The Breakfast Grille

In this August 2014 interview Zainal Amanshah, the CEO of InvestKL updates listeners on his investee targets in Kuala Lumpur, time taken to convert, investee pushbacks, ecosystem and macroeconomic drivers, internal and external challenges. He also discusses issues like state water disruptions, MAS tragedies, corruption, liveability, inflationary pressures, tax rates, talent crunch, ease and costs of doing business, infrastructure and policy formulation.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The entry into a integrated logistical solutions will bode well for GDEX. E-commerce features prominently as the shift from offline to online purchases will continue to support demand for transportation solutions. The linkages with SingPos and Alibaba raise some possibility for catalysts in future.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The field of financial advisory is a contentious one. How do you take investment advice from somebody whose income comes from selling investment products based on commission? Taurus seeks to move away from the conflicted commission-based business models to one with a fixed fee-based advisory. This market is expected to be a big one given the strong growth of Asian wealth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

After having come through a decisive election victory, India is now being watched even more closely than before by investors, business people and governments on how policies will pan out. ASEAN and India have a lot to offer each other but challenges abound, in particular India's bureaucracy which hampers investments. ASEAN itself also has a lot of self-searching to see how it will harness the potential of the ASEAN Economic Community if at all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We ask Shields to defend her economic report stating that Malaysia is a more risky prospect than Indonesia. This also led Bloomberg's William Pasek to insinuate whether Malaysia is Asia's weakest link, which Shields responds to as well. On the whole, Shield asserts that Malaysia is doing relatively OK although there are dangers in the horizon if things continue the way they are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Theme parks have emerged as a policy tool to energise tourism and the local economy, which is music to the ears of a solutions provider like Sanderson. The relocation of Sanderson from Australia to Malaysia is also testament to the growth and strategic aspects of the Asia Pacific region. Can the Emerging Markets sustain a profitable business model? We talk about these issues as well as take a detailed look into the much anticipated Dreamworks-based Movie Animation Park Studio (MAPS).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Francis Lee Kok Chuan, CEO of Berjaya Foods Bhd comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about its recent move to wholly-own Berjaya Starbucks and how it plans to build on that going forward.Berjaya Foods, which is part of the Berjaya Group, is best known for its three main brands namely Kenny Rogers Roasters, Jollibean and Starbucks. As at the end of its 2014 FY, the company recorded 23.6% increase in its bottom line to RM23 million. With its shares price jumping following the news of the full acquisition of Berjaya Starbucks, we ask what the group's plans are for growing its crown jewel and the other brands in its umbrella.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Sri Muhammad Ali Hashim, President of the Malaysian Islamic Chamber of Commerce and former CEO of Johor Corp, discusses his clashes with Johor state's Royal family, its politicians (and Chief Minister), issues of political and royal 'interference', New Britain Palm Oil and KPJ Healthcare. He also discusses his "Business Jihad" principles.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hershey's has seen strong growth in China over the years and the investment into Malaysia will be a launchpad into the greater Asia Pacific region.  However, Asia Pacific is still relatively small compared to revenues that are coming out of North America. What is the potential of Asia matching the Americas especially in the face of rising health awareness of the evils of sugar?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The business of matching free content with ads shouldn't be underestimated. It is a win-win situation that sells traffic to advertisers while allowing writers and bloggers to earn a respectable income. Nuffnang had a first-mover advantage when it carved a business model out of advertising on blogs, expanded to social media like Facebook and Twitter and now has a dominant market share. We talk about the future of the business especially how it is at the unpredictable intersection of device and social media. And also about mundane things like money being thrown at their feet and funding requirements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It can safely be said that despite the crucial importance of it, awareness of financial planning is still low in Malaysia. We explore FPAM's value proposition to the wider population. The widespread conflict that exists in commission-based financial products distribution is one of the many areas of concern. We also find out how FPAM incorporates financial planning goals within existing regulatory investment bodies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The wonders of nanotechnology have been much touted. Apart from the commercial aspects, there could also be positive effects on the county's knowledge base and intellectual property as well as advances in healthcare, education and talent. However, given its risky nature, the government's lead in triggering commercial startups will have to be compared to measurable benefits for the nation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Christopher Ong, Managing Director of Malaysia and Brunei at DHL Express (Malaysia) Sdn Bhd., discusses operating metrics, business drivers, challenges, growth outlook and financials.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Private healthcare has come a long way. The government in partnership with the private sector has managed to reduce the ratio of doctors to patients in Malaysia from 1:800 in the past to 1:600 now. However, it is still undeniable that healthcare needs are still crucial in Malaysia despite these improvements. We explore how the Association of Private Hospitals of Malaysia maintains standards and reconciles profits with the healthcare social objective. In particular, how do phenomena such as technology, insurance, low-cost and GST influence the direction of profits and pricing for private hospitals?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reach Energy would be the fourth SPAC or Special-Purpose Acquisition Company to be listed and the biggest in terms of funds raised. They aim to quickly put their money to use by  buying mature oilfields or what they call "brownfields" which big oil firms may find no longer viable to hold on to. Expansion plans further out would see funds allocated to exploration and production assets. We explore how Reach would deliver growth with mature brownfields and how a relatively small player like them navigates the oil and gas space. We also discuss how SC-friendly management is in the light of the recent SPAC guidelines change. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The 80% of the world's population that don't have access to banking services effectively cuts them off the economic system in a big way. Performing simple transactions like topping up pre-paid phones and making online purchases pose grave inconveniences. Numoni aims to serve this highly important social function and make money from it at the same time. However, the constantly changing online space presents opportunities as well as challenges.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cher Ng, founder and managing director of TREC comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the development of what he hopes to be the new lifestyle hub in town. TREC is a lifestyle and entertainment area that will sit directly opposite the future Tun Razak Exchange. Cher talks about how TREC aspires to be Malaysia's Clark Quay, the challenges he expects to face and how he plans to make it the talk of the town. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ashwin Rajgopal, managing director of L'Oreal Malaysia comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the business of beauty. L'Oreal is one of the most recognised brand names in the world with portfolio of products that covers every spectrum from consumer to high end, to professional salons. L'Oreal Malaysia has 18 brands under its umbrella and Ashwin talks about growing despite intense competition from the likes of Korean brands, distribution channels, acquisition strategies and whether or not, they are worth your dollar.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Paolo Grassi, managing director of Bata Malaysia comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the changing the strategy of the well-known shoe maker. Probably best known as being the staple of every school-going child's wardrobe, Bata currently holds 12% of the market, and sells 9 million pairs of shoes annually worth more than US$100 million. He talks about changing people's view of Bata, of the perception that it is a local brand and whether it can be known for more than just school shoes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2014 interview, Eversendai Corporation Berhad Executive Chairman Tan Sri AK Nathan discusses the company's current order book and bids, revenue targets, transition into power plant construction and diversification into oil and gas. He also discusses his growth plans via th M&A route, Eversendai's share valuations and the options he is weighing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apart from Malaysia, IHH is also doing well in Turkey despite the political turmoil of the past year. IHH's focus on the greater emerging markets area like Brunei, Vietnam, UAE and Macedonia allows it to tap into high growth of these countries while maintaining a tried-and-tested template of running hospitals. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the oil & gas related pipe-coating business is still the mainstay of Wah Seong, substantial resources are also being deployed to and vested in plantations and associate companies. The exposure of revenue to global sources is also a double-edged sword since this removes leverage to the robust local oil & gas sector. We discuss impact of these factors on long term share price performance and returns on equity (ROEs).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chief Executive Officer, Mohd Farid Nawawi joins us on the Breakfast Grille to explain if there is still space in the property market for a mid-tier player fresh from its delisting. He also sheds light on its plans in Penang as well as balancing its resources to unlock value for its landbank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andrew Sill, Country Executive, Royal Bank of Scotland Malaysia, offers a business update since the sale of its regional investment banking businesses to CIMB in 2012, discusses its "back to basics" business model, debt capital market issues and pipeline, its exit from the Ringgit sukuk market, its size in Malaysia (two branches, 100 people), the impact on business of the Scottish referendum on independence, his vews on the proposed CIMB-RHB-MBSB merger and its implications on RBS' business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Law King Hui, managing director of Sasbadi Holdings Bhd comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the company's upcoming listing on the Main Board and the direction of the company going forward. The company aimed to raise some RM25 million from the exercise in order to grow its business. Law talks about the future of print, its plans to diversify and what they are doing to future proof their business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Through AirAsia BIG, AirAsia is effectively giving budget travellers a redemption programme that doubles up as a prepayment mechanism. The C$17m acquisition of a small stake in AirAsia BIG by Aimia, a Canadian global leader in loyalty management, notionally values AirAsiaBIG at over RM1b. We explore trends in the loyalty progamme industry as well as how AirAsia balances the low-cost philosophy with the costs and benefits of a loyalty program.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Yap, director of Rayford Migration comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the business of migration, Rayford Migration, as its name suggests is in the business of helping people cross borders. A fully fledged migration service based in Malaysia for over 10 years. They provide migration services to Australia, NZ, the US, Canada. We ask him about trends, whether applications spike after general elections and whether he really does send thank you cards to politicians who make careless commentsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leong Seng Keat, Chief Executive Officer of Nam Cheong Ltd, talks about its business model in offshore support vessels (OSV), the outlook for orders, global supply and demand drivers, Petronas' capex program, the interplay between deep- and shallow water OSV demands, its orderbook, vessel charter business, its cashflow and cash position and market liquidity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Zulkarnin Bin Ariffin, Group Managing Director of Seacera Group Berhad, discusses its tile industry market share, its competition, cheap Chinese imports and their impact on their financials. He also discusses plans to reduce dependence on the tile business and exit its plastics packaging business to enter construction, property development and trading of building materials. He also discusses Seacera's role in Warisan Merdeka and the 506km electrified fence project on the Thai-Malaysia border.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Behind every major news and every personal update is the ubiquity of Twitter. At 2% market share of social media views since its inception, we explore how relevant Twitter is in the face of not only Facebook but also emerging forms of social media like Instagram, Pinterest and the like. New forms of technology like wearables will also have bearings on how this 140-character medium that captures the zeitgeist of the moment is accessedSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A trained lawyer and career diplomat, the Thai Ambassador explains, as he has done many times with representatives of other governments, the “necessity of military intervention”.  He casts the junta that first announced martial law, only to declare two days later that they had failed to reconcile the opposing forces and so needed to stage a coup. The Ambassador explains the roadmap that the junta has announced, as well as take questions on Thai-Malaysia trade relationsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today we have with us on the Breakfast Grille, Tan Sri Datuk Eddy Chen Lok Loi, the managing director of MKH Bhd. MKH, formerly known as Metro Kajang, is a well known property developer, comprising townships that range from Kajang, Semenyih to Bangsar, Damansara. To date MKH has undertaken mixed development projects with a value exceeding 4 billion.We ask him about upcoming developments, challenges and the outlook for the palm oil business.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boh Boon Chiang, the COO of Khind Holdings Bhd comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the current business environment ahead of the GST hike next year. Best known for its range of home appliances, Boh talks about controlling its costs and new markets it intends to tap. He also elaborates on investing in people and capex for the year ahead.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

A brand synonymous with luxury and the pinnacle of opulence, Regional Director Asia Pacific , Paul Harris explains why the 110 year-old brand is still a credible force in the industry not to be taken lightly.  He also sheds light on the market catalysts  for the luxury carmaker in the the face of much uncertainty and unrest in the region. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the existence of giants like Amazon, eBay and Alibaba, there are enough nuances within the Asean market which iBuy wants to assail. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Collaborations with prestigious medical educational institutions like Johns Hopkins University and the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland is one small step in addressing the country's dire healthcare needs. Professor Dato’ Dr. Sothi Rachagan also discusses the perennial issue of funding a social cause. The University also plans to grow other relevant courses like International Trade and Genomics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Health Minister takes on questions ranging from the “bloated” Cabinet, the ability of his party to represent ethnic Indians, as well as concerns about the privatization of health care services, the over-supply of doctors and nurses, links with private health-care colleges and the private sector- public divide.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Brown, the deputy CEO of 7-11 Malaysia Holdings Bhd comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the business of convenience. The company recently completed its IPO where it raised RM731.8 million for the expansion of its stores and services. He talks about intense competition from not only its peers, but from the likes of hypermarkets and petrol stations. He talks about not only growing the number of stories but also refurbishing the existing stores, growing its revenue streams and making its customers experience richer.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Simon Davies, VP for Asia, Salesforce.com, discusses its anti-Oracle-like business model as a Software as a Service (SAAS) model, cloud computing, its Marc Benioff-inspired company culture, revenue targets, 'New Industries Strategy', (relatively) low Asia penetration and its '1+1+1' philanthropic efforts.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Winston Choe, Managing Partner, Tech Growth Ventures, the growth accelerator and funding firm, discusses its business model, target industries, areas of focus, (outbound-Asian firms or vice-versa?), the addressable market for venture and government-linked funds, its standards of corporate governance / anti-corruption measures, investors sought and their profile, its investment promises, track record and exit strategies.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Barathan Pasupathi the CEO of JetStar Asia comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the current challenges facing the industry and how the company intends to overcome it. Currently based in Singapore, low-cost carrier JetStar flues to 23 destinations on the back of its fleet of 18 A320. He talks about how JetStar aims to keep its costs down, its ancillary initiatives and the question of overcapacity. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Syamil Fahim Mohamed Fahim, Chief Operating Officer at Kumpulan Media Karangkraf, discusses the company ethos, its five business divisions (printing, books, magazines, newspapers and digital), challenges (political interference, newsprint costs, the death of print, family business challenges like succession planning, corporate strategy, exit plans and the move online and into digital. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The construction sector benefits from the government's active infrastructural stance and demographic support for property. Econpile benefits from this as piling is the foundation for construction projects in a space that is plagued by short supply. But with expanding debt and so many projects having been announced, is growth in this space sustainable?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The National Unity Consultative Council notes that the majority of Malaysias are concerned about social mobility especially for their children and “are more preoccupied with the quality of education and the infrastructure in their communities rather than ethnic and religious issues” which politicians and the media too often focus on. BFM asks what went wrong with the Education system and why. And if all the money being poured into the Ministry of Education is being well spent.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Brazil won hosting rights to the World Cup in 2007 under the Presidency Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Current President Dilma Rousseff says that this will be the “Cup of all Cups”. For many it’s only natural for Brazil to host the Cup. After all, Brazil is acknowledged as the spiritual home of football. Some say it represents the gold standard of football – combining beauty and impact. But while on the surface it does seem like there are potential gains for national pride, for personal political mileage from hosting such global sporting events, is there a downside? Are the promised gains from this UDS11.5 billion going to be realized? Moody's Investors Service, the credit rating agency, argues that new infrastructure spending associated with the event is small for the $2 trillion economy, and benefits to businesses will be fleeting. Has the Brazillian government been able to get the buy in from citizens? Is the violence in June last year during the Confederations Cup evidence of dissatisfaction with the high level of government spending? Brazil can expect intense scrutiny during the Cup – is it ready?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Beh Huck Lee, Managing Director, Eupe Corporation Bhd, discusses its plan to move out of its Kedah market, his read of the local property market, demand-supply imbalances, its Klang Valley strategy, its margins, dividend policy and float.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ravi Kashyap, Country Manager and President of Engineering Business, Aker Solutions Malaysia  speaks to us on the Breakfast Grille as its Norwegian parent splits its business into two separate entities in a move to streamline operations and become leaner. He also sheds lights on the how the group continues to support Malaysia's aspirations to be the regional oil and gas hub and why talent retention is still a major concern for him.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Michael Lake the CEO of Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the business of making movies in Malaysia. Pinewood Iskandar Malaysia is a joint venture between government investment body Khazanah Nasional Bhd and UK-listed Pinewood Shepperton Plc. The company has aims to be a hub for the region, with companies drawn in by a list of incentives but discusses what draw Malaysia will have if the incentives goes. He also addresses the issues of procuring talent and the update on its latest production, Marco Polo. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I-Bhd's theme parks in were a way to attract the crowds into i-City in Shah Alam. High-valued property projects soon followed. I-Bhd is now making big bets on further forays into property development and investment with a massive cash call more than 3x the size of it's shareholders' funds. We check out whether the concept of i-City will stand the test of time.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The strong growth in the health supplement industry is driven by higher awareness of alternative and preventive care. Shaklee uses the direct selling model which Roger Barnett says is using social marketing to harness sweat equity and turn it into income and growth. Shaklee's combination of product guarantees and green practices to create what looks like a benevolent organisation has paid handsomely with the company's valuation growing many times over Barnett's US$310m 2004 acquisition cost . Should a few bad MLM apples spoil the entire industry? Do health supplements work? Is there a need to make them unversally affordable? These are some of the issues we discuss.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.