The Breakfast Grille

Top Glove Corporation Bhd MD KM Lee discusses: - Recent purchase of 30,000 ha of greenfield rubber plantations; - Use of hedging or other financial instruments - address price variability; - Whether longer-term plan to buy even more land to plant rubber; - Time to fruiting - time to supply meaningful portion - latex needs; - Expertise - challenges; - Costs management; - Rubber prices - hedging - quantum of needs bought forward - price; - Impact - current price environment - fiscal 2012 earnings; - Consensus estimates - fiscal 2012 - guidance; - Nitrile - adoption - M&A; - Supply and price strategies - whether market is still as responsive to cost fluctuations; - Natural gas - needs; - Higher Energy Prices - New Gas Service Agreement with Petronas - Elections Delaying Revision in Energy Prices; - Removal of fuel subsidies - impact - migration to cheaper sources; - Human Capital - issues - R&D emphasis - Malaysia deficiency - strategy; - Minimum Wage - impact on operations; - Overall state and health of global market; - Production - utilisation rates - capacity - outlook for additional capacity - plant rollout plan; - Prices - outlook - drivers - competition from China and price pressure in 2H; - Currency - USD/MYR Appreciation - impact; - Dividends - capital management - issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Continental Tires Malaysia Sdn Bhd CEO Benoit Henry discusses: - May acquisition by Continental AG, of the remaining 30 per cent stake it didn’t already own in Continental Sime Tyre Sdn Bhd from joint venture partner Sime Darby; - Whether amicable - price paid for the stake; - 100 per cent foreign ownership - whether allowed; - First ASEAN office - in a rubber-producing country - proposition today; - Other issues: education - staff quality - 'lack of ambition' - mobility - 'taking a risk'; - Reliance on rubber - weather patterns - unpredictable fuel costs and labor shortages - extreme price volatility in rubber supplies - strategy; - Rubber prices heading downwards since March - whether reflection of waning global demand - factors; - Rubber substitutes - proportion used in relation to natural rubber - long-term adoption - state of technology - safety / performance issues; - Regional - International market- issues; - Tiremakers - Michelin - Pirelli - yourselves - outperforming market generally as well as Europe’s automotive sector - reasons - factors; - Local operations - issues - demand for highly-skilled workers - staffing - extent of operations - amount invested - quantum of future investment - value chain - outlook; - German manufacturing - expertise - R&D - whether consider Asia-based R&D in future; - Emphasis on human capital; - New technologies: level of progress - time to commercialisation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pua Khein-Seng, Chairmain & CEO of Taiwanese manufacturer of controllers for NAND flash memory chips, Phison Electronics. He discusses growing up in Sekichan, Selangor and his journey to becoming the CEO leading one of the leading players in the flash drive business in Taiwan. He also talks about the outlook for NAND flash prices, and if the market for memory cards and drives is already saturated. Phua gives us an update on setting up operations in Penang and why he chose to set up a branch of his business in Malaysia, instead of China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Legras & Haas Champagne Brand Ambassador Jerome LeGras discusses: - Relatively new entrant - withstanding financial crises; - State of wine and champagne markets; - Demand from emerging markets; - Luxury habits - Asia; - Basing vineyards in France - necessity - issues; - Family business - three sons issues; - European - family business dynasties - secret sauce; - Legras clan - conflicts - resolution - management insights; - Weather - Branding - Production; - French and European politics - issues. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Google Malaysia Country Head, Sajith Sivanandan, discusses: --  the global structure of the company and the Malaysia business --  significance of Malaysia as a market --  engagement on Google sites --  active users on Google Plus  --  if Google's average "cost per click" is on a downward trend --  mobile advertising --  why some of Google products are not supported in Malaysia, e.g Google Play --  content partnerships for YouTube Malaysia --  Google's response to the the conversial Evidence Act --  Google's big unveiling of its Nexus 7 tablet and Google Glass --  And finally, find out what it's like to work at a place crowned as Fortune's Best Companies to Work For in the USSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Khind Holdings Group CEO Cheng Ping Keat discusses: - Journey from electrical repair shop in Sekinchan to reseller to brand owner; - Main challenge along the way; - Consumer appliances - outlook - 2012; - Move into premium home appliances - prospects - discussion;  - Singapore market impact; - Industrial appliances - prospects - pricing - margins - revenue contribution; - Renewable energy solutions - prospects - investment needed - product lines - rollout plans; - Foreign markets - Middle East - other frontier markets issues; - Currency - USD/MYR - volatility - issues; - Uncertainty - general elections - issues; - Free Trade Agreements - Europe - USA - China: impacts; - Branding - A&P - suffers - conservative image - lack affinity - younger, trendier generation; - A&P spend - issues; - Branding strategy; - Competition - ferocious - local players (Pensonic) - Japanese brands (Panasonic and KDK), - upper-range brands like Dyson - issues; - Profit and revenue growth - outlook; - Margins - outlook; - Investment - coverage -lack of; - Trading - below NTA / share of RM2.05 - issues; - Dividend policy; - Plans to increase coverage, liquidity - whether family to part with some of its shares.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Prestariang Founder & CEO Dr. Abu Hasan Ismail discusses: - Life as a listed company; - Software licensing business - projects pipeline; - Outlook for margins - software trading; - Certification and training business - margins - demand - jobs pipeline; - Plans for in-house developed certifications - owned I.P.; - In-house titles - 75:25 revenue ratio - outlook; - Computing University - impact on earnings; - Diversification from contract income; - NEDs - Dato Loy Teik Ngan of Taylor’s College - speculation - tieup; - Financial needs of University - impact - ‘capex light - strong cash generator’ - stance; - Prestariang - education play versus a technology play; - Impact - approach - investment community - management of the business; See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AIG Global Services Malaysia Chief Representative of AIG Malaysia, Matt Harris discusses: - Broad overview - update - business - focus areas - since last interview; - Agency workforce - Geographical distribution - age - duration as agent - expertise - professionalism; - The ‘Barbecue Test’; - 27 licensed general insurance companies - competition - how address; - Chartis’ ranking by premiums underwritten - whether size a focus; - -Malaysia tariff rating structure — set price and set style of product features and benefits -- how differentiate;  - Travel insurance - recent decision MATTA - mandatory travel insurance - impact; - Motor biggest component - whether business be slowing - tighter lending guidelines; - How address - slowdown; - Motor Insurance - claims ratios; - Motor insurance rates -- unrevised for >30 years - Developments; - Rates generally - trend in Malaysia generally - factors - BNM regulation; - Contrast - US business insurance rates; - Investment - AUMs - Equity - Bonds - Cash - levels; - Investment income - trend; - IT and application software solutions - AIG’s operations around the world - People - additional investment - challenges: human capital; - Promoting long-time staff Soo Wai Har to Deputy CEO - implications - spare time. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Asiasons Capital Group MD/Co-founder Datuk Jared Lim discusses: - Founding Asiasons with Datuk Mohammed Azlan Hashim and chartered accountant Ng Teck Wah back in 2007;- How the group got together - age and cultural differences - circumstances; - Investment focus - themes - focus; - Timeframe for exit - prefered routes; - Originating ideas: how, typically; - Performance - historically; - Differentiators; - Described Malaysia as a “hotbed of business innovation” - details; - “Active discussions” with several Malaysian companies that it might want to invest in - Insights; - Deal competition; - Capital raising - issues; - Successes - Failures; - Branding, Design and New Economy strategies - rationale - skills - staffing; - Asiasons WFG-- or forrmerly Westcomb financial group -- investment advisory; - Whether background in listing S-Chips - hurt Asiasons' reputation; - Cambridge-educated son of Malaysia’s former Finance Minister, Tun Daim -Dato Wira Dani Daim - Chairman & Non-Executive Director of Asiasons WFG - implications; - portfolio: Chaswood - NV - Hi5 - rationale - competition - assets; - Details - deal flow ; - Personal - wife - Dian Lee - Country Heights - co-founder of Cleawater - boutique developer - TS Lee Kim Yew - implications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AirAsia Malaysia CEO Aireen Omar discusses: - Appointment - AirAsia Malaysia CEO - shell-shocked - Oscar moment - insights; - KPIs - targets; - Costs management; - 'Low Cost' - attacked as not cheap - issues; - Load factors - ASKs - delays - issues; - ‘Big shoe to fill’ - marketing - Tony Fernandes a 'natural' - free publicity - the Aireen Omar way; - Tony - detractors - brilliant job - masking the unhappy landings - AirAsia aircraft - through the years - “near invisibility of Malaysia media reporting - issues; - Marketing - Twitter - Social Media - policy - what's within limits - what’s off-limits; - MAS - CCF - share swap un-bundling - issues; - Malaysia Airports = feud - Landing charges - updates; - Aircraft purchases - deliveries - ‘staying ahead of the curve’ - complicated rates - insights - details; - Use of fleet - demand patterns - expansion - details; - Oil prices - Jet kero - outlook - hedging .. details; - Jet kero - spread to Brent; - Marketing - void - learning curve; - Tony - JKT - issues - management structure - implications.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Volvo Cars Malaysia President Goran Larsson, discusses: - Clarifies global structure - Malaysia proposition;- Ownership - complex - issues; - Sales - support - issues; - Current situation - after-sales and support - marketing; - KL - regional office - roles - staffing - revenues and contributions; - Car sales outlook - drivers; - Branding - marketing - budget (as percentage of revenue) - most effective channels; - Perceived - low - brand equity among luxury models - branding - compared to Audi - BMW - Mercedes; - Pricing - seems in-line with the German triumvirate - usu 3-5 per cent lower - whether effective; - Jeremy Lin - positioning - reasons - insights - details- Loan financing - tighter guidelines - BMW 1.88% - subsidise interest rates; - Volvo financing- National Auto Policy - expectations; - How ASEAN business units plug into and help with the push into China; - Developing cars specifically for Asian buyer - details; - China proposition. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mark Rozario, CEO of the National Innovation Agency or Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) discusses:  --  AIM's mandate to narrow the gap between innovators and industry --  The difference between AIM and the Special Innovations Unit (Unit Innovasi Khas) as well as Ministry of Science, Technology & Innovation (MOSTI) --  If something as fluid and conceptual and serendipitous as innovation be led by a system as structured and as rigid as a government --  Creating an innovative culture --  Developing the innovation eco-system for Malaysia, e.g the education system, universities, the private sector, etc --  Education system: What can be done to teach children to think critically and AIM's iThink programme --  AIM's 42 Innovation Business Opportunities -- how many have been take up so far -- the bidding & award process  --  AIM's mandate to make equity investments in innovations stuck in 'the valley of death'See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our Father's Day Special on the Breakfast Grille: Andrew Reddy, Managing Director of restaurant operators Chaswood Resources, and his son Nicol Reddy, the Director of Operations. Chaswood operates 13 brands including T.G.I. Friday's and Watami. It also owns and operates proprietary brands like Italiannies, The Apartment, Market Hall, Bedroom, Teh Tarik Place, Baci Italian Café, Republic, Malones and Laundry.  Andrew & Nicol discuss: -- their start in the F&B business -- the move towards Asian F&B brands with the acquisition of the franchise rights to Watami, Bulgogi Brothers and Paradise Dynasty -- if the food business is recession-proof -- if rising cost of living has impacted dining choices esp with the mid-tier restaurants -- the franchising model of Teh Tarik Place -- competition from local warungs and mamak places -- update on stores and goals for expansion -- why looking at Thailand and Indonesia markets -- dangers of expanding too fast -- achieving consistency across all stores -- staffing challenges -- why Chaswood chose to list in Singapore instead of Malaysia -- the family dynamic at work & succession plans -- their advice to other entrepreneurs who work with their family membersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

RHB Capital Bhd Group Managing Director Kellee Kam discusses: - Declining Net Interest Margins - escalating overheads - management’s two main areas of focus - 2012 - strategy; - Operating expenses - personnel costs - staff retention expenses - alignment of salaries; - Cost/income ratios - outlook - growth - future; - Loan growth of >12% - target - 2012 - details; - Non-fee business - IPO pipeline - RHB’s proposition - muscled out - CIMB-MBB; - OSK Merger; - Tan Sri Ong Leong Huat - dealings - insights; - Ong family to be 10 per cent owner in RHB Capital going forward - implications; - Implications - broking fees - earnings; - Longer-term goal - 40% of profits overseas from just 10% currently;- OSK - assimilation - people - process - integration; - Indonesia - Mestika - issues - foreign stake reductions - insights; - Target - completion by mid-2012; - Earnings implications - ROE guidance; - RHB Capital as a target - EPF as 44 per cent owner - CIMB-Maybank bidding war - whether the OSK purchase was designed to fend off acquirors; - Aabar stake - 25 per cent  -- bought at 10.80 ringgit a share - - whether rules out stake sale; - Rumours - Jho Low involved - bidding war between CIMB and Maybank; - Sense - whether Aabar willing to re-enter the fray by lowering its price; - Appetite for more M&A: details; - Financial wherewithal; - Govt - liberalisation - foreign stakes - insight; - Quick promotion - RHB Group - climbing the pole; - Remuneration - fraction of Maybank Dato Wahid’s 2-3 million ringgit and DS Nazir’s 14 million ringgit - details; See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Al Chalabi, author of 'Cracking the Code: Understand and Profit from the Biotech Revolution that will Transform Our Lives and Generate Fortunes' discusses: -- Breakthroughs in emerging bio-technology will enhance the quality and length of human life. In the future, it is expected that we are able to live longer and healthier -- Early adopters and believers of biopharma can make a lot of money -- Two core themes of the book: HEALTH & WEALTH -- He explains the process of drug discovery and how that might be changing -- The shift in dynamics between Big Pharma vs Biopharma -- The book also gives you tips on which areas to be positioned in, what to look for in companies in the bio and life sciences field, and the scope of market opportunities in the therapeutic areas and in regions of the worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Gary Hamel, noted business thinker and author of the book 'What Matters Now' discusses: -- The five challenges that MATTER NOW in determining if an organization thrive or dives -- the need for a "moral renaissance" in capitalism -- how to create a 'new'type of capitalism -- one that is more conscientious, accountable, noble, etc -- case studies of successful manangement models, e.g. Gore-Tex maker W.L. Gore; Morning Star; etcSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Exim Bank CEO/MD Dato' Adissadikin bin Ali discusses: - Purpose - who it reports to funding sources; - Cost of funds; - Contrast with conventional lenders - differences; - MoF - ‘special share’ - implications - details -- "phone calls from above"; - Accountability - EXIM's biggest deals; - Details of clients -- GLCs - percentage of overall client base - value terms; - AR 2011 - ‘tighter lending criteria’ - ‘more robust risk management framework’ - before and after situation; - Reports of "weaknesses in loans management";  - ‘Building a quality asset portfolio’; - Transformation Plan - 4th year - progress; - Exposure - overseas project financing: which projects and identity of the biggest clients; - NPLs: 2012 Update; - For 2011: Of 1.99 billion ringgit in loans, advances and financing, 880 million ringgit was bad i.e. 44 per cent of loans outstanding - reasons - recoverability - issues; - Reason for high default rate; - Recovery plan - details; - NPL target - 2012; - Business focus on “non-traditional markets” -- details.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

James Wong, Executive Director of HDD components maker, JCY International.  He discusses: -- his outlook on the average selling price of HDD components, which rose by 20% as a result of supply shortage after most manufacturing facilities were destroyed during the floods. --  JCY's stellar financial results and if they can sustain the growth --  possibility of JCY's current clients returning to their original vendors when its competitors' operations are fully restored --  plans for their RM300mil in cash  --  update on their second factory in Suzhou, China --  Outlook for overall HDD demand, given that there has been a shift in consumer preference towards tablets and ultrabook --  the threat of Solid State Drives (SSD) as it continues to close the price gap --  how the minimum wage policy will impact JCY's business --  direction for the future and if there are any plans to diversifySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following major discoveries of shale gas reserves in the US, it is estimated that natural gas will overtake coal and become the second most widely used source of energy by 2025. Shell worldwide is also expected to produce more gas than oil this year. This is said to be to be the golden age for gas. But there are environmental concerns, for example, France has banned fracking, an activity in shale gas exploration. Dick Benschop, the President-Director of Shell Netherlands and Vice President of Gas Market Development addresses these issues.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Shane Oliver, Chief Economist and Head of Investment Strategy at AMP Capital in Sydney, discusses: - ECB holding holding key interest rate unchanged; - Whether Fed or ECB will move first on Eurozone; - Fed comments - beige book - chances - QE3; - QE3 options - shape and form; - Aussie GDP - up twice as much as forecast - views;- Equities strategy - deep discounts - outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NagaCorp Ltd CFO/ED Philip Lee discusses: - Casino licence - granted - Royal Government of Cambodia - rights - 70 - exclusivity; - Country issues - land rights - legislative and regulatory infrastructure - flaws - Cambodian legal system - uncertainty - foreign investment rules; - 3rd - worst on corruption perception index - globally - issues; - Tourism - No.2 income generator - sensitive to economic downturns and cost increases - implications; - Floods - concerns; - Slow development of capital markets - bank lending remains conservative;- Cambodia stock exchange - just launched - whether join; - Corporate governance - concerns - founder Tan Sri Chen Lip Keong - - pledge of Nagacorp shares as security - forced sale - future - issues; - Earlier concerns - listing plans HK - Singapore - rejected - whether addressed; - Sister Malaysia companies - Karambunai - Petaling Tin - synergies; - Analysts recommendations - discount valuation - country risk - issues; - Lifespan - licence - concerns expiry - competition upon expiry; - Positioning - poor man’s casino - VIP revenue growth; - Margins - 70 per cent-odd - sustainability; - Revenue growth - expectations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

NAVIS Capital Partners, Co-founder & Managing Partner, Nicholas Bloy discusses: - Navis positioning - private equity investments - buyouts - recapitalisations - financial restructurings - South and Southeast Asia focus - deals done - performance; - Ideas generation - due dilligence - negotiations - purchase; - Qualifying criteria; - Target sectors; - Losing bidder - France’s Casino - Carrefour Thailand - experience; - Benefits - acquiree; - Funding - stake size - staffing - skills sought - demographic profile of staff - BCG network - importance; - Fund size- Capital raising - issues; - Investment promise: returns - timeframe - loss risk; - Exits - 5 deals from 2006 - 8 from 2007 - current situation - exit challenges; - SeGi - issues - minorities can ‘take it or leave it’ attitude - corporate governance: impediment to dealmaking, ventures; - Public versus private equity; - Appetite sectors - companies; - Myanmar views; - Views - EMs generally; - Current conditions - pulled IPOs - 'risk off' phenomenon; - Southeast Asian common market - advocate - details; - Global politics - Mitt Romney - 'financial guy' - Bain Capital - advocates - protectors 1 per cent - right wing politics - Republicans; - Navis within SEA - political alignment - importance. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Carlsberg Brewery Malaysia Bhd MD Soren Ravn discusses: - Q1 earnings - expectations - rest of year; - Market share update; - Update - performance - luxury beer brands - Asahi - Kronenburg 1664; - Raw material costs; - Group EBITDA margin - update; - Outlook - prices increases this FY;- Outlook for malt - marketing - distribution costs this FY; - Singapore - contribution - dropping - details - outlook; - Strategies to address; - Whether needs to spend more time - Singapore; - Dividend policy; - Expected payout this year; - Prime Minister - budget - Sept 28 -- expectations, wish list; - Fear - UMNO - “give up” - Chinese vote - focus Malay rights - repercussions; - Effect on marketing - Positioning; - Implications - licensing, taxes, publicity; - Global recession - impact; - Russia - issues - 40 per cent of total group sales - political changes - Malaysia read-across; - Russia - issues - pressure on Carlsberg’s profitable regions to channel more profits HQ’s way; - Ambassadors  - Peter Schmeichel - quantifying his value.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dutch Lady MIlk industries Bhd Managing Director Rahul Colaco discusses: - Ascended from Marketing Director to MD  - new business plan;- Marketing - core expertise - skills to top table;- Raw Material - costs - update;- Record pre-tax profits - “highly effective promotions” - marketing campaigns - details - outlook;- Fresh campaigns - details;- Ability to pass on price increases to customers;- Outlook - whether - price increases this year;- Sugar reduction campaign - details;- Board expectations - 2012;- Dividends - policy - yields;- Cash @ end 2011: 193 million ringgit more than twice the 86 million ringgit a year ago - plans; - Plans - capex - factory - facilities; - 64 million share capital - sma;; - heavy share price at 33 bucks - Plans to split - Increase share capital; - YHS privatisation - views. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today on the Breakfast Grille, His Excellency Vincent Piket, European Union Ambassador to Malaysia, discusses: -- the situation in the Eurozone: if European unity is on the rocks -- likelihood of Greece leaving the Euro -- The growth vs austerity debate -- trade with Malaysia: growth targets -- Malaysia's aim to move up the value chain to become a high-income nation -- an update on the Malaysia-EU Free Trade Agreement -- the EU's stand on government procurement, palm oil sustainibility, etc -- work on the Partnership & Cooperation Agreement (PCA) -- EU's relationship with MyanmarSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will China become the next superpower of the world? What will that world look like? On the Breakfast Grille, Martin Jacques, author of "When China Rules the World" discusses: -- What he means by "contested modernity". For over two hundred years we have lived in a western-made world, one where the very notion of being modern was synonymous with being western. But Jacques argues that the twenty-first century will be different: the west will no longer be dominant and there will be many ways of being modern.In this new era of ‘contested modernity’ the central player will be China. -- China’s impact on the world will not simply be economic; it will also have profound political, cultural and ideological effects  -- The Chinese state is very different from the western state: it has existed for over two thousand years, for over a millennium it has had no competitors (e.g. church, merchants) nor limits to its power; it is regarded with reverence and deference by the Chinese as the guardian and protector of Chinese civilization  -- At its core, China is a civilization-state rather than a nation-state -- he says its the Chinese civilization and culture is what binds its ppl together -- not borders or the idea of being from one country -- The Chinese have a deep and living sense of their own culture and civilization which they regard as superior to all others -- Jacques makes the argument that racism is deeply embedded in the Chinese psyche – that there is a pervasive belief in Han Chinese superiority.  -- He also talks about the emotional hardships he suffered in his personal life whilst writing this chapter, and if it had coloured the observations he made in the book -- Jacques also touches on Sino-American relations: With the US presidential campaigns this year, its triggered a new round of China bashing. Is this just politicking or will there be significant impact on bilateral ties and the rest of the worldSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In this 2012 interview, Perodua Managing Director Aminar Rashid Salleh discusses: - Weak Sales - amendments Hire Purchase Act - tighter lending guidelines - impact; - BNM - household debt - levles - defaulters; - Plans - become financier - talks with Toyota Motor Capital - details; - Regulatory conditions - issues; - Concerns - default - margins - cost of capital; - Entering the second-hand car market - details - by when - margins - human capital; - Full-year - sales targets; - Model rollout - reports - to soon enter the 1.5 to 1.8 litre segment - response; - Overseas sales- pitifully low - <five per cent of total sales - strategies to address; - South Korean carmakers - competitiveness - compare and contrast; - Tun Mahathir - perceived obstacle to Malaysian car industry - views; - Proton’s sale to DRB -- speculated departure of Proton CEO and CFO - views; - Implications to merger - collaboration; - National Auto Policy - wish list. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Baroness Warsi, Co-Chairman of the Conservative Party and Minister Without Portfolio, discusses:- Appointment - response - criticism - Tories badly out of touch - increasingly diverse Britain - gender, racial or religious standpoint;- Position - overpromoted - unjustifiably successful - due race / gender - whether ironic - diversity - met accusations;- Enemies - strategy;- British soft power;- Tories - traditional opponents - single European currency - whether current malaise vindicates;- If EU - dissolve - implications - Britain;- Europe ranking low - British radar compared to education, healthcare, immigration and crime - reasons;- Views on “militant secularism”  - whether evidence - militant about secularists in society;- Whether evidence - more faith - positive force - broader society;- Richard Dawkins - views that secularism need not be a bad thing - people - who "don’t want religion forced down their throats";- Faith-based government - avenues for abuses;- Faith - so-called ‘Islamisation’ of Europe;- Integration - or otherwise - of British Asians - Rochdale sexual grooming scandal;- Britain's decades-long struggles to integrate different faiths, cultures and races;- Racial justice - forced marriages - issues;- Gender diversity - ongoing challenges.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, we speak to Dr Jay D. Keasling, Professor of Chemical and Biomolecular Engineering and Bioengineering at the University of California, Berkeley. He is also the chief executive officer of the Joint BioEnergy Institute. Synthetic biology is is the design and construction of new biological entities such as enzymes, genetic circuits, and cells or the redesign of existing biological systems. Keasling's research involves yeast to produce the anti-malarial drug artemisinin. He discusses how and why he got involved in this project, as well as why there was a need to create a new anti-malarial drug. Dr Keasling is also working on the metabolic engineering of the E-coli bacterium to produce biofuels. He talks about the process, commercialization efforts, and how his work could potential impact the giant oil companies. Finally, we ask him about the ethical and societal implication of his work.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

PESTECH International Berhad CEO Paul Lim discusses: - Transition - electrical equipment trader and supplier in 1991 - listed co; - Journey to value-add then to manufacturer and then on to international company; - Producing own brand - decision - year - rationale;  - IPO: Tough market conditions, risk-off mentality - approach; - Choice of Bank Islam as adviser - skills - reach - fees; - Valuations: 6.25x PE - whether fair -- high side - low side (2011 basic EPS 16 sen -- offer price 1 ringgit); - Offer for sale element - 10 per cent of the company - Bumi placement - feedback; - Management and Board of directors - skills - experience - independence; - Client mix - Tenaga exposure; - Order book - size - value of bids - success rates; - Good mix of regional clients -- sustainability; - Time span - build foreign credential - how - why - etc; - Overseas projects - countries - Cambodia - largest contributors - dynamics; - Expected growth rates - next 5 years; - Gearing ratios - dividend policy; - Lim and founder Lim Ah Hock - own combined 61 million shares - 71 per cent post-IPO - whether concerned - low free float; - Role - Bank Islam - making a market post-IPO.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tri Corporation CEO Carlo Peratoner, discusses: - Executive development solutions - corporate education - experiential leadership - simulation programs - details; - Customers - needs - demands - GE, Microsoft, Boeing and all the top Dow 30 companies - proposition; - Services - strategic alignment and managing change, strategy and vision development, business acumen, financial skills development, leadership development, and team development - details; - Duration -- fees - course details; - Asian appetites - exeutived evelopment - fees structure - demand outlook - positioning; - ROI explanation; - Black Swans - sims - executive development - how prepares executives; - Social media - skills war - implications for executives - - Executive development -- how needs differ between industries; - GE's Crotonville - similarities. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Green Packet Berhad MD/CEO Puan Chan Cheong, in this 2012 interview, discusses: - Coverage update- ‘Nationwide’ status -- East Malaysia - update; - Subscriber update; - ARPU update; - Competitionv - subscriber acquisition costs; - Equipment - depreciation issues: partly blamed for losses - challenges - capital-heavy business; - WIMAX - LTE - debate - issues; - Software and services business: - Outlook - Gross margins - competition - Motorola, Samsung - Birdstep and Smith Micro; - Accumulated losses 619 million ringgit since 2008 - profit promises - unfulfilled; - EDBITDA profitability promise not kept - loss of credibility; - Outstanding related party receivables: 3.9 million ringgit -- three years old - status.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Flextronics International Senior VP of Finance Manny Marimuthu discusses: - The Flextronics proposition in Asia; - Malaysia proposition - 11 manufacturing facilities, one R&D centre and currently 20,000 people to get to 23,000 employees; - Reasons for being bullish; - Adding jobs - headcount; - Rising Costs - regional comparison; - Growth - CAGR forecasts - outlook; - Margins - razor thin - 2012: $29.4 billion revenues. Net income $521 million. Net margin: 1.77 per cent - strategy; - Costs management - difficulty - challenges - prices - migration;- Labour costs - China exposure - issues; - Identifying The Next big Thing; - Long-term strategy of shrinking High Velocity Solutions - new areas - details; - Impact on revenue - margins; - Leaks - internal policy - dealing with it; - Walter Shimoon case - lessons (former director of business development - charged with insider trading); - Apple - independent audits by the Fair Labor Association - Microsoft, Dell , HP and Samsung - guidelines - Electronic Industry Citizenship Coalition - views. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kenny Tan, managing director of KEN Holdings, is back on the Breakfast Grille. He gives an update on the KEN Rimba Jimbaran project, as well as the KEN TTDI development. KEN TTDI is also a milestone for the company -- its first foray into the hospitality business -- with the development of 36 corporate suites there. He also discusses the on-going plans for the 'green' hotel in Penang, plans for increasing their landbank, and venturing outside the Klang Valley. Kenny also talks about undervaluation of the company's stocks and his wish to take it private.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, Ong Ewe Hock, managing director of DuPont Malaysia, discusses:  -- its business segments -- major growth drivers for the company -- the company's financials -- growth targets -- how DuPont plans to weather the economic headwinds -- challenges in getting talent -- the Oil Palm Center of Excellence, to promote oil palm as a significant adjacent crop to DuPont -- R&D and innovation efforts -- future products/innovations -- DuPont's environmental record -- expansion plans & key focus areas for MalaysiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

  Our Mother's Day Special on the Breakfast Grille: Helen Read, the founder and Managing Director of Ms.Read & her son, Benjamin Yong, the founder of the BIG group with its collection of restaurants and supermarkets like Plan B, T forty twoand Ben's Independent Grocer. Helen Read of Ms.Read discusses: -- how she started just sewing buttons to designing a clothing line for fuller-bodied women -- the process : from design sketches to clothes on the rack -- quality control in the commercial manufacturing of the apparel  -- how Ms.Read stays ahead of the competition -- expansion plans & franchising opportunities -- update on the Dude and the Duchess -- online shopping on the Ms.Read website -- Recently it's been highlighted that Malaysians in general have high levels of household debt -- has this impacted the retail sector?   Benjamin Yong of the BIG group discusses: -- his new culinary adventures post E&O: how he has managed to set up 20 restaurants and supermarkets in just 18 months -- why most of the stores are concentrated in Bangsar -- striving for consistancy in the quality of food served at all his outlets -- Some outlets will be more profitable than others, so how will he make the decision to axe an outlet -- teething problems in expanding so quickly   Family Relations -- what's the family dynamic like, coming from a family of entrepreneurs and having almost all of the family involved in the business -- what Ben has gained from working directly with his mum -- Helen's advice to other entrepreneurs who work with their family membersSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Breakfast Grille presents a Mother's Day Special with The Chicken Rice Shop (TCRS) founder Gaik Wong, and her daughter Wong Kah Lin, the CEO of the company.  They discuss: -- How the recipe for the chicken rice served at their restaurants is a meld of both grandmothers' receipes (one from Hainan & the other from Penang) -- Although chicken rice is available everywhere from your local warung to high-end restaurants, they discuss what makes TCRS' chicken rice different from the other places  -- How they keep the menu exciting and fresh for their customers, revamping the menu or introducing new offerings -- and how they are working with celebrity chef Datuk Ismail Ahmad -- What they think of the tussle over claims of the origins of chicken ricebetween Malaysia and Singapore -- How inflation/ rising cost of living is the biggest challenge  -- Their catering service and the possibility of having a delivery service -- Expansion plans locally and regionally: They currently have 60 stores nationwide -- 8 overseas: mostly in shopping malls -- The working relationship between mother and daughter  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sime Darby Healthcare MD Raja Azlan Shah Raja Azwa discusses: - Developments - two new hospitals - Ara Damansara and ParkCity; - Investment amounts - source - adherence- budget - timelines - details; - ETP - reasons for appointment to EPP status;- Medical tourism - arrivals - expectations - targets; - Medical education; - Plans - double revenue to 600 million ringgit - 2016 - organic - M&A; - Jakarta - target - Penang - Details: identity - stage of talks - positioning - update;- Exit: IPO - others - options; - Cost insurance - low penetration - moral argument - healthcare as a commercial enterprise. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Has the adoption of fiat money 40 years ago created an unsustainable economic paradigm in the US, with the unprecedented expansion of credit? Is this then the start of a New Great Depression? On the Breakfast Grille is author of 'The New Depression: The Breakdown of the Paper Money Economy" Richard Duncan, and he discusses: -- How US debt has ballooned almost fifty-fold in the four decade since the US stopped backing dollars with gold -- Why he thinks the current economic system in place in the US is not capitalism -- His reconstruction of Irving Fisher's quantity theory of money to become the Quantity Theory of Credit – on the premise that there is no real distinction between money and credit -- Lessons the Federal Reserve has learnt from the 1929 Great Depression -- What's at stake for the world economy if there is the New Great Depressionand what needs to be done to prevent it from happening. -- Which areas the US government should be looking to spend on and why -- Find out his advice to investorsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aker Solutions Asia-Pacific president Crawford Tennant discusses:- Aker’s services within the stable; - Previous posting within subsea solutions - 'Christmas trees' - etc;- The umbilicals business: carrying data - fluid - chemicals;- Clients - producers - installers;- Typical lifespan;- EMs: West Africa - Asia - CAGR of between 11 and 18 per cent annually - growing presence;- Choice of Malaysia as investment destination;- Petronas - Marginal oil fields - $60m investment - Pekan - umbilical manufacturing - commencement Q4 2013;- Why not Kuantan, Gebeng;- Amount invested and status of development;- Operational challenges: manpower - logistics;- Importance - infrastructure - communications; - Skills in developing 'well functioning local teams' - in a skills context - Pekan - how;- 40 per cent of company owned by Norwegian Ministry of Trade - implications, reasons;- Corruption - procurement - approach;- Petronas capex spend - strategy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, we speak to Dato' Seri Ir Dr Judin Abdul Karim, the CEO of Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB). CIDB, which was formed in 1994, is a regulatory body and the custodian of the local construction industry  He discusses some of the key challenges that CIDB faces: --  Productivity Issues: Productivity in the Malaysian construction industry has been stagnant since the 1980's. The productivity figure as measured by GDP/employee has been about RM7,000, has remained constant – compared to other sectors which have been showing increases in productivity during this period. --  Tax Issues: Taxes on construction machinery in Malaysia is the highest in South East Asia --  Quality of Materials Issues --  Health and Safety Issues --  Procurement Issues --  Payment Issues: Issues on late/non payments are a major grouse of contractors. This is quite worrying as people can resort to sabotage if they are not paid. To address this, the Construction Industry Payment And Adjudication Act (CIPAA) is being drafted.  --  Globalization Issues: Globalisation can be seen as both a threat and an opportunity for the Malaysian construction industry. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AEON Co. (M) Bhd Managing Director Ms Nur Qamarina Chew discusses: - Rebranding exercise - ROI - Positioning - Aeon proposition; - How many stores - cities - neighbourhoods; - Whether target number of stores - yearly rollout plan; - Key marketing point of 'constant interior refurbishment' - details; - Middle-class target segment - research - data points; - Expansion - Sungai Petani - Bukit Mertajam - Kulai - update - strategy; - Buy or rent; - East Malaysia - strategy - competition - rollout plans - details; - Market evaluation and feasibility studies completed - conclusions on E.Malaysia marketApparently you have already carried out - Responsible lending guidelines - demand implications; - General Merchandise Stores versus property management division - growth and margin comparisons; - Store openings - funding options; - Dividend policy; - CEO since May - first-ever woman MD outside Japan - life change - personal transition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datin Maznah Mahbob, Group CEO of the Funds Management Division of AmInvestment Bank, discusses: - Update - assets under management;- Breakdown - areas - concentration; - Demand - source; - Equity funds - proposition; - Fixed income - focus - performance - reasons;- Outlook - equity markets; - Fund management - challenges - ‘deals’ - dirty - managing perception; - Private Retirement Scheme - structure - takeup - forecast - contribution - benefits; - SC - corporate governance - role - institutional investors; - ANZ - Big Picture - fund management. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Norman Davies, British historian and author of Vanished Kingdoms: The Rise and Fall of States and Nations, discusses: - Whether there is a more futile effort than the construction of kingdoms; - History appearing to not have taught mankind that empires crumble;  - China - - but flashpoints - Xinjiang, Tibet and Taiwan; - European Union - similarities - fabled kingdoms like Byzantion, Aragon and even the USSR - disintegration; - Soviet Union - crumbled - details; - Longevity - identitiy - culture - importance - ingredients; - Collapse of the USSR - lies and half-truths - eventual truth - major factor behind collapse; - Malleability - history books - Stanford University experience; - Why history should be taught. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, we speak to United States Trade Representative Ron Kirk. He is a member of President Barack Obama's Cabinet and serves as the President's principal trade advisor, negotiator, and spokesperson on trade issues. Ambassador Kirk was in Southeast Asia to discuss current issues in US trade and investment with Asia Pacific economies. He discusses:  -- growth in two-way trade between Malaysia and US in the next 5 years -- how the trade relationship could be affected by Malaysia's move uo the value chain, from a low-cost manufacturing country to a high-income nation -- issues that hampered talks on the Malaysia-US Free Trade agreement, such as the uneven tarrif structure -- also where the US stands on the issue of the New Economic Policy, which has been said to be favoring the indigenous Malays especially in the area of government procurement, and if American investors could be discouraged by this policy, as it can be construed as an unequal playing field in business -- how detrimental is corruption and the perceived lack of transparency in Malaysia to doing business with us -- trade issue between the US and China -- will there be more trade friction with China going forward -- the implications of Malaysia being on the Special 301 Report, which identifies countries that do not provide "adequate and effective" protection of intellectual property rights -- why he has continued to push for free trade, even with the high unemployment rateand the anxiety about protecting American jobsSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille, John Brosnan, the Southeast Asia Managing Director for BAE Systems discusses: --  the history and heritage of the company --  the key business areas --  their home markets and what they're focusing on  --  the importance of innovation in staying on top of their game --  business opportunities in Malaysia: BAE is aggressively pitching the Eurofighter Typhoon to the RMAF replace the MiG-29 aircrafts -- how BAE Systems plan to work with Malaysian businessesSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LBS Bina Group Bhd MD Dato' Lim Hock San discusses: - Rebranding - restrategisation - rebuilding - aftermath Global Financial Crisis - losses; - Management decisions - gambles; - Landbank - update; - Outlook - property prices - elaborate; - Positioning - medium end - reasons; - Challenges: tightening liquidity - BNM Responsible Lending Guidelines - higher Loan-to-Value ratios - net income - rules; - Demand - market outlook; - China property market - viewpoint; - China - slowdown - plans - implications; - Dragon Hills - divestment - reasons - divestment funds plans - deal chances - third parcel - F1 Circuit; - Dividend policy; - Valuation - liquidity - corporate plans; - Governance - family representation on management - board balance;  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

David Collis, Professor of Business Administration at Harvard Business School talks about how strategy is taught at the prestigious universitySee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MIECO Chipboard Bhd MD Dato' Yong Seng Yeow discusses: - 2010 - demand recovery - current situation - construction and property demand - full swing; - Plant utilisation; - Re-opening Kuala Lipis plant; - Raw material costs: glue and wax - outlook; - Regional competition - cheap - undercutting; - Q4 -- results announcements -- bleak outlook - particleboard prices - sluggish global demand - eurozone debt uncertainty; - Inflationary pressures - raw materials - wood and glue; - Impact: operating costs - margins; - Challenges - strategie; - Safety - formaldehyde - issues; - Big jump - HK-China and 'Others' revenue -- which regions -- why -- drivers; - Reasons; - Sustainability of fresh earnings; - Expected rally - chipboard makers - Donghwa - Heveaboard interest - languish - reasons; - Aug 2010 announcement - owner Bandar Raya - talks Chinese party - sell 58 per cent stake in Mieco - developments; - Whether plans - on hold - Bandar Raya's proposal to sell Cap Square, Permas Jusco Mall (JB), Menara BSC and BSC to Ambang Sehati; - Whether consider buying up BRDB's stake - MBO. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Aluminium Company of Malaysia Berhad (ALCOM) MD Sachin Satpute discusses: - Current business - update; - Contrast - business profile - 60 percent owner: Atlanta, Georgia-based Novelis; - Capex spendng - higher quality products - higher prices - update - move up the value chain; - New markets - South Korea, India, Taiwan and Japan - update; - R&D - importance - update; - Raw materials - costs - energy - a fifth of opex; - Respite: government tariff hike deferment; - Alcom's plea - government - manufacturing economy - distinction from Singapore; - Whether potential - pass - increases - customers - efforts - cutting energy use; - Liberalisation - China - challenges; - Currency - fluctuations - effects; - Novelis - parent - link - benefits; - Commentary - prospects - outlook; - Bright spots: Thailand recovering - Mandatory Quality Standards on Aluminum Rolled Products - Government decision defer proposed energy rate hike from - effective - December 2011; - Outstanding share capital - small - virtually no liquidity - valuation 42 percent discount to NTA - plans to address this; - No debt - 40 million ringgit of cash - whether utilise - move up value chain - margin expansion; - Novelis - owned by Hidalco - owned by the $35 billion Indian conglomerate Aditya Birla Group - potential linkages. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.