The Breakfast Grille

Simon Anholt, the founder of The Good Country movement and the creator of The Good Country Index explains how it's possible for countries to look after their citizens needs without ignoring the needs of the global population and the planet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With developed nations shying away from globalization, China's influence continues to expand throughout the globe. The MCCC cautions that Chinese investors, when expanding abroad, must also respect local laws and customs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nick Walton, Head of ASEAN for Amazon Web Services, the cloud computing unit of the US e-commerce giant, talks strategy and growth, a decade after the brick and mortar business began and triple-digit growth is finally slowing to a double-digit crawl. Walton also talks innovation and the entry of IoT and Artificial Intelligence into the corporate mainstream.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We find out from Professor Emeritus Dato’ Dr Hassan Said how UiTM can commercialise and take itself to the international stage without sacrificing Bumiputera entrance requirements at the same time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the likes of Tony Roma's, Manhattan Fish Market and Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen within its stable, Revenue Valley is looking to increase its global footprint beyond the Malaysian context. CEO George Ang also outlines the risks and challenges clouding his F&B growth outlook.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Daud Vicary, President and CEO of the International Centre for Islamic Finance (INCEIF) shares his views on what Malaysia should be doing to further develop itself as an Islamic finance and investment hub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Minister of Federal Territories Datuk Seri Tengku Adnan Tengku Mansor explains the need for Federal Territories in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACE-market listed BioAlpha Holdings is Malaysia's first herbal supplements player to be in control of its full supply chain, from farming to manufacturing, retail to R&D. Managing Director William Hon discusses how it plans to grow its presence not just domestically, but also in the high-growth markets of Indonesia and China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bantuan Rakyat 1Malaysia (BR1M) has been the centre of a heated discussion in the lead up to the anticipated GE14 this year; one that has sometimes divided the political opposition. Is it a political bribe benefitting the ruling Barisan Nasional or a now common-place policy tool for social provisioning? Today we ask how does BR1M fit into the overall structure of policies and mechanism to deal with inequality and economic vulnerability? Also if there are moral hazards involved when democratically elected governments use such tools for electoral gain, or if such schemes are a disincentives to work or a source of dependency on the state.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Donald Trump is on the threshold of entering the most powerful office in the US, and all eyes are now on Washington DC. In anticipation of the swearing in of President Donald Trump, we take a look at the transition of leadership of what is arguably the world’s biggest economy and most influential military power. We reflect on the legacy of the Obama Administration, and the extent to which President Trump's agenda will begin where Obama's ended. We speak to a panel of guests on a range of topics, including America's future domestic policies and their place in a global context, the uncertainty of US foreign policy and Trump's agenda for the next hundred days. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serba Dinamik benefits from the continued operation of oil rigs and therefore insulated from oil sector turbulence. But that doesn't stop them from venturing into power plants and water treatment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Launched just last February, Investment Account Platform (IAP) is a multi-bank Shariah-compliant “matchmaking” online platform that facilitates channeling of funds from investors to finance viable ventures. CEO Izam Yusoff discusses the mechanics of IAP and how it plans to be a catalyst of growth for the Islamic finance sector. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Sarawak begins an official week of mourning for the late Chief Minister Tan Sri Adenan Satem, observers ask what and who comes next in leading the Borneo state. We ask if there will be policy continuity, if the “full autonomy” agenda is in danger of a rollback, and political succession will be a messy affair.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Allianz Life Insurance Malaysia is a subsidiary of the publicly-listed Allianz Malaysia, which in turn is a subsidiary of Allianz SE, Europe’s biggest insurer. CEO Joseph Gross shares his thoughts on the liberalisation of the insurance industry in Malaysia. The podcast is an extended version of the broadcasted interview.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What lessons can we learn from the British experience of designing and building major transport infrastructure? The Crossrail project has been controversial from the start, but is there more to the project than just numbers and profit? Will the benefits of the project outweigh the huge investment costs? Today, a day after strikes by London Tube workers crippled the city, we speak to Sir Terry Morgan the man who is leading the RM80 billion (£14.8 billion) Crossrail project. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The challenges for higher education in the 21st century are legion, arising from structural problems that orginated 50 years ago - massification, commercialisation and globalisation, to name a few. But are all stakeholders getting the best out of the present system? And are there gamechangers out there? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Martin Hayden gives his observations about the Asian job market, the startup scene and the competitive landscape in online jobs platforms. We also get an update of SEEK's RM1.7b buy of JobStreet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voon Tze Khay the General Manager of REV Asia Berhad shares how the digital media group is expanding its market reach within the Malay- and Chinese-speaking audience segment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Business Integrity Alliance was set up in 2016 to identify and eliminate corruption through engagement with the business community in Malaysia. We ask if integrity and ethics in business can indeed be taught, what the resistance in the business community might be, the place of Government Linked Companies in the anti-corruption drive, and the effect of corruption on the bottom line.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Managepay's transition will be rough as witnessed by the sharp fall in reported profits and share price but the potential, if executed well, is great.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we look back on the year, we reflect on the coverage we did on the biggest story of the decade: the rise of China. With headlines like "$100 Billion Chinese-Made City Near Singapore 'Scares the Hell Out of Everybody’" (Bloomberg), it's a narrative that has developed with a significant Malaysian footnote. In this episode we have excerpts from the best Breakfast Grille conversations we have had throughout the year on China with various thinkers and industry leaders. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

2016 saw Malaysia explore new frontiers in financial technology, or Fintech, which introduced new innovative ways to disrupt traditional finance business models. Ibrahim Sani recaps of the year that was, with some of our best Breakfast Grille interviews on Fintech. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jeffrey S. Yablon is the Executive Vice President and General Manager for Asia Pacific of InClinica, a US-based clinical Contract Research Organisation (CRO). He joins us on the Breakfast Grille to discuss the CRO business model and why the company has chosen Malaysia as its regional hub.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since the late 70's, China's comprehensive transformation has witnessed policies that have changed institutional arrangements, societal frameworks, and governance structures of one of the most influential countries today. Though bringing prosperity and power to China, they have also resulted in demographic and environmental challenges that have in turn required counteracting policies.  Today, we ask how China balances its public policy against the corresponding effects, and what kinds of conversations are being generated around questions of an overburdened public sector, food security, environmental degradation and the NIMBY phenomenon to name a few.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Equity Crowdfunding is seen as a new form of fundraising that allows startups and SMEs to obtain capital through small equity investments from a relatively large numbers of investors, using online portals to publicise and facilitate such offers. In November, the Securities Commission approved six registered equity crowdfunding platforms. One of the approved is pitchIN. Henry Loke, the CFO of pitchIN, joins us on the Breakfast Grille to discuss equity crowndfunding as an alternative of raising capital.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is an AirAsia dependency necessarily a bad thing for Tune Protect? And does their digital ambition open opportunities for this?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Listed property developer EcoFirst is selling of one of its crown jewels - the 1Segamat Mall in Johor - and is banking on its biggest project Ampang Ukay to anchor growth over the next decade. Dato' Tiong Kwing Hee, Group CEO and Executive Director of EcoFirst Consolidated Berhad joins us on the Breakfast Grille to share more insights into the company’s plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We discuss what fintech means for an old insurance company like AIA.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Over 45% of Malaysians who borrow from PTPTN, a student loan organisation, do not pay back their loans. We speak to Mastura Mohd Khalid, the Deputy CEO of Perbadanan Tabung Pendidikan Tinggi Nasional on why people don't honour their legal and moral obligations to settle their debts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Animal health solution provider Rhone Ma Holdings is set to list on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia on December 19th. Dr. Lim Ban Keong, Managing Director of Rhone Ma tells us more about the business and why they have chosen to list amidst weak market sentiment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia-based Farringdon Group, a private wealth and investment manager, is set to launch Asia's first Shariah-compliant robo-advisory platform. CEO Stuart Yeomans tells us more about this new frontier and how he deals with regulatory & compliance concerns.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Corruption never really goes away; while ethics and morals are important, it is too simplistic to argue that their mere presence can counteract institutional rot. The International Anti-corruption Academy (IACA) aims to substantially contribute to the fight against corruption through rigorous academic study and culturally diverse training programmes. We speak with Martin Kreutner, an influential voice in anti-corruption circles and the dean of the IACA, regarding the state of corruption in the world and the efforts to combat its proliferation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Smalley, Co-Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Neuroware, demystifies the world of distributive ledgers, commonly known as blockchains.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In a weakened market environment, going back to basics in investing may prove to be a safer move to take. But those who can capitalize on market inefficiencies may see some gains to be mined in such a lean market environment. We speak with Munirah Khairuddin, CEO of CIMB Principal Asset Management (CPAM) to find out more on this, and to better understand the main principle of asset management.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xbit Asia's success as the country's first bitcoin exchange depends on ambitious plans to get consumers and merchants to buy into the cryptocurrency idea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Recent months has seen leadership changes in IPG Mediabrands. Newly appointed CEO Bala Pomaleh joins us on the Breakfast Grille to share his insights into the advertising industry.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Courier service provider Nationwide Courier Services Berhad is embarking on a turnaround strategy which includes a proposed bid to acquire Airpak Express as part of efforts to capture growth in the e-commerce segment. Managing Director Rozilawati Basir outlines the group's strategy to compete against the new players in the industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Water Services Industries Act (WSIA) 2006 was meant to give states greater control over managing their respective water supply. But after nearly 8 years in power, Pakatan Harapan, wrangling over the issue continues. Today the ex MB explains his side of the story, and why he thinks the responsibility should still lie with the current state administration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Any asset can be collateralised to raise funding. Pos ArRahnu takes it one step further by pawnbroking smaller denominations of gold as a versatile facilitator of microcredit. We look into the pros and cons of this business including whether expensive effective interest rates are Islamic, funding options, and the digital impact.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NanoMalaysia, the business entity under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation, is mandated to be the lead driver for the nanotechnology industry in Malaysia. We ask CEO Dr Rezal Khairi Ahmad just how successful NanoMalaysia has been with the commercialization for nanotechnology.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this year, the world was stunned by the brazen cyber-heist carried out on Bangladesh’s central bank from which $81 million was stolen. The then-governor Dr Atiur Rahman resigned from his post after the theft, just four and a half months before his planned retirement. For a man who was awarded ‘Central Bank Governor of the Year for Asia 2015', what did the abrupt departure mean for his legacy? Has the scandal overshadowed the pioneering socially responsible financing programmes he put in place during his tenure? We ask the man himself, on the Breakfast Grille.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Adam Brimo, founder & CEO of OpenLearning on the future of Massive Open Online Courses (MOOC) in Malaysia. OpenLearning is an online learning platform that helps digitise education in the country, by working closely with local universities. Do MOOCs help with the democratisation of education, or does it turn universities into businesses? Even if this is so, is it an entirely bad thing? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lim Kok Hing, Founder & Executive Director of the online payments provider iPay88, says the smartphone will be the wallet of the future, as money goes digital and cash diminishes in usage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Holstein Milk Company is the appointed anchor company for Khazanah Nasional's NKEA Project in the Agrifood sector. We speak to their CEO, Loi Tuan Ee on how they plan to provide fresh farm dairy products to the people of Malaysia, and beyondSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Smartly, a robo-advisor set up in Singapore, allows customers to invest cheaply and speedily. The disruptive forces of fintechs will pose a great challenge to the traditionally high-cost fund managers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ThinCats is Australia's first online market for secured business loans linking retail lenders and investors with SME borrowers. We speak with their CEO, Sunil Aranha on how this business might work here in MalaysiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MKH Berhad, formerly known as Metro Kajang Holdings, started out as a property developer of townships in Kajang and Semenyih but have now diversified into the plantation business with 16,000 hectares in Indonesia. Tan Sri Eddy Chen, the managing director of MKH, discusses how the group plans to weather the current property down cycle.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today as polls closed across the USA we cross over to three Malaysians in the thick of the battle for political control of the world’s only Superpower. We examine issues of ground sentiment, White identity politics, control of the Senate and the implication of either a Donald Trump or Hilary Clinton win for global dynamics. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stockspot is an Australian-based robo adviser disrupting the investment scene. By charging low fees for investing in Exchange-Traded Funds, they are championing the fintech revolution. We speak to Stockspot's Founder & CEO, Chris Bryki to learn more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The author of the best-selling book titled “When China Rules the World: the End of the Western World and the Birth of a New Global Order,” joins us to catch up on developments since 2012 when his books was published. The book has been translated into fifteen languages and has sold several hundred thousand copies.  The book has been shortlisted for two major literary awards and his TED talk on how to understand China has had over 2 million views. On the back of the trip of Prime Minister Najib Razak to Beijing and the RM144 billion worth of deals signed, we ask if we should exercise caution even as China’s extends its hand in trade and investments. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.