind of support needed to keep women in the workforce.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato’ Garry Chua, President of Malaysian Retail Chain Association and Kevin Tan, COO of Sunway Shopping Malls, offer a perspective of the health of the local retail sector and offer a wishlist of how the government can help the sector improve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2016, Honda Malaysia overtook Proton and became the second most popular brand in terms of TIV (Total Industry Volume). Akkbar outlines the Japanese automaker's plans to grow market share in Malaysia, while hanging on to its 3,000-strong workforce at its plant in Melaka.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysia Competition Commission clarifies its investigation of General Insurers' Association of Malaysia and apparent tiff with Bank Negara. We also catch up with the state of the country's competitive advocacy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zainal Amanshah, the CEO of InvestKL, discusses the last third of his government mandate to attract one hundred of the world’s largest multinationals to invest in the Greater Kuala Lumpur area by 2020, at a time when other ASEAN cities compete on similiar platforms of skills, cost competitiveness, government assistance and liveability. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.