The Breakfast Grille

Monash University Malaysia has the distinction of being the first foreign university in the country and celebrated its 25th anniversary last year. With the landscape for international higher education evolving dramatically since 1998, what is Monash doing to defend its brand reputation in an intensely competitive sector? I discuss these themes with Prof. Dato' Dr. Adeeba Kamarulzaman, the Chief Executive Officer of Monash University Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft, Alphabet and Amazon Web Services are just some of the biggest names that have invested in the development of data centers in Malaysia, but will this industry really complement the transformation of this country’s digital economy, and will we see positive spillover effects? Amy Wong, Executive Director at Knight Frank & Ong Chin Seong, PIKOM Chairman joins us for a look behind the curtains of the sector.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Ministry of Housing and Local Government is responsible for addressing a wide range of issues important to Malaysians, including affordable housing, sustainable development, the circular economy, and local governance. How are Madani Government policy initiatives being translated on the ground? We hear from Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We are living in the Asian century, with the meteoric rise of China, India and ASEAN economies heralding the era of multi-polar geopolitics. Is this an era of optimism for the international order, or is it as some say the most dangerous time in geopolitics since the end of the Cold War? We discuss these themes with Professor Kishore Mahbubani, a distinguished fellow at the Asia Research Institute at the National University of Singapore. His latest book is, “Living the Asian Century: An Undiplomatic Memoir."Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales has appointed Alan Vallance as its new Chief Executive. He joins us to discuss his vision for leading the largest professional accountancy body in Europe. This discussion will also explore the role of artificial intelligence in accounting and the declining interest among young people in pursuing the profession.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Otis Elevator Company is responsible for installing elevators in some of the most iconic buildings in the world, including the Petronas Twin Towers. Given its long history in Malaysia spanning back to 1909, how has Otis' presence here evolved and what trends are driving growth in the vertical transportation sector? We discuss this with Pradeep Nair, General Manager for Otis Malaysia and Brunei.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Bursa Malaysia-listed HSS Engineers has had an illustrious 40 year journey transforming Malaysia one infrastructure project at a time - it was involved in the PLUS Highway, KLIA as well the KL MRT lines. Tan Sri Kuna Sittampalam, the firm's founder and executive vice chairman, talks about future plans for HSS, including its overseas expansion with the Baghdad metro lines in Iraq, its most ambitious undertaking yet.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Parti Pribumi Bersatu was born from the internal strife of UMNO in 2016 and over the course of 5 years  rose to the pinnacle of Malaysian politics under the premiership of Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin leading the Perikatan Nasional coalition.Following Bersatu's exile to the Opposition bench post-GE15, what are their plans to stage a comeback in the next general elections? We speak to Bersatu Secretary General Dato' Seri Hamzah Zainuddin for a better sense of the party's identity and vision.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Singapore Exchange-listed Centurion Corporation is in the business of owning, developing and managing purpose-built workers' accommodation as well as students' accommodation assets in Singapore, Malaysia, Australia, the UK as well as the US. Its CEO Kong Chee Min talks about the company's plans to expand in Malaysia where it already owns several assets in Johor, a state that is set to be a main focus with the Singapore-Johor Special Economic Zone set to take centre-stage.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the war in Ukraine drags on over multiple years, how has the conflict with Russia shaped Kyiv's foreign policy direction? We speak to Hennadiy Maksak, Executive Director of the Ukrainian Prism, a non-governmental foreign policy council on how Ukraine is navigating relations with US and EU allies as well as efforts to bridge the divide with ASEAN member states that have pro-Russian leanings.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has the distinction of being at the forefront of Islamic finance, with the third largest market for Islamic financial assets, behind only Iran and Saudi Arabia. One of the homegrown bodies contributing to the vibrancy of the Islamic finance industry through human capital development is the International Center for Education in Islamic Finance or INCEIF University. Is Malaysia doing enough to maintain its leadership role in this sector? We discuss the trends in Islamic Finance with Prof Emeritus Dato' Dr Azmi Omar, President & CEO, INCEIF University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

LH Plus Sdn Bhd is a local plastic manufacturing company that produces products like OEM parts, and home & kitchen products, among others. Its chairman & CEO Callum Chen discusses the details of LH Plus's business and how they intend to future-proof their operations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Invest Selangor is the one-stop agency for international investors keen to put their money into the state. Celebrating its 25th anniversary this year, how have they fared with the Covid-19 pandemic being one of the most challenging time for it? Dato’ Hasan Azhari Idris, Invest Selangor's CEO, takes us through the agency's plan to navigate the future as competition heats up not just with other states in Malaysia but with other countries in the region as well.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Steel Hawk Bhd is the first company to undergo a listing transfer from Bursa Malaysia’s LEAP to the ACE Market under the new market transfer framework. Shares of this oil and gas services firm doubled on their ACE market trading debut. We speak to Dato' Sharman Kristy Michael, Founder & Executive Director, Steel Hawk Berhad for their growth strategy, the use of the IPO proceeds and whether is there still an upside to the share price.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Music consumption today has long shifted from the age of physical music media like vinyl, CDs and cassettes, and so too has the discovery of new talent from songwriting to performing. Kenny Ong, the managing director of Sony Music Entertainment for Malaysia, Vietnam, Singapore and Special Projects Southeast Asia shares his insights into how the music recording industry has evolved and how the (possible) return of live concerts to Malaysia will move the needle (or not).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia’s telecommunications sector was reshaped when Celcom and Digi merged in December 2022 with dominance over 47% of the market. Almost two years down the line, have the promised synergies come to fruition and how is CelcomDigi staking its claim on the ever-evolving 5G landscape? We get updates from CelcomDigi CEO Datuk Idham Nawawi.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Industrial parks are a sweet spot in the property space with the sudden deluge of data centres and logistic warehousing demand in Malaysia. But do we have world-class industrial parks in this country? We speak to Dylan Tan, Group CEO for AME Elite Consortium for their views, their strategy for growth and why their share price is underperforming.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ace listed, MN Holdings Berhad, engaged in underground utilities and substation engineering services and solutions has seen their share prices soar by 70% on a year to date basis. We ask, Managing Director, Clement Toh what their strategies of growth are and is there more upside to their stock price.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is constitutionally a federation where there is a strong central government but yet the individuality of states are also maintained. Is that just idealism or is there conflict between state and federal governments and can it be resolved? Lee Chean Chung, PKR MP for Petaling Jaya and Dr. Afif Bahardin, Bersatu Dun of Taman Medan gives us their perspective.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kulim, Kedah is the site of what will eventually become the world’s largest 200mm silicon carbide wafer fabrication owned by Infineon Technologies, the German semiconductor manufacturer. Why have they placed their bets on Kulim and Malaysia for their regional expansion, and how might the sector benefit from their presence? We speak to Ng Kok Tiong, Managing Director of Infineon Technologies Kulim to find out.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Seri Azalina Othman Said is the current minister in the PM's department in charge of law and institutional reform. On this Breakfast Grille, she reflects on her years in politics with the unique insight of having served under three different administrations - Barisan Nasional, Perikatan Nasional & Pakatan Harapan - as well as why it is so difficult to pass the institutional reforms promised in the manifestos of the coalition which eventually took control of Putrajaya.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As we gear up to celebrate the 67th National Day tomorrow, we’re featuring a Malaysian brand that’s even older than our country at 139 years old - the pewter craftsmaker Royal Selangor. How are they keeping traditions alive in an era that prizes technological innovation? Executive Director Chen Tien Yue joins us on the Breakfast Grille to share Royal Selangor’s recipe for longevity.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is expected to transition to ageing nation status by 2030 where over 15% of its population will be above 60-years-old. Associate Professor Dr Rahimah Ibrahim, director at the Malaysian Research Institute on Ageing (MyAgeing) and Delren Douglas, the president of the Association of Aged Care Operators of Malaysia (AGECOPE), discuss the country's preparedness to face this reality.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Deputy Prime Minister Datuk Seri Fadillah Yusof recently revealed that there have been differing legal views between the federal and state levels, as Sarawak demands more rights under the Malaysia Agreement 1963 to be fulfilled. These demands were reportedly discussed at the highest council meeting last month. Bandar Kuching MP Dr. Kelvin Yii joins us to discuss Sarawak's interpretation of provisions such as maritime jurisdiction, land, and taxes.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Our neighbours, Thailand and Indonesia, are facing major political changes with a change in leadership. We discuss the dismissal of Thai Prime Minister Srettha Thavisin and whether his replacement can manage the factions with insights from Michael Montesano of the ISEAS-Yusof Ishak Institute. After which we turn to Indonesia where we analyse Indonesian President Joko Widodo’s legacy and what to expect from his successor, Prabowo Subianto with Erin Cook, journalist for Southeast Asian Affairs.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This Saturday, as we celebrate Merdeka, we speak to Tricia Yeoh, CEO of think tank, IDEAS, about the realities of coalition politics in Malaysia. We also discuss the significance of essential reforms, both institutional and economic and whether the pace of progress is sufficient. We will also explore if Malaysia is on the right path to becoming a nation that truly upholds liberty and justice for all.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On August 24th, Ukraine marks its Independence Day while continuing to defend against Russian aggression since Crimea's annexation in 2014 and the invasion in February 2022. We speak with Denys Mykhailiuk, Chargé d'Affaires at the Ukrainian Embassy in Malaysia, and examine Ukraine’s recent bold move into Russian territory.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The humanitarian catastrophe as a result of the war in Gaza is impacting millions of Palestinian lives. In a bid to alleviate the suffering, Malaysia has flown in 41 injured Palestinians and their families for medical treatment, a move that has seen mixed reactions. We speak to H.E. Walid Abu Ali, the Ambassador of Palestine to Malaysia for more clarity on the mission and his assessment of Malaysia's policy on refugees.Image Credit: Utusan MalaysiaSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Earlier this month, a mass protest movement led by the youth of Bangladesh ousted Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and her ruling party the Awami League after 15 years in power. What are the hopes of and challenges for the nation of a 170 million people following a tumultuous summer? We discuss the future of Bangladesh with its High Commissioner to Malaysia, H.E. Md. Shameem Ahsan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Studies have found that Malaysia ranked fifth for countries with the most dangerous roads, and third for countries where you are most likely to die on the road. With these figures, we speak to Dr. Rizati Binti Hamidun, Director of Road Safety Engineering and Environmental Research Centre from MIROS and Dato' Professor Dr Ahmad Farhan Mohd Sadullah, Vice Chancellor, UPM and former DG at MIROS about what does it take to turn this around.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sabah is renowned for its natural heritage but also faces the paradox of plenty: despite being resource-rich, it has consistently lagged in economic development. What is Invest Sabah doing to change the investment narrative? We discuss the priorities and opportunities to bring in investment to Sabah with CEO Dr. Firdausi Suffian.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Construction Industry Development Board (CIDB), established by the Construction Industry Development Act (Act 520), works to improve the construction industry's standards and capabilities. CEO Dato' Sr Mohd Zaid Zakaria addresses the sector’s current challenges, emerging opportunities, and future directions as well as helping us unpack who are the winners and losers in the recent construction boom experienced in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kyndryl, the world's largest IT infrastructure player also had the title of world's largest start up after their separation from IBM in 2021. We speak to Effendi Azmi Hashim, Managing Director of its Malaysian and Indonesian operation about being agonistic when it comes to partners, their strategy for growth and how they intend to benefit from the secular trends of AI and Data Centres.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Prime Minister Dato’ Sri Anwar Ibrahim took office on 24 November 2022 on a platform of sweeping reforms to strengthen Malaysia’s institutions. 20 months later, his unity government has been described as “the most dictatorial that the country has ever had”, according to prominent lawyer Dato' Ambiga Sreenevasan. What prompted this drastic change in sentiment towards the reformist government and is this a fair charge? We discuss the reform agenda versus actions of the Madani government with the former President of the Malaysian Bar and former Chairperson of Bersih.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been 26 years since the first LRT in Kuala Lumpur began its services, transforming how citizens of the city get around. Today there are nearly 140 kilometres of trains, served by the monorail, LRT and MRT lines, supplemented by a bus service under one agency, Prasarana Malaysia. Dato’ Ridza Abdoh Salleh, the former CEO of Prasarana and Afiq Daniel, a public transport activist give us an assessment of how far we have come and what improvements need to be put in place.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Institute for Strategic and International Studies (ISIS) Malaysia was set up in 1983 as an autonomous non-profit research organisation functioning as the nation’s think tank. What role does this body play in influencing the policy decisions of the Madani Government? We discuss Malaysian foreign policy with Datuk Prof. Dr. Mohd Faiz Abdullah, Chairman and Chief Executive of ISIS Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Established in 1969, Agrobank, a DFI is crucial to Malaysia's agricultural development, offering specialised financial services tailored to the sector. CEO Dato' Tengku Ahmad Badli Shah Raja Hussin tells us how the bank aligns with the Ministry of Agriculture's initiatives and how they manage the challenges of being a DFI and managing higher NPLs compared to conventional banks.Image Credit: shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Records were broken for markets this week with a broad global selldown but an almost equally sharp rebound. Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research, Maybank Investment Banking Group and Steve Larson, Portfolio Manager for Principal Equities tells us what to expect for the rest of the second half of 2024, what investment strategy to adopt and where the opportunities are.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The world's largest aeroplane manufacturer, Airbus, has navigated the post-Covid-19 years with increased demand for its aircraft as travel returns with a vengeance amid an increased awareness that sustainability needs to also be a driving force. Anand Stanley, president of Airbus Asia-Pacific, joins us to discuss the path this European multinational aerospace corporation is embarking on following its most recent quarterly results coming in below analysts' expectations.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alps Global Holding Berhad aims to revolutionise healthcare through biotechnology research and wellness services, focusing on personalised and precision medicine to reduce costs. Group CEO Dr Tham Seng Kong discusses the challenges of high costs and failure rates in biotech, emphasising their strategy to control the entire supply chain for more affordable treatments.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While Malaysia has yet to win an Olympic gold medal, Malaysian Paralympic athletes have secured six golds since 2016. But these achievements have not been rewarded with greater investment into para sports. Paralympic Council of Malaysia President Datuk Seri Megat D. Shahriman makes the case for more funding for para sports development in line with performance merit and addresses controversies of the 2024 Paralympics season.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penang has been hard at work wooing travelers back to the island ever since Covid-19 global travel restrictions were lifted, and these efforts are showing results with the number of visitors from China nearly trebling in the first half of 2024, as an example. Wong Hon Wai is the Penang executive councilor in charge of tourism & creative economy outlines his plans to continue to develop new tourism products for the state, covering everything from culture to nature and of course gastronomy.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Co-opbank Pertama is Malaysia's first co-operative bank set up in 1950 but only having received its deposit-taking license from Bank Negara in 2014. Its CEO Khairil Anuar Mohammad Anuar, shares the bank's growth plans that he initiated when he took over the helm in 2021, while ensuring CBP's members continue to receive attractive dividends.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation or APEC was born at a time when globalisation and free trade were fully embraced, but the conventional wisdom has changed since then. What does this then mean for APEC’s role and approach as an interlocutor platform for its 21 member economies, including Malaysia? We discuss trends in global trade with Tan Sri Dr. Rebecca Sta. Maria of the APEC Secretariat.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Sarawak has come a long way since 1963 and is charting a seemingly independent economic future that hinges on greater autonomy from the federal government. What is the pathway to shared development and prosperity for Sarawak and Malaysia as a whole, in line with the Dayak phrase “segulai, sejalai” or onward together? We discuss this to mark Sarawak Day on 22 July.Image Credit: Shutterstock.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will Paris 2024 see Malaysia end its Olympic gold medal drought? What are the policies being considered to make the sports economy more vibrant in Malaysia? We discuss these themes and more with Minister of Youth and Sports Hannah Yeoh at the start of the Summer Olympics.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Engie Services Malaysia is the local arm of a European and world leader in low-carbon electricity production that also provides B2B solutions to achieve carbon-neutral targets. We speak to their managing director, Wong Yin Kee who will tell us their strategy for growth and how they stack up against the competition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the surprising withdrawal of Joe Biden from the race and the recent assassination attempt on Donald Trump, the landscape for the US November presidential elections has shifted dramatically. As the Republican nominee is now confirmed, what strategies might the Democratic Party employ to counter a resurgent Trump campaign? We explore these developments with Mark J. Rozell of George Mason University.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Farm Price has significantly transformed its business model to focus on the wholesale and distribution of fresh vegetables. This strategic shift led to a successful listing on the ACE Market. We speak with Lawrence Tiong Lee Chian their Managing Director to discuss whether this price appreciation is justified and how the company plans to utilise the proceeds from the listing to drive future growth.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Data centres and SEZ are the buzzwords for Johor which benefits UEM Sunrise which owns almost 7000 acres in that state. We speak to Sufian Abdullah, their CEO as to how they intend to monetise this opportunity whilst overcoming the challenges of competition whilst examining their transformation plans.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.