The Breakfast Grille

John Bruton, Former Irish Prime Minister and EU Ambassador to the United States, discusses: - Ireland's economic recovery:- In reducing its ‘country-specific’ bond risk premium;  - Strong export growth; - Goldman Sachs' identifying four key positive developments such as, > The EU Council granting Ireland a sharp reduction in the interest rate on the bailout funds, cutting the interest bill by 0.6%-0.7% of GDP from 2012 onwards; > The interest rate on the bailout package being cut dramatically (Ireland was seeking a reduction of around 1ppt on the original 5.8% interest rate but it has received a reduction of close to 3ppt); > Attitude of the European authorities towards Ireland shifting nearly imperceptibly, to the extent that Ireland is now presented as a country that has successfully implemented tough policy choices. (More below) He also discusses his recent presence in Malaysia at a breakfast seminar where he discussed: : The future of the Eurozone and Ireland’s Economic Recovery; - The Irish International Financial Services Centre - Islamic funds domiciled outside the Middle East; He then discusses: - The perceived disconnect between what the rest of the world believes about the Irish economic recovery and what is actually happening in Ireland; - Reports that retailers remain downbeat - still mired in recession; - Impact of steep cuts in public spending (as mandated under the EU and IMF bail-out programme) resulting in high unemployment and high levels of personal debt as stifling demand; - His views of forecasts by the Irish central bank, which expects real personal consumption to fall 2.6 per cent this year and a further 0.8 per cent in 2012, with the new austerity measures that were unveiled in the budget; - The perception of Ireland as a 'Jekyll and Hyde economy', where exports are strong, in contrast with weak domestic demand;He also talks about: - The chances of Ireland exiting its debt obligations on time, and meaningfully re-enter the market by 2013; - Whether Ireland needs further help from the European authorities to deal with its debt, since almost half of it is related to the cost of rescuing bank creditors following its banking guarantee in 2008; - Which of Goldman's six factors could be replicated in other European states; - His view on the breadth and extent of Europe's problems on the rest of the world; - His view on why Europe is under pressure when its total debt is still lower than that of the United States; - His recent writings of the need to outline a comprehensive solution, with a timetable for its implementation, at the level of each of the 17 euro zone member states and at Eurozone level; - The fact that the crisis in Europe is as much a crisis of belief, as it is a crisis of finance.--- Addendum: Goldman Sachs' 6 reasons for Ireland's recovery: - Ireland’s fiscal adjustment has focused on expenditure cuts rather than tax increases: growth has tended to fare better in fiscal corrections driven by reductions in current spending than in those driven by higher taxes or by cuts in investment. As part of Ireland’s expenditure-focused austerity programme, public sector pay has been reduced by around 15%, a development that has also contributed to an improvement in Ireland’s competitiveness.- Ireland’s labour market is relatively flexible: The flexibility of Ireland’s labour market, together with the sharp reduction in public sector pay, resulted in Irish wages adjusting relatively rapidly once the crisis struck. Competitiveness appears to have been largely regained, with rising export shares and a move into current account surplus.- Ireland has past experience of successfully implementing a major fiscal correction: Between 1986 and 1989, Ireland reduced its general government deficit from 11% of GDP to 3% of GDP. The establishment of fiscal credibility at that stage played an instrumental role in launching the 20-year ‘Celtic Tiger’ period (1987-2007). While the circumstances of the fiscal adjustment being implemented today are very different from those that existed in the late 1980s, the experience of having successfully accomplished a major fiscal correction in the past has reduced popular resistance to the austerity measures this time around.- Ireland’s main opposition parties have behaved ‘responsibly’: While the mainstream opposition parties (Fine Gael and Labour) were critical of government for its economic management, neither party questioned the need for a far-reaching austerity programme.In contrast with some other periphery states, the opposition parties did not offer the electorate any ‘quick fixes’ or easy solutions to the problems.Now that Fine Gael and Labour have been elected to power, the new administration has been able to continue with the austerity programme that began under the previous government and, nevertheless, maintain widespread popular support.- Widesprea

Richard Macey, Global Vice President of Kipling, says the handbag brand is able to grow quickly to over 65 countries by flooding the market with its own stores, store in store, airport outlets, selling online, and working with the right partners. That coupled with maintaining brand authencity. With this, it has established itself as one of the leading casual European handbag brand in China. Well known for its nylon handbags and the Monkey logo, Kipling was founded in the 1980s by a group of young Belgian entrepreneurs and the company was subsequently sold to VF Corporation that also owns other mid-range fashion brands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Joey Yap, bazi expert, gives his predictions for business and politics in 2012. He expects the general elections to be held in March or April, and Barisan Nasional is likely to return to power. On business, he predicts that global economic growth will be higher than 2011 contrary to economists' expectations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MATRADE CEO Dr. Wong Lai Sum discusses: - Malaysia's top five export destination in 2011; - Insight on intra-ASEAN trade in context of decoupling; - Reports of her saying that export growth could slow in 2H; - New export hubs; - Malaysian exporters - innovations and R&D as percentage of revenue; - Low-cost producers based in China - Vietnam - Cambodia; - Natural gas shortages; - Malaysia's place on the value chain; - Gender: Being Chinese, and female; - MATRADE's new - and Free - convention centre - Naza TTDI - connections; - Operational budget - staff size. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Dr Mohd Nazlee Kamal, CEO of Biotech Corporation, gives an update on the biotech industry in Malaysia and its challenges. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Diligent Board Member Services Inc Chairman, David Liptak, discusses: - Beginnings of the business; - Reasons for listing in NZ; - How and why it is regulated by the US' SEC; - Value of Industry; - Proliferation in the US and penetration - opportunity in Asia; - Spring Street's investments - focus - role of Corporate Governance; - Whether CG focus is profitable; - Reasons behind investing in health care and food safety; - Eurozone -- extent of contagion - Greece- default risk -- recession; - Germany's potential exit - survival of the Euro; - QE3 - jobs creation - deficit; - Currency implications.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Konstantin Guericke, co-founder of Linkedin, says the social network is still relevant in the face of competition from Facebook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Scientist and Pulitzer-prize winning Author, Jared Diamond: - Born September 10, 1937- Is an American scientist and - Author, whose work draws from a variety of fields. He is currently Professor of Geography and Physiology at UCLA.- He is best known for the award-winning popular science books 'The Third Chimpanzee'; 'Guns, Germs, and Steel'; and 'Collapse of Civilisations'.- He has an assortment of prizes for his books, including the Pulitzer and the Rhône-Poulenc. - Diamond has been called a polymath.For 'The Third Chimpanzee: The Evolution and Future of the Human Animal (1991)', he discusses: (Applies insights from biology, anthropology, and linguistics to questions such as why one species of big mammal (humans) came to dominate its closest relatives, such as chimpanzees, and why one group of humans (eurasians) came to dominate others (Indigenous peoples of the Americas). It also examines how asymmetry in male and female mating behaviour is resolved through differing social structures across cultures, and how first contact between unequal civilizations almost always results in genocide.The book ends by noting that technological progress may cause environmental degradation on a scale leading to extinction.) - Reasons as to how and why humans came to dominate its closest relatives, the chimpanzee; - How and why one group of humans, the Eurasians, came to dominate another group, such as the Indigenous peoples of the Americas; - Suggestions that first contact between unequal civilizations almost always results in genocide; - How technological progress may cause environmental degradation on a scale leading to extinction.For 'Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies (1997)', he discusses: - Reasons for the success of Eurasian civilizations (including North Africa) in terms of having survived and conquered others- How success originates in environmental differences - not intellectual, moral or inherent genetic superiority; - How these gaps in power and technology between such human societies originate are amplified by various 'positive feedback loops'; - How cultural or genetic differences have favored Eurasians; - How these advantages occurred because of the influence of geography on societies and cultures, and were not inherent in the Eurasian genomes; In 'Collapse: How Societies Choose to Fail or Succeed (2005)', Diamond discusses: - His examination of societies in collapse which have used a  "framework", five "sets of factors": environmental damage, climate change, hostile neighbors, loss of trading partners, and the society's own responses to its environmental problems; - His view of countries in Southeast Asia when framed against your five factors; - Some examples of societies which has collapsed: Angkor Wat - the Mayans; - How environmental damage seems to be a recurring theme in your examination of societies in decline; - In modern societies, his view on the challenges facing a developing nation like China - and how water and its shortages are major issues; - And the challenges facing a developed nation like Australia - how its size negatively prejudices it; - The kinds of attributes Malaysia needs to adopt in order to avoid collapse and whether historical precedent exists for this country as a means of instruction; And, in 'Why is Sex Fun? (1997)', he discusses; - The evolutionary development of human sexuality and their peculiarities; - The reasons why humans have sex in private rather than in public, as is the case in all other mammals; And personally: - As a scientist, the (seeming anomaly of the) importance of religion in his life.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SEDA Malaysia CEO Badriyah Abdul Malek discusses: - Qualifications for the role - experience brought to the table; - Reasons SEDA missed June deadline; - Achievability of increasing renewable energy from 1% to 5.5% of electricity supply by 2015; - Whether job more urgent - Tenaga two straight quarters of losses; - Reasons for target for clean energy production having been revised downwards; - The lessons Malaysia has learnt from seeing other countries such as Spain - mistakes - clean energy programs (politics, corruption et al); - Self-sustainability of FIT - the RE fund; - Status of FiT guideline and regulations; - Reasons for imposing RM10/kW for application fee; - Reasons for cap to Renewable Energy production; - Reasons for introducing a 5MW limit for solar PV - no limit - other RE technologies; - Reasons why no FIT for solar thermal, wind and geothermal - nor for Sarawak, which governs itself in energy matters; - Government soft loan 300 million ringgit - terms of repayment; - How public may view SEDA finances - expenditures; - KPIs - CEO re-appointment. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lim Chin Han, CEO of  Towers Watson, talks about navigating cultural issues in mergers and acquisitions, and the hot jobs in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mike Mayo, CLSA Bank Analyst and Author of "Exile on Wall Street: One Analyst's Fight to Save the Big Banks From Themselves", discusses: - Prospects for another Global Crisis; - Shareholder voice (or lack thereof);- Problems of: compensation being out of whack - excesses - ratings agencies fees - over-authorised regulators - vote-hungry politicians - whistleblowers who were ignored; - Earnings that aren't inherently believable - famously accusing Citigroup of cooking its books; - Advocating a return by the banks to low-risk, highly capitalised profile that characterized financial institutions in the 1950s and 1960s;- Banks are "not meant to be growth stocks";- How low-risk low-risk should be;- Risk being taken out of the system; - Mayo's solution to the banking crisis:    : Better Accounting    : Allow bankruptcies    : Increase shareholder power; - Expectations for banks to suffer flattest revenue growth since the last Depression; - Views for the Asian banking scenario in this context; See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Robert Baldock, CEO of Monument Mining, tells what he pays the Malaysian government in exchange for mining gold and owning mines in the country. He also explains the steps taken to ensure no contamination during the mining and waste disposal process, and justifies that gold mining can be done safely.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Life Inspired (Li) TV Asia General Manager Anne Chan discusses: - Capital needs; - Revenue model - profit share - Path to profitability - cash flow positivity; - Distribution - network condition; - Cost structure; - Long-term - network distribution - platforms; - Measat - Astro - working relationship; - Content selection - thinking process; - Local versus foreign content; - "Cutting the cord" - the coming 'death' of cable (pay-) TV; - Sale of majority 51 percent to Star Publications; - Expectations - Targets - Milestones.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato Sri' Abdul Wahid Omar, President and CEO of Maybank, expects net interest margins will stabilise at about 2.4% in Malaysia and undervalued companies may take their companies private, thus providing a pipeline of business for investment banking despite an economic slowdown in Malaysia. He remains bullish on the Indonesian economy and expects net interest margins to stay at 5% despite key interest rate cuts. Added to this, its new subsidiary, Kim Eng will provide an international platform to expand Maybank's wholesale banking business. As for the RHB Capital deal, Wahid dispels rumours that Maybank abandoned talks with RHB due to interference by parties related to a top government official. On other acquisitions, he did not want to speculate if Maybank would want to acquire Public Bank if a competing Singaporean banking and insurance group launches a takeover offer. On productivity, he justifies why Maybank's operating revenue per employee is lower than some international banks with similarly strong regional presence, and explains the legal dispute between the bank and the National Union of Bank Employees (NUBE). He dismisses talk that Malay executives are preferred over non-Malays. Questions were also posed to Wahid regarding his remuneration package. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thorkil Sonne, founder of Specialisterne, tells how the social enterprise provides autistic people with gainful and meaningful employment as software testers See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Starbucks Malaysia MD Sydney Quays discusses:- Store count - roadmap for openings, relocation, closures - The definition of "changing demographics"; - Franchise structure; - Drive-thru strategy; - Premium coffee industry - market value - how segmented; - Starbucks Malaysia market share; - Coffee bean, milk and other raw material costs - impact; - Soaring prices of Arabica coffee futures - impact on prices; - Howard Schultz - speculators; - Hedging; - Buying ahead - hedged by US parent -  impact on Malaysia position; - Expected revenue growth - same store sales growth; - Relationship with Malaysia parent Berjaya. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Amway Malaysia Bhd Executive Director Paul Yee discusses: - Continuing relevance of the direct marketing model - competition - newer, local brands; - Distributor force - active - sales per distributor; - Malay distributor force - importance of this sector; - Comparative youth of agency force - 60 percent 35 years old and below - continuing proposition; - Product localisation; - Plans to convert Regional Distribution Centres to shops - reasons - philosophy; - New product launches - pipeline; - A&P expenses - outlook; - Distributor price increases; - Impact - global slowdown; - Effect - Amway's business; - Distributor productivity growth; - Dividends - payout policy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ahmad Rizan Ibrahim, newly appointed CEO of Dataprep Holdings, says the company is banking on overseas projects in China and Indochina to turnaround the company's fortunes. It has been reporting losses for the last three years and has accumulated losses of over RM30 million. The recent spike in its share price could have been due to the syndicates in the market as there is no material development that warrants disclosure. Having said that the company may be close to inking an overseas deal next year.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Othman Omar, General Manager of PKNS, tells what he has done to clean up PKNS including upgrading its image, implementing open tenders for all contracts and signing the Transparency International pact. He also talks about his strategy for the group, namely to venture into overseas projects, rejuvenate old spaces, offload some properties into the Amanah REIT, and develop more commercial properties for recurring income. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Matias Mori, the Executive Vice-President of the Foreign Investment Committee of Chile, discusses: - The Malaysia-Chile Free Trade Agreement - upside; - FTA expansion - include investment - services; - Copper - salmon - wine - Chile's biggest industries - Malaysian demand; - Chile - Malaysia trade - favors Chile -- reasons - trade balance outlook; - Chile as a gateway to Latin America; - Reforms since Pinochet era; - Low perception of corruption in Chile; - Gini co-efficient - income inequality in Chile; - Deep discontent with the economic elite in Chile; - Chile financially sound - no sovereign debt - $20b in cash overseas; - Former Michelle Bachelet - fiscal discipline; - The environment - - copper - mining - environment - sustainablility; - Earthquake - repercussions; - Astronomy - life out there! See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hua Yang Bhd CEO Ho Wen Yan discusses: - Positioning as an affordable developer - how and why; - Geographical positioning 70 percent in Selangor - 25% in Johor - why; - Average selling prices; - Urban startegy of service apartments on top of retail podiums - rural strategy of townships - how and why; - Malaysia's My First Home Scheme - challenges: loan servicing - potential default rate - whether quality suffers - defect liability period; - Whether potential for sub-prime problem as in US; - Bank Negara to impose lending rules that allowed loans to only be given on basis of net income; - Competition in the affordable segment - SP Setia and Mah Sing; - Global issues - possibility of a credit crunch; - Reasons for undervaluation; - Net margins - costs management; - Views of E&O and Sunrise and SP Setia; - Chairman as TS DS Ting Chew Peh.   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Syarikat Takaful Malaysia Bhd MD Dato' Hassan Kamil discusses: - June earnings - forward view; - General and Family business outlook;- Impact Eurozone problems - Q3 investment performance; - Industry growth rate - role of Bank Negara; - Value of industry; - Syarikat Takaful ranking; - Takaful - penetration rate of overall insurance industry; - Target share of overall insurance industry; - Competition - four new licenses - challenges -- positioning; - Low adoption - lack of knowledge; - Talent Shortage; - Asset size - importance; - Investment assets - depth, breadth and quality; - M&A - impetus for consolidation - synergies sought. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

KONE Corporation Executive Vice President Asia Pacific Noud Veeger, discusses: - Its three business divisions, four geographical areas; - Business demand - job pipeline - four corners of the world; - World's biggest market for elevators - China - India; - Annual unit demand; - Breakdown of the business - region; - Asia-Pacific sales - growth - outlook; - China - growth - third- and fourth-tier cities - why; - Clients - China - government; - Business challenges; - China banking sector - concerns - NPLs; - Sustainability - regenerative lifts; - Eco-efficiency; - Price sensitivity; - Adoption rate in Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

UMNO Youth Chief Khairy Jamaluddin & DAP National Publicity Secretary Tony Pua discuss: - Education - brain drain; - TS Muhyidin - government's 'final' decision to teach Science and maths in Malay; - PAGE, the education NGO DAP has supported; - Education becoming highly politicised; - Times Higher Education World University Rankings - omission of Malaysian Universities;- One million Malaysians working and living abroad; - Court of Appeal - decision that the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) was unconstitutional: i.e. in banning student politics; - Corruption - Public Sector governance;- Auditor-General's report; - MACC - opening 36 files in response; - DAP's Financial Accountability Mechanism; - Corporate fraud - E&O / Sime Darby; - Repeal for the PPPA - ISA - Banishment and Restricted Residence Acts; - Sessions Court - jail - financially penalty - Independent directors Transmile - Corporate Governance breaches; - Government promise - lowering the budget deficit to 4.7 percent of GDP from 5.4 percent currently; - Open tender - IPPs; - Mega-projects - KLIFD; - The middle income trap; - Elections - image consultants - public relations firms; - Lim Guan Eng - 'Komtar' projects - development-phobic Penang folk; - The sPICE project - sale of Turf Club land; - Gauging electoral support.     See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nestle Malaysia Bhd Managing Director Peter Vogt discusses: - Thai floods - Nestle's production exposure - potential impact on Malaysia business; - Product lines most hit; - Mitigation efforts; - Price hike - materials cost increase; - Strategy - lock-in - buy needs at spot -- percentage of needs to be bought; - Double-dip issues - Flight to safe(r) assets - Swiss franc - USD - impact on costs - management decisions; - Weaker consumer sentiment in developed markets - falling demand from emerging markets; - Dividend outlook; - Overseas markets - robustness; - Marketing costs; - Ad spend; - RSPO - sustainability; - RSPO under threat: Malaysia Green Cert - Indonesia's Palm Oil Association withdrawn membership of RSPO.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Rhythm & Hues MD & Head of International Operations Prashant Buyyala discusses: - How it started; - What prompted its beginnings;  - What brought the co-founders together; - Revenue streams: visual effects - animation - commercial work; - Global production challenges - how time zones and language barriers are addressed; - Importance of technology - connection speeds; - Ratings of US - Indian - Malaysian talent - important traits; - How Malaysian talent rates; - The animation education system; - Appeal of diversity - international students; - Possibility of Asia overtaking Hollywood. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Carl Bek-Nielsen, Vice Chairman of United Plantations, believes Malaysia should not follow Indonesia and pull out of the RSPO (Roundtable of Sustainable Palm Oil), but says the government needs to review the taxes and quotas imposed on planters and oleochemical producers in view of Indonesia's move to cut refined palm oil exports. To reduce greenhouse gas emissions, UP has invested in three biogas plants and will build more. But the development of biogas plants in Malaysia would only pick up if they are connected to the national grid so that energy can be sold to Tenaga. MPOB (Malaysian Palm Oil Board) is working on the grid connection with Tenaga. Planters can also sell carbon credits generated by biogas plants as a result of reducing carbon footprint but the Clean Development Mechanism (CDM) is questionable in view that carbon credit prices are at all time low, and there is no strong indication if the Kyoto Protocol will be renewed.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Venture Capitalist and Entreprenuer Naval Ravikant discusses: - Reasons for the dearth of global web companies from Asia-Pacific; - Attributes of a successful web entrepreneur; - The concept of failure - Whether he (or will) invest in Asia Pacific See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steffen Lauster, Chief Personnel Officer, Booz & Co, discusses: - Retail and consumption trends from an Asian perspective; - How Asian retailers can benefit from these trends; - The Eurozone crisis and its effect on global business;- The effect on global management consulting and (how it changes) the advice proferred; - Human capital issues: talent shortages - solutions; - The impact of social agendas and issues in upcoming talent, businesses and ideas. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

CIMB-Principal Islamic Asset Management Sdn Bhd CEO Datuk Noripah Kamso discusses: - Key differences between conventional asset management and Islamic asset management; - Global appeal of Islamic AM; - SC's MOU with Dubai and HK; - E&Y report on Islamic funds - only 30% of Islamic fund managers have assets under management of more than USD100M; - How successful would CIMB Principal be without AUM from Malaysian clients; - SWFs - lack of islamic allocation; - AUM - AUM growth; - Investment process; - Performance; - Percentage cash - invested right now; - Geographical investment segmentation; - Ratings - challenges; - Black Swan events. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Thiam Hock, CEO and founder of Alliance Cosmetics, tells how he started in business, and then selling his shares to Navis Capital and Ekuinas, challenges working with private equity funds, and what makes a successful entrepreneur. Alliance is the brand owner of Silkygirl, Stage and SG Men, and distribute for Avene, Elancyl and Revlon. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Seri Stanley Thai, Executive Chairman and Group Managing Director of Supermax Corporation, tells the glovemaker's strategy to penetrate the Chinese and South American markets. Acquisition of distributors could be one way to overcome barriers. Many obstacles lay ahead - corruption, healthcare laws, awareness, and import duties in Brazil. Chinese glovemakers are producing cheaper nitrile gloves than Malaysian manufacturers and so Stanley is still bullish on natural rubber gloves despite persistently high latex prices. About 70% of Supermax's sales is in natural rubber gloves but its production facility has the flexibility to switch to nitril glovemaking. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tune Group Co-Founder Dato' Kamarudin Meranun discusses: - MAS - AIRASIA share swap; - Merger talks not being new - Khazanah's involvement; - Firefly - AA - competition - East Malaysia flights; - TS Tajudin Ramli - global out-of-court settlement issue; - Challenges: entrenched unions - 42 in total; - The 'dinosaurs' within MAS - staff culling;- Whether this means more expensive E Malaysia flights - Anti-Competition Commission; - Outright merger between MAS-AirAsia -- ingredients needed; - Political challenges of an outright MAS-AA merger; - Sapphire: whether still on cards; - Future of Firefly - room for premium short haul;- AJ (Ahmad Jauhari) and Danny (Rashdan) Yusoff - MAS management team - airline skills; - Tune Hotels - progress with opening plan; - Business plan - own land - Lease - Hotel managers; - Financials - profitability; - IPO - Details; - TUNE SPORTS - FORMULA ONE - Lotus name rights dispute; - Appeal process - Status;- Revenue potential;- Results expectations;- TUNE SPORTS - FOOTBALL - QPR- Reasons for purchase;- Reasons for Ecclestone's and Briatore's departures;- Opportunities with Lakshmi Mittal;- Synergies with Tony;- Some business plans being studied;- Criteria for qualification. Video streaming by Ustream   "Dato's Kamarudin Meranun, Tune Group Co-Founder talks about a social media platform idea that they have" See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karma Ura, President of the The Centre for Bhutan Studies, discusses the various aspects of Gross National Happiness: - How and why GNH came about; - How GNH implemented in popular fabric; - Challenges in implementation; - Its meaning in today's age; - Faults with GDP; - How GNH overcomes these faults; - The role of money and economic value - position in GNH index; - How GNH affects policy; - GNH's eight major contributors to happiness; - Nebulous - problems therein; - Modernity creeping into Bhutan - challenges. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Arvind Rajan, MD and Vice President of LinkedIn Asia Pacific and Japan, discusses: - LinkedIn proposition in Asia-Pac; - Revenue model; - Global userbase update - breakdown; - Traffic numbers; - Singapore - staff - AP targets - plans; - Target countries for growth; - Growth numbers - targets; - Whether M&A is on cards; - Tools / R&D apps - customised - AP; - Examples LinkedIn altering jobs landscape - recruiting process; - Whether data mining - conclusions; - Global roadmap for growth; - Positioning for the LT; - Whether US economy worries are hurting business - impact. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Sri Zukri Samat, Managing Director of Bank Islam, outlines how he has turned around the business, and his plans to grow the SME lending business. Right now 70% of the loan portfolio is in individual loans. He believes there are too many Islamic banks in Malaysia although the central bank has been giving out more Islamic bank licenses. For Bank Islam, he thinks there could be synergies merging with a bigger bank like Maybank, currently the biggest Islamic bank in the region. He also explains that the main difference between Islamic and conventional banking products is in the documentation of agreements.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bata Malaysia MD Luciano Bagnobianchi discusses: - Origins and history Bata in Malaysia; - Becoming a household name; - Multiple brands - details - positioning; - Buying patterns; - Demand now - outlook; - Branding impetus, positioning - 'uncool' status; - The quest for 'brand premium'; - Branch - retail presence - expansion - issues - rebranding; - Business costs: oil - rubber - textiles - challenges; - Rivals; - Designs - how - who - details; - Market share - plans to increase this; - Differentiators; - Production - outsourcing - China; - Outsourcing issues - challenges - quality; - Eurozone - impact - Bata; See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr. Veerinderjeet Singh, Managing Director of Taxand Sdn Bhd, joins REHDA President Dato' Sri Michael Yam for a Post-Budget 2012 Panel Discussion. They discuss: - Concerns over Budget implementation; - Bright spots; - Property demand; - Fiscal policy, deficit, GST; - Growth expectations; - Elections expectations.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato Dr Mahani Zainal Abidin and Teh Chi Chang tell what they think should be in Budget 2012 and highlights misallocation of resources by the government, and also battles it out on whether government linked companies and funds, which essentially can have access to lower cost of funding, cheap land and implicit financial backing, are crowding out opportunities for private businesses in mature businesses like education, healthcare and real estate. Mahani is CEO of ISIS (Institute of Strategic and International Studies) and council member of the now disbanded National Economic Advisory Council (NEAC). Chi Chang is a former equities analyst with Maybank and Citibank, and is now Executive Director of REFSA (Research for Social Advancement).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chartis Malaysia Insurance Berhad CEO Matt Harris discusses: - Areas under property-casualty and general business; - Details of Malaysia business - premiums - other metrics; - Number of agents / brokers; - Number of policyholders; - The "science" of policy pricing; - Rankings update: market share, overall; - Ratio of consumer - commercial lines;- Claims ratios - comparison with industry; - New business areas: aviation, SME and households; - Motor insurance and interest in Kurnia; - Motor and third-party insurance issues - update on BNM talks; - Outstanding premiums currently; - New business premiums annually; - Investment management business; - Decrease in financial assets - reasons; - Decrease in MGS and of Cagamas - reasons; - Intermediaries as sales force - implications of not owning the client relationship;- Agent skill levels; - Challenges - targeting SME clients - mindset challenge; - Marketing commercial cover - disasters and events - catastrophe losses. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HE Jorge Alberto Lozoya, Ambassador of Mexico, hopes to attract more Malaysian investments in to Mexico. Construction, infrastructure and luxury tourism are high potential areas. He also tells how the government is fighting the drug cartels and combating corruption. In the past five years, the drug war has claimed more than 30,000 lives including 80 journalists.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Declan MacFadden, President of Symrise Asia Pacific, talks about popular trends in fragrances and flavourings, and new growth areas. Symrise is based in Germany and is among the four largest flavourmakers in the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Red Hat CEO Jim Whitehurst discusses: - Efforts to further penetrate public sector-business in Malaysia;  - Expanding the product offering away from Operating Systems towards more Middleware, Virtualisation and Cloud; - Distribution challenges; - Global expansion; - Countries that drive this growth; - Customers - proposition for financials;- Overview of the US economy; - Implications of a Eurozone debt collapse on business / tech industry; - Recession possibilities - defensive nature of Open Source; See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechai Viravaidya, founder of Population and Community Development Association and the Mechai Bamboo School, discusses the challenges and effective strategies in reducing poverty in Thailand. His bamboo school has gained significant attention from Temasek Foundation and the Gates Foundation for its progressive curriculum. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jim Rogers, investor and former hedge fund manager, believes that the next global recession will be worse than in 2008 because the Fed and Eurozone is running out of bullets to deal with the recession. He says he may buy more of the Rogers commodities index. Malaysian stocks are on his radar but he will buy more when he is convinced that reforms are rolled out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

OCBC Bank Malaysia Director & CEO Jeffrey Chew discusses: - OCBC Malaysia proposition; - Great Eastern - relationship with OCBC Malaysia;- OCBC Al-Amin business - Islamic banking outlook and prospects; - Branches - openings - competition; - CAR ratios - loans growth - targets; - Risk management - individuals exposure - variable rate loans; - Rates outlook; - Bad loans ratios- Growth targets; - Provisions outlook; - Rates - net margins - Risk management; - Housing loans - prices, demand outlook; - Cental bank measures - speculation; - Household debt - unsecured loans - wider issues; - Global concerns - core markets of Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, China - trade and export-oriented - whether slowing; - Prospects of liquidity crunch; - Budget outlook; - Financial sector liberalisation - mergers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Glomac Bhd Group Managing Director and CEO, Datuk Fateh Iskandar Mohamed Mansor, discusses: - Market positioning - ongoing projects; - Project rollout details in current fiscal year; - Existing projects: takeup rates; - Reports of cooling sales - feedback; - Status update of (delayed) Lakeside Puchong project; - Status update for Kelana Jaya commercial development and DU apartment project; - Status of plans for Putrajaya and Cyberjaya; - Raw material (steel, cement, labor) prices - outlook; - Sentiment; - Oversupply - Price correction issues; - Mitigating factors - ETP spending; - Greater KL-Klang valley focus; - Landbank - update - acquisition - details; - Pricing - location; - Positioning; - Budget expectations; - Wish list; - Dividend policy - outlook for 2012; - Plans to maintain profit growth; - Earnings outlook; - Property sector M&A; - Undervaluation concerns - buyout prospects; - ISA - PPPA - impressions; - Malay entrepreneurship - views - readiness - mentality. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Charles Ireland, Managing Director of Guinness Anchor Bhd discusses: - Outlook for earnings;- Slowing economy and consumption outlook; - Mitigating factors, catalysts - Rugby World Cup, Olympic games and Euro 2012 ; - Weakening USD, currency fluctuations, impact; - Branding - A&P; - Market share; - Black market - East Malaysia; - Government clampdown on smuggled beer; - Volume, percentage contribution from East Malaysia; - Size of potential opportunity; - Rising raw material costs, outlook; - Price outlook; - Hedging; - Taxes and duties, outlook; - Budget outlook; - Competition; - Dividends - policy, outlook; - Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry concerns, business outlook; See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teoh Su Yin, Head of Research for Malaysian and Asean at Deutsche Bank, expects Malaysia to slow down (GDP forecast 4.6% in 2011, 4.2% in 2012) due to softer external conditions, but it could be buffered by domestic demand. On the markets, she says Malaysia should be credited for outperforming other Asian markets in difficult years and while Indonesia has overtaken Malaysia in terms of size and growth, Malaysian companies have robust balance sheets and are invested in Asean. Budget 2012 is expected to contain goodies for the man-in-the-street like higher income thresholds for tax and rebates for the lower income group.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Jean Cassegrain, CEO of Longchamp, talks about plans to grow the independent French luxury brand in emerging markets.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.