The Breakfast Grille

F. William Engdahl, the author of 'Gods of Money: Wall Street and the Death of the American Century', discusses the history of money as an instrument of power and the evolution of that power in the hands of a tiny elite.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While not the biggest player on the block, construction and property concern Crest Builder Holdings Bhd is looking to stand with the big boys. With two major projects in the pipeline, namely the redevelopment of the Dang Wangi station and the Malaysian Rubber Board land in Ampang with a combined GDV of RM2.3 billion, the company is poised to break into the big time. However, given the close political affiliation of one of its partners, will this prove a hindrance or a help when the General Election finally rolls around? Eric Yong the ED for Crest Builders on the Breakfast Grille talks about: - The company's latest earnings where net profit halved year-on-year due to rising construction costs. Eric talks about how labour remains the biggest concern in terms of costs, and how Crest Builder is planning to mitigate it.  - He also talks about bidding for between RM200 million to RM400 million worth of construction jobs for the coming year. One of the most hotly contested is the RM3.7 billion Langat Water Treatment 2 plant, the tender of which is under the evaluation. While Langat 2 remains a hot button topic between the Selangor state and Federal government, Eric is confident that the project will go through.  - He also addresses the close political affiliation of Crest Builders partners Detik Utuh and Tindakan Juara, where the major shareholder for both is BN-MP for Pasir Salak Datuk Tajuddin Abd Rahman. Eric says that Rahman brings experience, despite Detik Utuh being loss making. Detik Utuh and Tindakan Juara are Crest Builders partners for the Dang Wangi Development and the Malaysian Rubber Board land respectively.  - Eric also gives an update on the progress of both mega projects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With over 4000 iconic apple green taxis on the roads, Sunlight Taxi Group of Companies has grown was tremendously since it was established in 1996. The company has operations in Kuala Lumpur, Selangor & Johor Bahru. Choi Wei Yee, the Executive Director for Sunlight Taxi Group of Companies, joins us on the Breakfast Grille to discuss: -- What influenced her to go into the taxi business and how she started -- The early years of joining the company and building up internal operations -- The hire purchase business model of the company -- The daily rental of taxis -- The new GPS system for their taxis -- The use of Proton cars for the budget taxi service -- Addressing the bad reputation of taxi drivers and how to change this perception -- Their process to follow-up on complaints -- The company's stance on last year's taxi protest over Go-KL buses -- If there are too many taxi's in the Klang Valley -- The on-going dialogue with SPAD on the Taxi Transformation PlanSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

 Protasco Bhd GMD Datuk Chong Ket Pen discusses: - Early beginnings - catalyst to striking out in 1992 - engineering consultancy practice;  - Diversified play: Construction / engineering/ trading / property / education and now oil and - mish-mash - issues;  - Construction division: new business in road build or maintenance - pipeline new jobs - Bumi / non-Bumi issues;  - Concessions - govt relations - issues; - Property Development: timing - pricing - positioning - financing - issues;  - Delivery / timing - issues; - Earnings uptick - visibility;  - Education business: Management needs - number of students / lecturers - management - issues;  - Kuala Lumpur Infrastructure University College - upgraded to full-fledged University status - implications;  - Expansion into oil and gas business - Indonesia - extent of price - deposit paid - governance - profit potential - risks - background of vendor - relevant experience of company - duration of acquiriees' concessions agreement (from Pertamina) and renewal - ISSUES;  - Board movements - resignation of Executive Deputy Chairman Dato' Mohd Ibrahim bin Mohd Nor - transfer of 27% of company - new directors - implications;  - Placement - 10% - to who - price. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Omnicom Media Group, MD Andreas Vogiatzakis 2013 - Gold award - Campaign Week - Agency of the Year - 2012; - Basis for award - metrics; - Biggest clients - outlook; - Ad spend - ratios - issues; - Industry challenges- - clients putting accounts up for pitch - 'ruthless price undercutting' - 'aggressive poaching' of staff; - Strategy - keep the ship steady; - Customer retention - update; - New business - new or existing - balance / emphasis; - 2013 spend - elections - imsight - strategy; - Trends - Interactive TV - Digital - Mobile; - Methodologies of measuring success - Nielsen ratings - ABC audits - issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Leighton Offshore's new CEO Boyd Merrett talks abouth the group's strategy for the region and in the Middle East. Leighton Offshore is in the business of building and maintaining offshore structures, which is seeing an intense increase in competition. In the interview he talks about:  - The outlook for the region and how Leighton Offshore is finding its niche in a competitive market. Merrett feels that there is more than enough room in the market for the various players.  - He also says that Leighton Offshore is keen on gaining a part of Petronas' RM300 billion capital expenditure plan, but is currently on the lookout for local partners. He also acknowledges the presence of big local giants such as SapuraKencana and says its one of the main competitors.  - Leighton Offshore was also embroiled in a graft scandal in Iraq early last year that resulted in the firing of a senior manager. Merrett talks about how the company is bouncing back from the scandal and how to avoid it happening again.  - He also touched on the most recent scandal in Tanzania, where the officials say there is a missing clause in the contract that it signed with Leighton Offshore, which could result in the Tanzania Port Authority footing the bill.  - Leighton Offshore is also looking to consolidate some of its units within Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andy Khoo, Country Manager for NetApp for Malaysia and Brunei discusses the current importance of data storage management. NetApp is one of the world's leading storage and data management vendors and its US parent is listed on the Nasdaq, with contracts with the US government. On the Breakfast Grille, he talked about:  -The importance of data management storage and how companies are going about protecting their intellectual assets - How the company deals with competitors undercutting their prices and how NetApp overcomes the challenges - How for Malaysia, NetApp actually started out with govenrment contracts that it bids for with its partners. Now with more players in the market he addresses how the company intends to keeps it edge.  - NetApp has been consistently voted as one of the best places in the world to work, and how tht has translated here?       See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Roland Berger Strategy Consultants, Managing Partner, Anthonie Versluis, discusses: - Roland Berger - German origins - Europe-based strategy consultants - competitors BCGs, McKinseys and Bains;  - The European Psyche - how European businesses think, act and speak;  - What Asian businessmen and the companies they run need to know about how Europeans conduct business - the 'Essential European';  - What European / Western businesses need to know about the typical Asian businessman - the 'Essential Asian'; - The cultural divide - pwoer distance ratio - issues;  - July 2012 - Roland Berger opened KL office - update;  - Details: clients - sectors - staffing;  - Views: Ports - urban development - rail sector - logistics - overlapping legislation, power circles and 'certain parties'; - The bloated civil service and the need for more simplification;  - The Holland / Europe Political Comparable; - Elections - outcomes - importance of relationships - commercial implications;  - ASEAN - non-BRIC market potential;  - Roland Berger - thought leadership - intellectual force -  (Adopted issues include a new business model for a European rating agency, or the possibility of an economic and financial recovery in Greece, initiatives to reindustrialize Europe, mobilization of private investors for infrastructure development in a European growth strategy, Africa's role as a global growth engine and analyses of the economic opportunities presented by mega-trends such as demographics, resource scarcity and technological progress)  - Adapting these ideas in an Asian context. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Eversendai Corp Bhd's Executive Chairman and Group Managing Director Datuk AK Nathan talks about the company's direction in the UAE and projects that the company is eyeing in the pipeline. He also talks about the company's foray into oil and gas through Singapore-listed Technics Oil and Gas Ltd and what it will mean for Eversendai's earnings profile in the coming years.  He also expresses his frustration over how despite Eversendai's solid fundamentals, the share price has remained at depressed levels. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CHEP President of South East Asia, Nigel Branch, discusses: - CHEP's business segments - global footprint - geographic distribution - biggest clients - CHEP proposition;  - Southeast Asia responsibilities - sector coverage - business and trade perspective;  - Malaysia participation - investment amounts - staff size -- sectors served - business trajectory - pros and cons;  - Vew: overall conditions for doing business from a staffing - infrastructure - costs - liveability standpoint;  -Pooling - standardisation - sustainability - issues;  - Black Swan events - Fukushima, floods in Queensland and Thailand - how supply chains adapted. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Spritzer Group is the largest bottled water producer in Malaysia, with about 30% of market share in the bottled water industry.  Although the Spritzer name is synonymous with mineral water, the full range of products also encompasses sparkling natural mineral water, distilled drinking water, carbonated fruit flavoured drink, non-carbonated fruit flavoured drink and functional water. On the Breakfast Grille, Dr Chuah Chaw Teo, the Executive Director for Spritzer Berhad discusses: -- the difference between mineral water vs distilled drinking water -- the source of the mineral water and maintaining a a sustainable pumping rate -- how Spritzer ensures the water sources are not contaminated or polluted -- royalties on the water resources -- production capacity of its factories -- diversifying its product range to appeal to different market segments -- results of a study using silicon-rich mineral water as therapy for Alzheimer's Disease -- environmental concerns of plastic bottle waste -- variables that could impact their sales -- how its improving its sales for the export market -- hedging against the volatility of oil as a raw material -- how Spritzer has managed to double its 1QFY13 net profit from a year earlier -- and the outlook going forward See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Franklin Templeton Malaysia Country Head Sandeep Singh discusses: - Business update - Assets Under Management - investment professionals; - Growth - government-linked mandates - private sector asset managers and insurance companies - focus - interplay;  - USP - intense competition for mandates;  - Local / foreign mix - equity / fixed income mix - reasons;  - Growth rates - KPIs;  - Business trend - shariah / conventional - local / foreign - etc; - Local IPO trend - GLC versus private - issues;  - Investing strategy - equities / fixed income;  - Geographical footprint - growth rates - frontier markets - participation - issues;  - Global view - Debt ceiling - US Employment - China recovery - etc;  - Malaysia IPO issues: Cornerstone investor - GLC IPO prevalence - privatisations of tycoons - views;  - Malaysia bond market - pipeline - demand - views;   - Governance views: Reliability of financial statements - Activism issues - privatisations - undervaluation / GLC and GLIC market dominance / protected parties - etc;  - Role of institutional investors - gatekeeper issues;  - Malaysia election risks - views - cash/investment levels.   Video link: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/28485709See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alfred Schopf, the CEO of Leica Camera AG, tells how the iconic camera brand is holding its ground as the technology for camera phones and apps improve. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarawak Energy Bhd's CEO Torstein Dale Sjotveit talks about how the state-owned utility has progressed in helping SCORE take off. Among the topics discussed include the future plans for planting up in the state, and what is the fuel mix that Sarawak Energy has set its sights on going forward. He also talks about the possibility of exporting power to West Malaysia in the future and the challenges it brings. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

EU Ambassador and Head of EU Delegation to Malaysia, HE Luc Vandebon, discusses: - Bilateral trade - details - updates - Eurozone debt crisis - impact - surplus/deficit updates; - FTA / PCA - discussions - resolution - updates;  - FTA Challenges - government procurement - auto sector - services - issues;  - Election outcome - potential for administration change - how alter EU stance - landscape / lay of the land - issues;  - Eurozone issues - progress with fiscal consolidation - chances for a meaningful recovery; - ECB rates outlook - impact;  - CPO - Europe anti-palm lobby - Western NGO participation - Nutella tax - issues;  - Human Rights - efforts abolish death penalty - progress;  - Implications - non-resolution FTA / Death penalty - santions / others? - issues;  - Sustainability / Environment - coal-fired power plants / FiT awards - seeming contradictions - VIEWS - ISSUES; - Forest governance agreement - Sabah / Sarawak participation - issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Cheng & Co Chartered Accountants Managing Partner, Dr Chua Hock Hoo, discusses: - Strategy of growth via mergers and acquisition - challenges - staffing - funding;- Managing growth;- Growing and maintaining work culture - vision;- USPs -- Big 6 firms and local firms - STRATEGY;- Services - issues - full range business services – ‘Halal Consulting’ and ‘Document Warehousing’ - ISSUES - - DETAILS;- Halal Consulting;- IPO Market - Taiwan;- Pros: Velocity - Access to China - Govt compliance - Retail participation - depth - capitalisation - investor expertise - 'SPOs' - continuous / ongoing visibility; - Challenges: Mandarin language - distance - Internal Audit regulations; - Taiwan IPO pipeline - regional; - Regional Audit firm: ongoing CG challenges - unreliable financial statements; - Silver Bird - G Plus - Megan - regulatory oversight - enforcement; - Culpability of advisors - views. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alfonso Vegara is an architect, urban planner, economist, sociologist and president of Fundación Metrópoli, which is a Spanish foundation dedicated to studying future of cities around the world, as well as working with cities on issues of innovation and competitiveness. On the Breakfast Grille, he discusses: -- why cities now the engine of the global economy -- how it is no longer countries competing with each other, it is cities -- smart cities: Cities that have been successful in their transformation -- why solutions that are successful in some cities, may not be applicable in other cities -- how polical leadership and business leadership is key for cities of the future Alfonso Vegara also talks about his work in Penang, how he is collaborating with Think City to transform the city into a sustainable urban eco-region, and the strategic location of Penang within the Malacca Straits DiagonalSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

I&P Group is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Permodalan Nasional Berhad (PNB). It was formed in May 2009 after the successful mergers and rationalisation exercise between three companies -- Island & Pennisular, Pelangi & Petaling Garden. Dato' Ir. Jamaludin Osman, Group Managing Director of I&P Group, discusses: -- I&P's landbank -- New projects and rollout schedule -- Strategy and positioning -- I&P's efforts in affordable housing -- His thoughts on the build and sell model -- Outlook on the property sector and the next hotspotSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Investment Development Authority (MIDA), previously known as Malaysian Industrial Development Authority, is the government's principal agency to oversee and drive foreign and domestic investment into the manufacturing and services sectors in Malaysia. Datuk Noharuddin Nordin the CEO of MIDA on the Breakfast Grille, discusses: -- MIDA's role -- The difference between MIDA and InvestKL and other economic corridors -- The report card for investments in manufacturing and services sector -- Malaysia's positioning, compared to other ASEAN neighbouors -- Moving into generating quality investments in new and emerging technologies -- Malaysia's talent pool for technically trained workers -- MIDA's vetting and approval process -- The establishment of the RM1bil Domestic Investment Strategic Fund to woo local investorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Schneider Electric Malaysia Country President, Peter Cave, discusses: - Global slowdown - impact on global business; - Reports - Schneider and Daimler - among industrial bellwethers to cut (previous) full-year targets due weaker demand - western Europe, China - feedback; - Despite slowdown - group results still holding up - positive returns of over 20% since 2008 -- productivity gains, cost pass-throughs and cost management - manner of discipline represented in Malaysia; - Malaysia Energy Dilemma - Schneider as Clean Energy proponents: - Energy subsidised in Malaysia - seems little current impetus to address - unpopular - feedback; - Cosy arrangement - first-generation IPPs - whether as suppliers Schneider are part of problem; - Federal government - new policy to encourage more IPPs - clean energy challenges - but awarded another 2000MW to coal-fired producers, split between Tenaga Nasional and Malakoff - feelings against backdrop of clean energy efforts; - Malaysia's aims to have over 3,000 megawatts of clean energy by 2020 - but Management is an issue: SEDA - award of feed-in tariff (FiT) allocation to daughter of Petronas chairman - feelings as re Malaysia's approach to renewable energy; - Schneider Energy University - Malaysia application - marketability - penetration.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ugonna Hosten, founder of Ugo's Boutique, talks about her entrepreneurial journey from civil service to bag designer who seeks inspiration from African designs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille is Cesar Harada, environmentalist and the inventor of Protei. Protei is a shape-shifting sailing robot to clean up oil spils and the ocean.  It is a ground-breaking technology as it is using wind power and a shape-shifting hull to propel itself, pulling a long scientific payload or ocean-clean-up equipment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille is Bob Pain, the Managing Director of Investors Trust Assurance, a Cayman Island-based international insurance company.He discusses ITA’s business proposition, products and services, as well as its recent move into the Malaysian market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Richard Saul Wurman tells why his www conference is better than Ted, the conferences he founded in the 80s and which he sold the rights in 2002. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, Martin Marmolejo, founder of MMA Global Investment Management, discuss his new book Globalization: Opportunities & Implications, The ABCs to a Global Social Revolution.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Monin Owner and President Olivier Monin discusses: - The business of gourmet flavours;  - Third generation - grandfather founded the firm -- details; - 140 Markets around the world -- details;  - Applications - home -- restaurants - bars - coffee - issues;  - Malaysia - set up in 2009 -- growth since then;  - Location - KL - good - choice between 6 countries - TH / SG / PH / VN / IN - Singapore & Malaysia were two finalists - issues;  - Clients: KFC - Pizza Hut - Old Town - McDonalds;  - Labour - language - NO CORRUPTION!!; - Liveability - KL;  - Skills - gourmet taste busines; - Competitors - differentiators;  - R&D - quantum of spend - what drivers; - Asian tastes - how derived - issues;  - Importance of innovation; - Shareholding; - Challenges of maintaining innovation culture;  - Family challenges; - Global revenues - Asia share. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Dec 2012 interview, Emery Oleochemicals CEO Dr. Kongkrapan Intarajang, Ph.D, discusses: - Oleos generally;  - Benefits - located - No.2 global producer of palm oil;  - Indonesian government’s cut - export tax rates of crude and refined palm oils - competition concerns;  - Indonesia cutting the gap with Malaysia - oleochemicals production - address imbalance with Malaysia;  - Expected volatility for Asian oleochemical prices - fluctuations in feedstock - debt crisis in Europe;  - Concerns: decline in demand from Europe - biggest market;  - Soybean and CPO prices (tallow, soybean oil, palm and palm kernel oil, coconut oil, and rapeseed oil) - feedstock price volatility - issues;  - Cost passthroughs - adding value - issues;  - Benefits - backward integration - Sime Darby Big Brother;  - Production capacity - utilisation - outlook;  - Moving up the value chain;  - Global overcapacity - Emery still investing - North America - data points;  - Boom-bust cycles - issues;  - Recent burst of new capacity in China - impact - South-East Asian players;  - Whether scope for further capacity development - where - located;  - Where is most of the demand coming from;  - Shale gas and oil revolution in the US - impact - prices - margins;  - Sustainability concerns - RSPO and certification - issues;  - JV with PTT - Sime - long term return on investment;  - Funding needs - Sukuk cancellation;  - Whether exit - IPO. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pantech Group Holdings Bhd ED Adrian Tan discusses:  - Starting life as a pipe trader - evolved into a manufacturer - what prompted the move up the value chain;  - Decision to expand into stainless steel manufacturing - decision drivers;  - Difficulties of learning a new business -- teething pains -- progress -- DETAILS;  - Acquisition of Nautic -- developments - expansion with Nautic -- DETAILS;  - Market for the Nautic line of products; - Types of products sold -- selling prices -- outlook;  - inventory days - creditor days - issues;  - Local - foreign revenue mix -- breakdown - details;  - Cash @ 92 million ringgit from 80 million ringgit year ago - Plans;  - Amount due from associate - path to recovery;  - Reasons for restatement - Receivables;  - Margins in trading higher than manufacturing .. reasons;  - Dividend payout - policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ogilvy & Mather is one of the largest advertising networks in the world, with more than 450 offices in over 170 cities. Anand Badami, Group Managing Director of Ogilvy & Mather Malaysia, talks about the agency's approach and their recent award-winning campaigns. He also discusses issues in talent management, trends in advertising expenditure and the overall creative industry in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Taha Bouqdib, President and Co-founder of TWG TeaWithin four years, TWG Tea established 15 gourmet stores across the world, and is served in five star hotels in Singapore. Taha Bouqdib tells his strategy in establishing TWG as a fine tea brand in the minds of its customers.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mercedes-Benz Services Malaysia Head, Hilke Jannsen, discusses:  - Mechanics of business - fundraising - costs - profit margins; - High-risk business - regulation;  - Migration from conventional lenders - proposition - USPs;  - Quoted as saying aiming for portfolio of E500m - 2017 -- and 25% penetration - Details;  - Due diligence - process; - Default / delinquency rates;  - China -- potentially among biggest addressable market -- 75-80 per cent of car buyers pay cash - strategy to change cultures / idiosyncrasies;  - Cost of funds - details;  - Margins of financing -- details;  - Most lucrative deals;  - DFS 2020 strategy - Asia is a big part of the plan - Details;  - Owner concerns - residual values - ways to address / innovate;  - Europe - new forms of mobility - car-sharing - adoption;  - Electric vehicles - infrastructure to keep them running - how has that forced carmakers to introduce new financing options;  - Renault - breaking new ground - new range of electric vehicles - owners sign a separate battery hire agreement - ditto Daimler’s Smart brand - details. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this Dec 2012 interview, Bufori Motor Car Company Managing Director Gerry Khouri discusses: - Update to business; - Production - R&D - market demand; - Handmade - production time - challenges; - Local manufacturing - misunderstanding - knowledge deficit - issues - component procurement - customs - challenges; - Importance of passion - whether doused due to policies - govt blockages; - Auto industry - 'hub' desires - whether unrealistic; - Possibility of leaving Malaysia;- Labour issues: inconsistency - quality - issues; - The Bufori name - brand conscious clientele - overcoming prejudices; - Importance of provenance - overcoming prejudice; - China and Middle East - biggest overseas markets -- the appeal - strategy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dorsett Hospitality International President and Executive Director Winnie Chiu discusses: - 3- to 4- Star Segment positioning; - ‘Chinese Wallet’ strategy - reported global slowdown; - Rooms - portfolio - inventory - revenue management; - Rates structure - comparables - price brackets; - Owners - ‘feel’ the hotel industry; - Reaching optimal market mix - strategy; - 95% of rooms owned - issues; - Adjusted EBITDA margins of @ 46% - details; - Sentiment - non-existent - divesting if returns good - details; - China slowing - outward-bound China and HK travel - Dorsett strategy; - Segment margin - China - negative territory - issues; - Far East - parent - still owns over 73% of Dorsett - plans to free up some shares; - Discount to net Assets per share - issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Moorad Choudhry, Treasurer at Corporate Banking Division at The Royal Bank of Scotland, discusses: - Lower-return regime - primary challenge facing banks right now; - Reduction in value-added proposition in certain sectors or products - withdraw - job losses; - Strategy proposition - back-to-basics mode - less focus on Return on Equity and more on genuine value-added -  e.g. risk-adjusted ROE; - Asia banks - Universal Bank model - CIMB - risks in pursuing this strategy going forward; - Whether new liquidity regime imposed by Basel III too onerous from the standpoint of choking GDP and growth; - Cash as a 'safe' haven.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Stanley Fischer, Governor of the Bank of Israel, the central bank, and former Deputy Managing Director of the IMF, discusses his growth outlook for US and the Eurozone, and developments in Israel, and thoughts on the two-state solution for Israel and Palestine. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KKR & Co, one of the largest private equity firms in the world, opens an office in Singapore. Ming Lu, the head of the Southeast Asian operations, talks about the type of companies KKR would invest in, whether they would need to scale down their expectations in Malaysia, and how to convince Asian families to share ownership.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Etiqa Insurance and Takaful Bhd CEO Hans De Cuyper discusses: - Insurance industry - perceptions - Insurance Agent - motivation - remuneration - review of agents commission; - Broad industry growth: conventional vs takaful - update; - Targets: gross written premiums - AUMs - issues - details; - PRS - issues; - Investment income - low-rate environment - strategy - repercussion - pricing; - Investible assets - MGS - Sukuk - default rates; - Expansion: Indonesia - strategy - timelines - difficulties - challenges; - Management: cultural divide - ongoing issue; - Sector consolidation - growth - organic vs M&A - valuations; - 31% Owner Ageas SA - financials - position in Asia/Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Glomac Bhd GMD/CEO Datuk FD Iskandar discusses: - Sentiment - said to be shifting to medium-end and into landed from high-rise - whether true; - Glomac - said to be a firm in the mid-level, positioning-wise - wisdom of strategy; - Rates - outlook - still expansionary - China booming - imported inflation in 2013; - Speculation clampdown - issues - RPGT (Budget 2013) issues - impact on sales; - REHDA: Build then sell - sell then build - conundrum - deadline 2015; - REHDA: Affordable housing - issues; - 315m in cash @ end-Q1 in July -- Landbank -- or acquisitions; - M&A - options - On record as saying you are looking at buying smaller property firms or boutique firms - issues; - Regionalisation - EPF - London - Battersea etc -- views - participatory; - Presence in Australia .. which is slipping?- Socio-political landscape - issues; - Role in politics and UMNO -- extent of help - landbank replenishment, approvals, financing etc; - Talk - candidate - Selangor CM - issues; - Reports - Tun Daim - Najib - a ‘general without soldiers’ - issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Ami Klin, founder of Autism Science Foundation explains what causes autism and rules out that vaccination is a cause. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Teo, CEO of Metrowealth International Group. Arguably one of Malaysia’s top film producers, he’s made 82 movies, more than half of which has hit box office status. His company, Metrowealth International Group, was behind 15 of the 53 movies released in Malaysia this year so far. So how do you win, in an industry so vulnerable to the whims and fancies of its audience? We pose that question to David Teo CEO of Metrowealth International Group, the production house behind movies such as The “Jangan Pandang Belakang” series, Kongsi, and Adnan Sempit.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alvin Roth, Co-Winner of the 2012 Nobel Economics Prize, discusses: - Early work of Co-Winner Lloyd Shapley;- Misallocation of scarce resources;- Shapley's work in ‘Game Theory’ - evaluate, in a numerical way, decisions in games and other interactions between people; - Being drawn to a 'more useful purpose' for what could often seem arcane mathematical riddles; - Roth's chance to put ideas into practice - 1999 - match young doctors to their first jobs as residents; - 2003 - redesign system that determined how students were assigned to schools in New York City; - Work on the New York City high school applications system - 2003; - So-called ‘unstable outcomes’.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sapurakencana Petroleum Bhd Executive Chairman Dato' Mokhzani Mahathir discusses: - Kencana - Sapura - merger - progress - systems / workforces; - Wisdom of warp-speed merger and acquisition - justification; - Financial terms - Seadrill deal - valuation - issues; - High Debt/EBITDA ratio - issues; - John Fredriksen - billionaire major owner of Seadrill - join the board - issues; - Seadrill - double stake in SKP to about 13 percent - issues; - Brazil - potential - prospects - - SKP - merger - concerns - lack of substantial cost-saving opportunities  - ability to hire highly skilled labour.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Magna Prima Berhad CEO Dato' Rahadian Mahmud discusses: - CEO promotion; - Broad update on the property sector; - The Istana in Melbourne - maiden venture abroad - reasons; - Internal expertise; - Aussie property market - said to be on a downtrend - issues; - Pricing - insights; - Future - further investment in Australia - data points; - Malaysia Market for luxury / upmarket developments; - KLCC Development - Lai Meng Girl’s School - details; - Jalan Gasing - project - details; - Shah Alam - project - details; - Adoption of IC Interpretation 15 (IC15) - lumpy revenue - plans to flatten - build asnd sell - issues; - Landbank replenishment; - Son of Tan Sri Khalil Yaakob, former UMNO Sec-Gen, Pahang Chief Minister, Information Minister and now Malacca Governor - political connections - issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Iclif Leadership & Governance Centre CEO Rajeev Peshawaria discusses: - Impetus behind joining; - Financials - Opex - Staffing - KPIs; - Corporate Governance - Asia - CLSA Report -  transgressions - Sun Hung Kai - Olympus - Asia-wide CG remit; - Concentrated ownership - issues - board independence - CEO/Chairman Separation - Enforcement - ‘Unseen Hand’ - SC-Sime-E&O - individual director remuneration; - Malaysia - CG performance - Asian perspective -- drivers; - Financial sector - bank trust survey - early impressions; - Global banks - leadership flaws - Goldmans - Greg Smith case - Morgan Stanley - Facebook selective disclosure - issues; - ‘Leader’ definition -  “A Better Future” - Former employers; - Power distance - Malaysia worst ranking in all of Asia - issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aker Solutions President for Subsea, Dave Hutchinson, discusses: - The Subsea business; - Investment in Malaysia - market share of subsea production technologies; - Clientele - target market; - $60m manufacturing plant - Pekan - reasons; - Contracts - Pipeline; - Asia - exploration - deal pipeline; - Politics - contract negotiations; - Exploration - deep and ultra deep water - impact - technology; - BP spill - dangers; - Peak Oil - theory flaws - North Sea.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

His Excellency Chai Xi, the Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Malaysia, discusses: -- his tenure here in Malaysia and the changes he's seen -- substantial bilateral achievements this year -- trade and economic co-operation between Malaysia and China -- the imbalance in bilateral investment and what can be done to narrow the gap -- an update on the joint-venture project between Malaysia and China: Qinzhou Industrial Park in China and its sister industrial park in Kuantan -- challenges in investing in China, in terms of intellectual property protection and bureaucracy -- the overlapping claims over waters and islands in the South China Sea and how this could affect ties between Malaysia and China -- China's preference to resolve competing claims bilaterally, as opposed to having multilateral or regional talks -- US elections and which presidential candidate would be better for US-China relations -- China's once-in-a-decade leadership changes happening on ThursdaySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

McDonald’s Singapore and Malaysia Regional Manager, Sarah Casanova, makes a comeback on the Breakfast Grille! She give us an update on the latest from McDonald's -- the launch of the first McCafe in Malaysia, as well as their bullish expansion plans. She also answers YOUR questions: Find out if the popular GCB will be a permenant fixture on the McDonald's menu, if they plan to introduce healthy options like yoghurt and granola, and what is it takes to be a McDonald's franchisee!See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Publicis Malaysia CEO Dean Bramham discusses: - “costdiving”; - client challenges - play agencies off against each other - client management - expectations - switching agencies - whether this is the biggest challenge for ad agencies?; - talent shortages; - salaries and remuneration; - rising wages - passing on to client; - Creative - 'sweatshop'; - ‘Idea Vultures’; - whether need for regulatory body - protect ideas and creativity - 4As; - people skills; - new business -- avenues; - ASEAN - single P&L; - Merging ASEAN offices - challenges; - Disparate industry practices - ASEAN; - Digital - challenges; - Billings -- annually - rankings; - Local knowledge - value of.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SME Bank, a merger of Bank Industri and part of Bank Pembangunan, and 100% owned by the Ministry of Finance, is cleaning up its balance sheet, improving productivity, and trying to expand its services to include venture capital financing. Datuk Mohd Radzif Mohd Yunus was appointed as managing director in 2010 to turn around the bank.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chen Tien Yue, Executive Director and fourth generation of the founding family of the iconic Malaysian brand, Royal Selangor. He discusses: -- The history of the company -- How the family has managed to keep the business within the fold -- What it's like working with family -- Evolution of the Royal Selangor brand -- The design and innovation of Royal Selangor products -- Its recent collaboration with the National Palace Museum of Taiwan -- Royal Selangor's overseas presence -- How acquiring the 350-year-old sterling silver brand Comyns almost two decades ago has boosted the business -- Royal Selangor's sister brand, jeweller Selberan -- Managing the rising cost of silver and tin -- Succession plans for the company To watch the video of the interview: http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/26531763See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.