The Breakfast Grille
Episodes
Cybersecurity in the Age of AI
21 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
A.I. technology has developed at an exponential rate over the past 5 years, but it comes at the cost of regulatory and cybersecurity frameworks playin...
AppliedAI: AI Is Everywhere Except Profits
20 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is artificial intelligence stuck in your cost structure and completely missing from your bottom line? Arya Bolurfrushan, Founder and CEO of The Applie...
Les’ Copaque: The Road to a Malaysian Disney?
19 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Les' Copaque Production built one of Malaysia’s most recognisable animation franchises in Upin & Ipin. Now, the company is expanding beyond cont...
IKEA: Balancing Affordability, Sustainability & Growth
18 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
IKEA has been part of the Malaysian retail landscape for 30 years and as consumers become more cost-conscious and e-commerce reshapes retail, it is ev...
UCSI University: Competition in the Higher Education Space
17 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
UCSI University, which in 2024 found itself at its highest position in the QS World University Rankings since its inception, slipped slightly in the 2...
Can ASEAN’s Digital Needs Push EdgePoint Past Key Pressures?
14 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Telco tower veteran Suresh Sidhu launched EdgePoint Infrastructure in 2020, scaling the regional venture to over 16,000 sites across Malaysia, Indones...
Pharmaniaga Post-PN17 Betting Big on Biopharma
13 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Pharmaniaga officially exited PN17 status in March, having taken three years to complete its regularisation plan. The firm is now vying to become the ...
Khairy Jamaluddin: Back in the Running
12 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Still fresh from his re-entry into UMNO, we ask the former Minister and Youth Chief what role he sees for himself in the party ahead of GE16, and his ...
Caught in the Chip War: Perspectives from the Netherlands
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How is the US-China geopolitical rivalry affecting other countries also involved in the semiconductor space, like the Netherlands and Malaysia? We dis...
Caught in the Chip War: Perspectives from the Netherlands
11 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
How is the US-China geopolitical rivalry affecting other countries also involved in the semiconductor space, like the Netherlands and Malaysia? We dis...
Gulf War: Navigating A Multi-Wave Crisis
10 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Putrajaya has been laying out strategies to deal with what is being called a “supply-side crisis” sparked by the American and Israeli attack on Ir...
EU Seeking Solidarity in a Fragmented World
07 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The European Union has not been spared geopolitical whiplash under the Trump administration as US-China competition, the war in Ukraine and the crisis...
Oil Shock: Is Asia’s Tech Boom Enough to Avert a Recession?
06 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Is the world on the brink of a recession?10 weeks into the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, the global market is still missing between 10 to 15 mill...
Can MARA Liner Be Both Service and Business?
05 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
MARA Liner Group has been connecting rural communities across the country for decades, but with rising costs and low margins, can that model hold? New...
Think City on Reviving the Cultural Soul of Kuala Lumpur
04 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Warisan Kuala Lumpur initiative, which was launched in April last year with a RM600 million funding injection from Khazanah Nasional, is beginning...
Strait of Hormuz Standoff Tests Limits of Maritime Law
03 May 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for over two months following the outbreak of war in Iran. What are the implications of this prolonge...
1 Billion Barrels Lost: Fitch Ratings on Stagflation Risks
29 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
It has been two months since the start of the Iran War and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery carrying 20% of the world’s oil and 4...
AIBIM : What's Next For Islamic Banking?
28 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Islamic banking now makes up nearly half of Malaysia’s financial system but as it matures, questions around differentiation, sustainability, and glo...
JLL : Rethinking Southeast Asia Real Estate
27 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Southeast Asia’s real estate markets have long been seen as a growth story. But in a world of higher interest rates, shifting supply chains, and ris...
Systech: Turnaround Under New Management?
26 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Systech Bhd has undergone a major shift following its acquisition of Wilstech Sdn Bhd, driving strong revenue growth and a new push into AI and GPU-as...
Why Aging is the New Frontier Market
23 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Japan already sells more adult diapers than baby diapers, a stark harbinger for a rapidly aging Malaysia. By 2040, the national support ratio is proje...
Making Books Great Again
22 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
World Book Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) dedicated to promoting reading, litera...
Nukes: A World Without Restraints?
21 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The New START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia expired in February 2026, marking the end of the last, major nuclear arms control agreement. Alarm be...
Carsome's $23M EBITDA, Revenue Fall, & IPO Dilemma
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when Malaysian unicorn Carsome stops chasing "growth at all costs" and starts chasing the bottom line? After raising over $800 million an...
Carsome's $23M EBITDA, Revenue Fall, & IPO Dilemma
20 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
What happens when Malaysian unicorn Carsome stops chasing "growth at all costs" and starts chasing the bottom line? After raising over $800 million an...
Will the EU Show ASEAN More Love?
19 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
The European Union and ASEAN will mark 50 years of diplomatic ties next year - but the pathway to the anniversary is fraught with geopolitical and eco...
Royal Selangor at 141: Can Heritage Drive Performance?
16 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Few companies endure for more than a century. So, as Royal Selangor, one of Malaysia’s oldest and most recognisable brands, turns 141, we ask if a h...
Forget Dividends. Inside Whitman’s M&A Hunt & Growth Focus
15 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
With Whitman’s move on the LEAP market, a fundamental question emerges: Can you scale a 'trust-based' business without losing its soul to shareholde...
Counting On Youthful Rebellion?
14 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
While the international system undergoes dramatic changes, Malaysian politics seems to be trapped in the same old political scripts and petty politica...
Mydin on Madani Mart: Noble Idea, But Doomed to Fail?
13 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Following the US-Iran War, Malaysia’s retail landscape is entering a state of "nervous calm" as fuel prices surge and costs ripple through supply ch...
Golden Destinations’ IPO: Tapping the Travel Bug
12 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Golden Destinations Group is heading for a public listing after a sharp recovery in global travel demand. But as growth begins to normalise, can the c...
Boustead For Military: Can This GLC Turn the Corner?
09 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Boustead Holdings, the investment arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces Fund (LTAT) is undergoing a major restructuring exercise to rebuild its financial ...
AI Vs Accountants: CPA Australia On The End Of Bean Counting
08 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
As AI automates the transactional tasks that once defined the profession, accounting faces a critical identity crisis. The hope is that this liberates...
AMS IPO: 20x PE for Aluminum Processing?
07 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
AMS Advanced Materials is heading for an ACE Market listing to raise approximately RM33 million, pitching a rapid climb up the industrial value chain....
MTT Shipping Sets Sail for the Bursa Main Market
06 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
MTT Shipping and Logistics is the dominant player in the Malaysian shipping sector commanding 46% of the domestic market. Its upcoming IPO, priced at ...
Kee Ming: Priced for Growth?
05 Apr 2026
Contributed by Lukas
Mechanical & electrical engineers Kee Ming Group’s share price surged on debut, riding optimism around data centres and renewable energy. But th...
$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...