The Breakfast Grille

Lau Kin-Wai, Chief Executive Officer of the ASX, Australia--listed Fatfish Internet Group, talks about how his listed venture capital investment incubator is able to fund high-growth opportunities in ASEAN.  He discusses potential strategic investment targets, the value of Australia's public markets as a home for Asian tech listings, as well as exit strategy options, including the upcoming IPO of his ICandy subsidiary.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Puvanesan Subenthiran, CEO of Privasia Technology Bhd, the ACE Market-listed IT Services company, talks about diversifying away from its core ports and logistics software business and into the satellite and communications business. He also talks about the considerable challenges of a deteriorating ringgit, GST's introduction and the attendant management concerns of cashflow management, receivables management and sales origination.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eureeca is the first online equity crowdfunding platform, where investors become shareholders in the chosen SME. Sam Quawasmi, the managing director and co-founder of Eureeca discusses the benefits of this model of crowdfunding, and addresses the dilution fears of businesses. Eureeca has also just received regulatory approval from the Securities Commission Malaysia to provide its services here.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

For over 150 years, the Ceylon tea you thought you were drinking was not really Ceylon tea. It was instead this impure mix of leaves from various sources of poor quality and of poor taste. All of that would change with Merrill J Fernando and his company Dilmah. He would go up against big tea companies, insisting that tea be picked, packed and shipped direct from Sri Lanka by pickers themselves — ensuring that the Ceylon tea you were drinking was actually Ceylon tea.  The 85-year-old also claims that Fair Trade certification is the "biggest fraud perpetrated on consumers". Listen to this podcast to find out why. Mr. Merrill J Fernando spoke with us at the NHRC Malaysia SME Congress 2015.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Are South Korean Chaebols or conglomerates a boon or bane to the economy. And can they get away with murder? Image Source: Peter Schrank, the EconomistSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why haven't doctors themselves stored their children's cord blood? Are there truths to stem cell research? Are private cell banks better than public banks? How many cases have stem cell regeneration helped? New mothers, is it your right to store this?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Georg Chmiel, Managing Director & Chief Executive Officer of the iProperty Group, talks about building an ASEAN Internet property classifieds business, monetising the digital migration of ad dollars, foreign currency challenges and the possibility that Rupert Murdoch might buy the company overSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Danny Gladstone, CEO of the Australia-listed gaming machine and software producer Ainsworth Game Technology, talks about the ever-evolving nature of casino gaming and how his company now sees itself more as a software company that builds games for a global audience, a sea change from its early days of making slot machines and one-armed bandits. He also talks about its biggest markets of North and South America and the importance of complying with government regulation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BFM's Sharaad Kuttan talks to Lim Eng Chong, Managing Director of the Henry Butcher Art Auctioneers about the budding local art scene, and the profitability of art as an investmentSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alternative financier Borro provides short-term loans secured by luxury assets such as fine art, classic cars, jewellery, antiques, fine wine, etc. Tom McDermott, Chief Commercial Officer of Borro discusses some of the more interesting assets used as collateral, and why the company’s wealthy clientele keep coming back for more.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this July 2015 interview, Tan Sri Datuk Dr Yusof Basiron, the CEO of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), discusses the challenges of having a viable domestic palm market with B10 (and B15 farther out) and why it is that Indonesia has progressed further and faster than Malaysia. He also talks about Malaysia's largest market -- Europe -- its anti-palm lobby, environmental challenges and benefits, ongoing relevance of sustainability standards and indeed the definition of 'Sustainability', as well as the current debate on worker rights and conditions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Julian Ng talks to Malaysian Investor Relations Association (MIRA) Chairman, Steven Tan about how the profession has evolved to meet the increasing information demand by shareholders.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Experian describes to us what data analytics is, and how they use your data to train banks to be better in credit, analytics, and risk. Learn how Experian, a data science company do their job better, so people like you can do your banking better.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the construction arm of the Sunway Group, the group will relist on the Bursa Malaysia Main Market at possibly one of the most volatile fiscal years for Malaysia. It originally made its debut on Bursa in 1997,  but subsequently privatised in 2004.  Kwan Foh Kwai discusses with us how the construction sector has fared this year and the group's new phase of growth in the era. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microlink talks to BFM on their role in the IT world, by supporting the banks in Malaysia. They also talk about their outlook on the future of banking in Malaysia and beyond.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vijayakumar Tangarasan, the country manager of Regus Malaysia discusses how the traditional workstyle is being transformed by technology, replaced by greater flexibility in terms of hours as well as working locations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been more than 100 days since the implementation of GST, but the teething problems of the new tax system is far from resolved. Yee Wing Peng of Deloitte and Datuk Subromaniam of Royal Malaysian Customs jointly discuss the current push-backs that are faced by various industries and steps to further broaden the tax base, as well as advancing the transparency of the new tax regime.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Berjaya Auto's Executive Director and CEO Dato' Sri Ben Yeoh, talks about the company's impressive sales and financial performance this year, helped by a slew of capable new models, affordable prices thanks to its use of local content and a weak Yen against the ringgit. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Landmarks Berhad sold Sungei Wang Plaza some years back to channel resources into the Treasure Bay Bintan resort. As a relatively quiet island off Singapore and with a targetted 5,000 rooms in the first few phases of the 850-acre resort, bringing up Bintan to the public eye seems an uphill task. Does Landmarks have a few tricks up its sleeve?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Plaza Premium is a home grown business which specialises in airport lounges. The business model on the surface looks solid because it is too costly for airlines to setup their individual lounges globally. But rising competition could come from more entertaining consumer electronics, free wifi and increasing vibrancy of airports in providing eateries, restroom facilities and entertainment.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Advertising isn't what it was decades ago. How is the advertising world changing to meet new demands?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

BFM talks to TS Global Network, Malaysia's premier satellite company on what they do for a living, and how they inadvertently support the entire nation's consumption on satellite usage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pestech International is one of the local EPC (engineering, procurement and commissioning) in power transmission lines. The hunger of Asean and the greater Asian region for electricity drives growth for Pestech but can its small balance sheet handle it?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

John McKendry, the country manager of Pfizer Malaysia, discusses the cost of product development, the so-called 'patent cliff', and how to repair the 'trust deficit' between Big Pharma and consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ordinary Malaysians are in dire need of financial advice and planning. But just as dire is awareness on who the right people are to advise and plan. Issues like conflicts in commissioned selling and high costs of financial products also stand out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Law Minister of Malaysia explains the reasons for the amended Sedition Act. She also talks about the need to have a review on laws regarding marital rape. She stands tall against terrorism, even when doing things that are against the grain of popularity by introducing the Prevention of Terrorism Act.YB Nancy Shukri is one of only two full women ministers in the cabinet. She hails from Sarawak and has a strong grasp of racial and religious harmony, and why Malaysia, above all else, must strive to achieve it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arica Walters, Executive Director and COO of the SGX Catalist-listed, Malaysia-based maker of mid-to high-end office furniture Versalink Holdings Limited, talks about its recent listing and dealing with the ringgit’s collapse, the introduction of GST and the plunge in oil prices, which has hurt business in its core Malaysian and Middle Eastern markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Founded in 1853, Levi Strauss & Co is now 162 years old -- the oldest of the five Fortune 1,000 apparel companies that have been around since 19th century. Nic Versloot, the Managing Director for Australia and Southeast Asia for Levi Strauss, talks about how innovation has kept the brand exciting over the years.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joel Neoh of Kfit wants to pack in the gyms with people through technology and clever pricing. He also wants Kfit to be a major contributor of revenues for fitness clubs. We talk about whether the feeling is mutual for customers and clubs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In May this year President Aquino made remarks to the effect that his Administration was not dropping long-standing claims to Sabah. While the Malaysian government summoned Philippine Charge d'Affaires over the remarks, and Malacanang is not pursuing the matter actively, the Sabah claim continues to drive politics in the archipelago’s southern provinces.   We cover this as well as the Bangsamoro peace process, the Lahad Datu incursion, South China Sea tensions, BIMP-EAGA successes and a ‘rosy’ assessment of the Filipino economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Asean region is steadily becoming one of Volkswagen most important market since its entry into Malaysia in 2006. Armin Keller discusses the group's efforts to address quality concerns & its after-sales service that has fallen short, as well as how the industry as a whole is coping with post-GST amidst tighter lending guidelines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

FGV's Group President and CEO Dato' Mohd Emir Mavani Abdullah discusses FGV's poor performance since their 2012 IPO, the group's much-criticized M&As such as Pontian Plantations, APL and more recently the deal that has become the talk of town: a share sale agreement with Indonesian plantation PT Eagle High that has sparked strong negative reaction in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Kenneth Pereira, Managing Director of Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd., Malaysia's first Special Purpose Acquisition Vehicle (SPAC), discusses his company's path to profit, the viability and attraction of his assets in Norway, the Middle East and Australia, and the possibility of new acquisitions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Never mind 'cutting-the-cord', a phenomenon where people end their contracts with cable companies, there is now a new generation of 'never-the-cord' adopters who consume entertainment directly from the internet and smart devices. While iflix wants to capture the expanding market of people who are dissatisfied with traditional TV or Cable, the challenge is getting around content costs and retaliations by incumbents.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world of investing is often viewed as closed & exclusive, with many not having the capital or expertise to start investing. 8 Securities is leveraging on its technology expertise & robo-advisory services to help ease people into investing with lower fees and a customised portfolio. We find out from Mathias Helleu if you should hand your investments to a computer that helps you track the markets cheaply. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The e-commerce realm is a jungle, and it can be hard to keep up with all the options. iPrice, an eight-month old startup based in Kuala Lumpur, aggregates the options available to the online shopper. Live in the studio, Heinrich Wendel founder and CTO, discusses his business model, how iPrice differentiates itself from other price comparison sites and the online shopping trends of Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In his 2004 memoir, John Perkins reflects on his life working in the upper echelons of corporate & political circles and how as a so-called 'economic hitman', he helped the U.S. cheat poor countries around the globe of trillions of dollars. Mounted with debts they could not possibly repay, these countries are effectively neutralised to succumb to US political pressure. A deadly exposé of corruption and scandal, Perkins had received numerous threats and bribes to prevent him from publishing his book which has since then sold millions and become a NYT bestseller. Perkins writes on current matters at http://www.johnperkins.org/ See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 11th Malaysia Plan was launched with much fanfare, but most Malaysians are asking what the hype is all about. As consumer sentiment and the ringgit weakens, Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar discusses the hallmarks of a developed nation and whether it stretches beyond infrastructure & construction projects. Should more be done to improve other indicators like freedom of expression, education & wealth inequality? From one of eleven siblings in an impoverished family,  Datuk Seri Abdul Wahid Omar speaks to us not only as a key policymaker but also as an insider with experience in the private sector Malaysian economy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sakae's conveyor belt system of delivering sushi, called Kaiten isn't new. Much of the innovation is made through its business processes. Sakae talks to us about how they try to offset the problem of fish depletion with minimal wastage and lowering their overall carbon footprint. Longer term, higher protein consumption from rising affluence will support growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Crescent Rating is a ratings company for Halal friendly travel services, and complementing that, is the HalalTrip.com site that helps Muslim travellers plan and book their trips. Fazal Bahardeen, founder & CEO of Crescent Rating and HalalTrip discusses the potential of the halal tourism market, and the business of rating Muslim-friendly hotels and services.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Established in 1992, IJN or the National Heart Institute occupies a peculiar spot in the local healthcare space to target the affluent whilst remaining committed to provide affordable healthcare as a partly-government owned institution. Datuk Dr Mohd Azhari shares if this business model makes sense and of his own experience as a surgeon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eric Yong, the executive director of Crest Builder, is back on the Breakfast Grille. He talks about Crest's tie-ups with Prasarana and gives an update of its project portfolio.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite having had a long history in Malaysia, regulatory restrictions stop OCBC from unfettered expansion. Its branch network is for instance one-tenth that of Maybank. The recent mega-merger attempt raises further questions on whether size is a competitive factor.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prasarana Malaysia is the asset owner and operator of the two LRT networks, the KL Monorail, and the bus services of RapidKL, RapidPenang and RapidKuantan. Its newly-appointed managing director, Azmi Abdul Aziz, gives an update on Prasarana's ongoing projects, including the Ampang & Kelana Jaya LRT Line Extension, the LRT 3 Line, and the Bus Rapid Transit project in Sunway.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Sabah Forestry Department has implemented many stringent conditions to raise sustainable planting in Sabah's timber sector This has made the last few years very challenging for timber players like Priceworth. Through Priceworth, we get insights into how timber companies operate in this very controversial industry and whether environmental standards are high enough.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Getty Goh, the co-founder and CEO of CoAssets, talks about how the crowdfunding platform will give the man in the street access to real-estate deals -- previously only available to high-net-worth investors.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A cultural landmark, Kayu Nasi Kandar started from modest beginnings in SS2, PJ to become now what is Malaysia's most well-known food & mamak store chain. Burukan Mohamed shares the beginnings of his business, importance of management & control and why he prefers keeping it in the family.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Launched in 2014, CompareAsiaGroup is a financial comparison platform to help consumers make more informed choices about the type of financial products to purchase. Its latest funding round saw the group raise over US$40 million led by Goldman Sachs to finance its expansion. Gerald Eder charts the path ahead for the group and objectivity challenges. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

From humble beginnings in an estate in Negeri Sembilan, self-made Malaysian-born billionaire Maha Sinnathamby is now ranked by Forbes as the 40th richest man in Australia. A real life rags-to-riches story. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Having an orderbook to supply kitchenware to property developers like UEM Sunrise makes earnings defensive in the short term. In the longer term however there would be delayed reactions to the vagaries of the property sector. Their presence in direct retail will mitigate this to an extent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.