The Breakfast Grille
Episodes
$220M War Chest: WeLab's Shopping for Banks
02 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is your digital bank built to last, or is it just a very expensive app? Despite massive hype, only 24 of the 55 digital banks tracked across Asia have...
PEMANDU Shifts Gears: From Advisory to Equity
01 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Since 2017, Sarawakian corporate figure Dato' Sri Idris Jala has taken the PEMANDU transformation ethos beyond the corridors of Putrajaya through his ...
Apple at 50: Still a Steve Jobs Company?
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Apple Inc. is 50 years old, a milestone once thought impossible when the company sat 6 weeks from bankruptcy in 1996. Today, as a $3.6 trillion "Empir...
Apple at 50: Still a Steve Jobs Company?
31 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Apple Inc is 50 years old, a milestone once thought impossible when the company sat 6 weeks from bankruptcy in 1996. Today, as a $3.6 trillion "Empire...
Uzbekistan: Navigating a New World Order
30 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Uzbekistan, a doubly-landlocked country in Central Asia, is stepping onto the global stage, balancing ties with major powers while pursuing economic r...
ISF Group Eyes More Than Data Centers for Project Pipeline
29 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
ISF Group is a family-run piping systems specialist that listed on the ACE Market in January, raising RM61 million ringgit. They have been beneficiari...
Xiao En’s Long-term Business of Remembrance
26 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Xiao En operates in a sector many overlook, yet one that is essential. It is also a business that demands land, capital, long-term vision and deep emp...
Middle East Crisis: U.S. Strategy, Hormuz, and Global Economic Risks
25 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Analysts Ryan Bohl and Jared Mondschein join Philip See to discuss the Middle East's volatility, questioning U.S. strategic regional influence versus ...
Great Success: Kazakhstan Balancing Image and Influence
24 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Kazakhstan is a land-locked central Asian country situated along the ancient Silk Road and it aims for bilateral trade with Malaysia to grow from US$2...
MyCC: Bid-Rigging, Merger Control, & Digital Monopolies
23 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With over 500 companies currently under investigation for bid-rigging in government tenders worth RM2 billion, MyCC is sharpening its enforcement teet...
Czechia’s Global Balancing Act
18 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How does a mid-sized European nation navigate an increasingly turbulent world? Juraj Koudelka, the Czech Republic’s Ambassador to Malaysia, shares h...
MUDA’s Leadership Transition And Strategy Ahead of GE16
17 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
MUDA completed its inaugural election last Saturday, ushering in a new leadership team. On today’s Breakfast Grille, Sharaad Kuttan sits down with n...
Solarvest: Built for the Long Horizon
16 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Solarvest Holdings is the largest pure-play solar energy player listed on Bursa Malaysia and can be seen as a bellwether of the national industry. Whi...
Onwards and Upwards for Tuju Setia
15 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Building construction firm Tuju Setia debuted on the Main Market in 2021 to much fanfare, but investor optimism for the stock has plummeted since as c...
Varia Berhad: From Construction to Property Development
12 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Varia Berhad is a Bursa-listed mid-tier construction firm that has been involved in infrastructure projects ranging from flood mitigation to highway u...
Reform Or Repeat? Misgovernance In Malaysia
11 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Madani Government came into power on the promise of institutional reform and anti-corruption, with Prime Minister Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim pledging...
Venezuela After Maduro’s Capture: Sovereignty & Diplomacy
10 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On The Breakfast Grille this morning, we examine Venezuela’s political crisis following the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and what it means ...
Life M&A Hunt, Medical Inflation, & Flood Risk
09 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Three years ago, Fabrice Benard stood at the helm of a complex corporate marriage: the acquisition and merger of AXA Affin and MPI Generali into what ...
How Strong Are Malaysia's Climate Institutions?
08 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia has ambitious climate goals, including a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But is the country’s institutional fr...
Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri : Women’s Rights, Policy Reform & Politics
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On International Women's Day, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri assesses Malaysia’s progress on gender ...
Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri : Women’s Rights, Policy Reform & Politics
05 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On International Women's Day, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri assesses Malaysia’s progress on gender ...
Iran Fights Back
04 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The latest war in the Middle East erupted when the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran following failed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear progra...
War in Iran: High Stakes For The Middle East
03 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Middle East tinderbox was struck ablaze on Saturday when the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran. How might this conflict shape the power d...
Prabowo's First Year : Navigating A New World Order
02 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
One year into his presidency, Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto faces a complex balancing act, from domestic issues to balancing relationships with China a...
State Capitalism Looms Large Amid Geopolitics
01 Mar 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Free market proponents have commonly viewed state capitalism with suspicion. However, global trends indicate increasing state intervention in the worl...
TM Switches Gears to U Mobile 5G
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Telekom Malaysia is switching its 5G wholesale partner from Digital Nasional Berhad, to U Mobile, a move that comes as Malaysia advances its shift fro...
Tune Talk, Trying to Move to the Big League
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
In an industry that has been significantly disrupted, telcos are struggling with declining ARPUs and high capex requirements. Does this change the MNO...
Malaysia Energy Commission Balancing Short and Long Term Demands
26 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See discusses Malaysia’s clean energy push with Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO of the Energy Commission, discovering how the regulator is balancing...
Sri Lanka, the Pearl Recovering Its Sheen
25 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sri Lanka has suffered from a series of crises in recent years, culminating in its 2022 economic collapse and the political turmoil that ousted the Ra...
Malaysia Energy Commission Balancing Short and Long Term Demands
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See discusses Malaysia’s clean energy push with Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO of the Energy Commission, discovering how the regulator is balancing...
Malaysia Energy Commission Balancing Short and Long Term Demands
24 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See discusses Malaysia’s clean energy push with Siti Safinah Salleh, CEO of the Energy Commission, discovering how the regulator is balancing...
Ukraine Marks Grim Milestone As Peace Talks Stall
23 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
February 24 marks four years since the war in Ukraine began, the deadliest European conflict since World War II. To mark this grim milestone, we speak...
Louis Dreyfus Company : Moving Food Across Borders
22 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Louis Dreyfus Company is one of the world’s largest agribusiness firms, at the centre of global flows of grains, oilseeds, rice, coffee and other es...
Smile-Link: Plans for Growth After Pandemic Downturn
19 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See sits down with Dato’ Dr Wong Ruen Yuan, CEO & Managing Director of Smile-Link Healthcare Global Berhad to talk about the company’s ...
University of Tsukuba Malaysia: The New Education Model
18 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Japan’s University of Tsukuba took a historic step in 2024 by opening its first overseas campus in Kuala Lumpur, offering a unique program that comb...
Why Global Cloud Giants Are Betting on Malaysia
15 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia has emerged as a major data centre hub in Southeast Asia, attracting global hyperscalers and cloud giants such as Microsoft, Amazon and Alpha...
World Radio Day : RTM's Evolution
12 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
On World Radio Day, Datuk Suhaimi Sulaiman, Director-General of Radio Television Malaysia, talks about radio’s relevance in the age of streaming and...
Karex, Innovation Key to Margin Recovery
11 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
2025 was the perfect storm for the world's biggest producer of condoms with tariffs, a strong Ringgit and weak procurement demand. Goh Miah Kiat, Exec...
Securing Malaysia's Future Talent Pipeline Inclusively
10 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Today, February 11th, is International Day of Women and Girls in Science. Professor Dato’ Dr Adeeba Kamarulzaman, one of Malaysia's most influential...
Tourism Malaysia and Visit Malaysia 2026
09 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s tourism sector has rebounded strongly after the pandemic, but as Visit Malaysia Year 2026 gets underway, the bigger question is whether t...
Top Glove, Getting the Right Fit for Growth
08 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
2025 was the perfect storm for glove makers hit by the impact of tariffs, intense Chinese competition and their red ocean strategy. We ask Lim Cheong ...
Colombia-Malaysia: Ties, Trade & Tensions
05 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Colombia and Malaysia have maintained friendly ties since 1978, cooperating on trade, palm oil and drug trafficking. Philip See will speak with Juan C...
Exsim Hospitality, Room for Growth?
04 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The hospitality industry is a challenging one with global brands present. So what are the challenges for home grown hospitality company, Exsim H...
Hatching Value From Hock Soon Capital’s IPO
03 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Hock Soon Capital is heading for a Main Market listing after nearly five decades as a privately run egg producer. Executive Director Alex Ong discusse...
Monsta Studios: Drawing Crowds, Breaking Records
02 Feb 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Papa Zola The Movie has taken Malaysia by storm, grossing around RM60 million ringgit domestically and becoming the country’s highest-grossing anima...
The Resilience of ASEAN Amidst A Fragmented World
29 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See speaks to Simon Tay, Chairman of the Singapore Institute of International Affairs, on how intensifying great power rivalry is closing the s...
Roads, Sarawak Rights and Regional Power
28 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Ministry of Works oversees more than 20,000 kilometres of roads nationwide, including 33 tolled highways. Beyond ensuring road safety, it plays a ...
Former Irish PM: Reflections on a Fractured World
27 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Following the first year of the Trump administration, the world has seen shifts in allegiances - economical, political and ideological. Even PM Mark C...
IJN University College: Shaping Future Healthcare Workers
26 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
IJN University College is driving advancements in cardiovascular education, research, and professional training for Malaysia’s healthcare workforce....
The Baton Passes on In MAG
25 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
MAG has had its fair share of turbulence with a revolving door of CEOs and multiple bailouts by Khazanah. Today it has emerged with a cleaner balance ...
Alam Flora: More Than Just a Rubbish Business
22 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Alam Flora is best known for keeping Malaysia’s streets clean but behind the green lorries is a company undergoing a major transformation. Its CEO S...
Solar District Cooling Group: Life After Listing
21 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Solar District Cooling Group debuted on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market in September 2024 with ambitions to move beyond contracting into long-term, recurr...
Where to Put Your Money in 2026?
20 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Markets are being pulled in multiple directions, from geopolitics, AI disruption and tariff risk. So how should investors position themselves in 2026?...
Legoland, Building The Blocks for Future Growth
19 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Legoland Malaysia was the first of its kind in Asia when it opened in 2012 and has since grown into a full resort with a hotel, water park, and SEA LI...
Verdant Solar : Will the Post-IPO Sun Shine Brightly?
18 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s push towards renewable energy is accelerating, but rooftop solar adoption among households remains low. Zeth Lim, Managing Director of ne...
Boost Bank: Banking the Underserved
15 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s homegrown digital bank Boost Bank Berhad has a clear focus - serving the underserved and underbanked, and helping to close the financial ...
Education Reforms, Fixing What Matters
14 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is preparing for a new wave of education reforms under the upcoming Malaysia Future Education Blueprint but will these changes actually impro...
Sabah & Sarawak
13 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Sabah and Sarawak are clearly pushing for political and economic autonomy. We speak with James Chin, Professor of Asian Studies at the Universit...
US Alliances and Rivalries
12 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See sits down with Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, Professor of Political Science and International Affairs, University of Mary Washington to talk abou...
GHS, Pursuing The Next Phase Of Growth
11 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Guan Huat Seng (“GHS”) Holdings Berhad, specialising in the distribution and retail of speciality and general grocery products will be listing on ...
Polymer Link Looks to Growth in a Volatile Market
08 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to Edward Koh, Executive Director, Polymer Link Bhd, on its listing on the ACE Market on Bursa Malaysia. We also ask him how the company, whi...
SBS Nexus: Expansion A Key Strategy Post-Listing
07 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Philip See speaks to Warren Cheng, Executive Director, SBS Nexus Bhd, a provider of integrated marketing and branding services about its upcoming list...
Bolt Malaysia, Bolting itself to Pole Position
06 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Ride hailing in Malaysia is a competitive space with 29 licensed players. We speak to Bolt Malaysia General Manager Afzan Lutfi as to the challenges o...
Will VMY2026 Support Malaysia's Long Term Tourism Strategy?
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Visit Malaysia Year 2026 puts the tourism sector in the spotlight. Philip See sits down with Hannah Pearson, Director of Pear Anderson, and Nigel Wong...
EFS Group : Scaling Up in the Solar Busines
04 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
EFS Group has been in the solar business since 2013, as the industry in Malaysia graduates from being just about rooftop installations and incentives....
Best of Breakfast Grille 2025 - Healthcare in Malaysia
01 Jan 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Nearly half of Malaysia’s healthcare is delivered by the private sector, even as public hospital fees remain below ten ringgit and medical inflation...
Best of the Breakfast Grille 2025: IPO Edition
30 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia was the best market in Asean for IPOs in 2025 with 60 listings. We spoke to almost half of them who chose to go public asking why they took t...
Best of Breakfast Grille 2025: ASEAN & Foreign Policy
29 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today on the Breakfast Grille, we are revisiting conversations on the show this year revolving around foreign policy discussions and of course, notabl...
Best of Breakfast Grille 2025: Media & Entertainment
28 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On today’s Breakfast Grille, we look back at our discussions on the media and entertainment scene. It’s been a tough few years for traditional med...
Best of the Breakfast Grille 2025 : Higher Education
25 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Universities may face different challenges, but they’re all aiming for the same result. This episode reflects on conversations throughout the year a...
Best of the Breakfast Grille 2025: Politics
23 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2025 has seen major shifts in Malaysia’s political landscape, from government reforms and cabinet reshuffles to key events like Budget 2026 and the ...
Best of the Breakfast Grille 2025: Trade & Tariffs
22 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
2025 was the year global trade was thrown into turmoil, thanks largely to US tariffs and geopolitical tensions. How are countries and economic blocs a...
2026 Outlook : ASEAN and the World
21 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As 2025 draws to a close, the world faces unresolved wars, intensifying great-power competition and growing economic uncertainty. Dr Prashanth Parames...
University of Nottingham Malaysia; World Class Education In Semenyih
18 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
The University of Nottinghan Malaysia just celebrated their silver jubilee. We speak to their Provost & CEO, Prof. David FitzPatrick, ...
Migrant Workers: What Malaysia Gets Right, and Wrong
17 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On International Migrants’ Day we look at how migration has shaped the economy of Malaysia which relies heavily on foreign labour, while laying bare...
Siemens Malaysia’s High-Tech Plans
16 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On the Breakfast Grille this morning, Philip See is joined by Tindaro Danze, President & CEO of Siemens Malaysia to talk about the company’s inv...
Healthcare: Malaysia’s Pressing Issue
15 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with International Universal Health Coverage Day, Philip See speaks to Dr Khor Swee Kheng, CEO, Angsana Health & Specialist i...
What Is The Future for Futurise
14 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Futurise, a wholly-owned company under the Ministry of Finance, is a key driver of the National Regulatory Sandbox. We ask Shafinaz Salim, Acting CEO ...
Malaysia's Fight Against Corruption, More Talk Than Action
11 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
This week was International Anti-Corruption Day, a good reminder of Malaysia’s ongoing struggle with high-level corruption as we aspire to be amongs...
Austria and Malaysia, More in Common that Meets the Eye
10 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Austria is a land known for its pristine moutains but there is more in common with Malaysia than expected. His Excellency Gerhard Eisl, Austrian Ambas...
Aquawalk's IPO Proceeds to Add More Aquariums
09 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daryl Foong, Group CEO and Executive Director of Aquawalk talks about the company’s listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market recently, its expansion...
LAC Med: Strong Growth Alongside Healthcare Sector
08 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Today, I’m joined by Liew Yoon Poh, Group CEO of LAC Med Bhd. They are a company specializing in supplying, integrating, and servicing medical devic...
Orkim Bhd: Charting Its IPO Course
07 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Orkim Bhd, Malaysia’s largest clean petroleum product (CPP) tanker operator, is heading for a Main Market listing on December 9th. CEO Capt Cheah Si...
Kelington’s Expansion Into Asia, Europe and Beyond
04 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Kelington Group is expanding its presence across Asia and now Europe, while diversifying from ultra-high purity gases into industrial gases. Raymond G...
GDEX 2025: Navigating Competition & Driving Growth
03 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
GDEX is navigating one of its toughest years yet amid rising competition and a rapidly evolving logistics sector. On today’s Breakfast Grille, Phili...
MiRXES: Southeast Asia's Biotech Unicorn
02 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
MiRXES is a Singaporean biotech company that’s listed on the Hong Kong stock exchange. Today Elaine Boey will be sitting down with co-founder and CE...
Russia & Malaysia: Partnership Amid Global Tensions
01 Dec 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Russia remains at the centre of some of the world’s most consequential geopolitical tensions, while for Malaysia, navigating its relationships with ...
A Sabah for Sabahans
30 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
On Saturday, the results of Sabah’s 17th state elections were revealed after a very crowded race. This was followed with the quick installation of&n...
Uzma's transition to a diversified energy business
27 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Uzma Berhad may be best known for its oil & gas roots, but the group has been steadily reshaping itself into a broader energy and technology solut...
Japan-Malaysia, Growing Ties in a Fraught World
26 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Since 1957, Japan and Malaysia has built strong ties, shaped by Japan’s Official Development Assistance and Malaysia’s Look East Policy. Today, wi...
Foodie Media’s Diverse Palate
25 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Nicholas Lim Pinn Yang, CEO of Foodie Media Berhad talks to us about the company’s upcoming listing on Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market, what sets it a...
Powerwell, Powering Up
24 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Electricity distribution may not be the flashiest business, but it sits at the heart of one of the biggest investment themes of 2024 and 2025: data ce...
Infomina, Growing its Mainframe Business Regionally
23 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to Yee Chee Meng, CEO of ACE-listed Infomina Berhad, a company that provides mainframe systems and solutions on their strategy for growth whi...
The Future of Television
20 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
November 21st is recognised by the United Nations as World Television Day, where we continue to ask how influential and relevant this medium is in tod...
Protecting Children in a Digital Age
19 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
World Children’s Day 2025 is a timely reminder of the growing challenges governments, schools, and parents face in keeping children safe in the digi...
Tackling Modern Sewerage Challenges
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
We mark World Toilet Day by examining one of Malaysia’s most overlooked essentials, our national sewerage system. Rising costs, ageing infrastructur...
The Hard Task of Getting Sabah Youth to Vote
18 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
1.8 million people will be voting in the Sabah elections, of which more than half a million will be under the age of 30. However, voter turnout for th...
Warisan, Flying Solo for Sabah State Elections
17 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
A total of 596 candidates are vying for 73 seats in Sabah’s 17th state election. We ask Datuk Seri Shafie Apdal, leader of Warisan as to why his par...
Growing Malaysia–Brazil Ties
16 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
Daniella Ortega Menezes, Ambassador of Brazil to Malaysia Brazil describes the increasing number of potential investments and trade opportunities betw...
Bridge Data Centres’ Malaysia Bet
13 Nov 2025
Contributed by Lukas
As demand for AI and cloud computing soars, the Bain Capital-backed, Singapore-based, Bridge Data Centres is betting big on Southeast Asia and Malaysi...