The Breakfast Grille
Episodes
Finding Value In Abandoned Property
12 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a sluggish property market, how challenging is it for a niche property company to grow fourfold? Datuk Seri Yap Ngan Choy, Executive Chairman and G...
Malaysian Bar: Defenders Of The Judiciary
11 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Concerns over independence of the judiciary have come to the forefront recently, with prominent lawyers calling for the Malaysian Bar to stage a march...
ASEAN's FDI Beauty Contest: Who Wins, Who Loses?
10 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The battle for FDI in Covid-ravaged Southeast Asia has never been fiercer, with Kuala Lumpur also grappling with additional political and policy headw...
EU Response To War In Ukraine
09 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Europe Day is the the anniversary of the Schuman declaration that is the foundation of political cooperation that was supposed to make war between Eur...
Measuring Progress In Gender Equity & Equality In Corporate Malaysia
06 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Despite comprising roughly half of Malaysia's labour population, women make up a small fraction of seats on corporate boards and as heads of publicly ...
Can MGTC Catalyst Malaysia Achieve Its Net-Zero Target?
05 May 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Shamsul Bahar Mohd Nor, CEO of Malaysian Green Technology and Climate Change Corporation (MGTC) shares his perspective on its catalytic role for green...
Will Raya's Retail Boom Persist?
29 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After two years of pandemic restrictions, this year's Hari Raya Aidilfitri celebrations are highly anticipated by Malaysians nationwide. But are cost ...
South Africa: Non-Aligned, But Not Neutral
28 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa is one of the leading economies on the African continent and seen as an influential middle-power in geopolitics. So its abstention on sev...
How Will RHL Ventures Triple Its Assets In 5 years?
27 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
RHL Ventures, the venture capitalist company that was founded by 3 young founders of illustrious families in 2016, have ambitious plans to triple its ...
Poland's Place In A Polarized World
26 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As we are aware, it has been almost two months since Russia invaded Ukraine and despite strong condemnation by a majority of countries around the worl...
Farm Fresh's Regional Ambitions
25 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Local dairy producer Farm Fresh Berhad debuted on the Main Market in March 2022 to much investor enthusiasm. But will economic cost pressures deflate ...
Demise Of Books Exaggerated, Even In Malaysia
22 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As part of World Book and Copyright day, we speak to Chong Ton Sin, founder of Gerakbudaya, and Amir Muhammad, founder of Buku FIXI on the business of...
Ghana Looking To Boost Trade Relations With Malaysia
21 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ghana and Malaysia have more in common than you think, as we were both British colonies that gained independence in 1957 and we also share a similar p...
Duopharma: Strategizing Beyond Vaccines
20 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Duopharma Biotech Berhad, the distributor of the Sinopharm vaccine, was one of the winners of the pandemic. But with a price cap set by the government...
How Does Central Global Berhad Juggle Tape Manufacturing And Construction?
18 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Central Global Berhad has been a pioneer in high temp tape manufacturing since 1972 and in recent years the company has also ventured into the constru...
For Art's Sake
15 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In conjunction with World Art Day, we have a special panel discussion with Lim Wei Ling of Wei Ling Gallery, a contemporary art gallery located in KL ...
Will Embraer's E2 Take Flight In Malaysian Skies?
14 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Brazilian aerospace manufacturer Embraer is a minnow in contrast to market giants Boeing and Airbus, especially in the Asia-Pacific. However, the plan...
Can The Carrier Man Can?
13 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Chong Wai Yen, Managing Director, Carrier Malaysia shares with us how Carrier, the original inventor of the air conditioning system, is planning to ex...
CrowdStrike's Ventures In Asia
12 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
CrowdStrike is a well-known name in the endpoint cybersecurity sector. As worldwide spending on security and risk management technology is expected to...
The Czech Republic's Role In The Heart Of Europe
11 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Already host to more than 150 thousand Ukrainian refugees, the Czech Republic has also become the first NATO member state to send tanks to Ukraine fol...
Tourism Malaysia Always In Business
08 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After two years devoid of international tourism, Malaysia fully reopened its borders this month to much fanfare. Has the pandemic provided an opportun...
Bermaz Navigating Supply Chain Disruptions
07 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With supply chain disruptions, labour shortages and high oil prices plaguing the world, how does it all impact the local automotive industry, specific...
As Borders Reopen, Time To Rebrand Malaysia?
06 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The government is expecting tourism to contribute as much as 12% towards GDP eventually but is this achievable and what is the roadmap? We speak to Da...
The Hollowing Of Malaysia's August House
05 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Former Dewan Rakyat Speaker Tan Sri Dato Mohammad Ariff Md Yusof is the author of ‘Parliament Unexpected’, a book in which he discusses his recoll...
As Ukraine Invasion Drags, Do Global Debt Risks Rise?
04 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
James McCormack, Global Head of Sovereign Ratings at Fitch Ratings, addresses the possibility of sovereign debt default risks due to Russia's invasion...
Killing The Frogs With The Anti Hopping Law
01 Apr 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The cabinet has delayed the Anti Hopping Law but is this critical for a democracy like Malaysia? Datuk Seri Azalina Othman, Former Deputy Speaker of D...
Aurelius: A New Kid In The Healthcare Block
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Backed by Navis Capital, Aurelius Healthcare has recently acquired Nilai Medical Center and renamed it as Aurelius Hospital Nilai. But what are their ...
Westports's Growth Is Hinged On Concession Agreement
30 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As the world continues to grapple with supply chain disruptions caused by the numerous factory or plant shutdowns occurring in parts of the world as t...
University Of Nottingham Malaysia: Flying Solo, Post-Pandemic
29 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Professor Sarah Metcalfe, Interim Provost and CEO of University of Nottingham Malaysia, addresses the challenges of getting students back on campus, p...
MRT3 Circle Line Could Transform The City
28 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The MRT3 Circle Line will have 31 stations, with 40km of elevated tracks and 11km of underground tunnels that stretch into a circular alignment a...
From War To Sport: Can The MOU Change Malaysian Politics?
25 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The tabling of an anti-hopping law during the first session of Parliament in 2022 was one of the key conditions of the MOU between the Federal Governm...
The Ukraine War, A 1 Month Update
24 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The war in Ukraine continues into its 2nd month with no signs of peace. We speak to H. E. Olexander Nechytaylo, Ambassador of Ukraine to Malaysia for ...
BAC Education Bullish On Hybrid Learning
23 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Despite the squeeze on student enrollment due to the Covid-19 pandemic, BAC Education Group has been investing in hybrid infrastructure to make the be...
Carousell, The Marketplace Unicorn Shares Big Plans For Malaysia
22 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Carousell is one of the leading classified marketplaces that has attained unicorn status with more than USD1 billion valuation. We speak to Tang Siew ...
Emirates Malaysia Is Ready To Spread Its Wings
21 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After two years of stringent borders control, Malaysia will soon be reopening its borders once again and many in the aviation sector welcome this with...
Prolonged Russia-Ukraine War Might Spell a Dilemma For ASEAN
18 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Dr. Malcolm Davis, Senior Analyst at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute, offers a state of play for the Russia-Ukraine conflict and the choices...
Finnish Secret to Happiness: Public Trust in Government
17 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Finland has been named the happiest country in the world for four years straight in the World Happiness Report. What accounts for the high levels of c...
No Quick Fixes for Floods
16 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the country experiencing an unprecedented level of flooding, we ask Cha-Ly Koh from Urbanmetry and YB Charles Santiago, MP for Klang as to the so...
Media Prima Back in the Black
15 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia's largest integrated media company, Media Prima, reported stellar 2021 earnings, marking a return to profit since 2015. Under the helm of new...
Johor Elections Paving the Way for GE15
14 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Fresh off the Johor state elections, we unpack the results and drama that ensued to understand what it means for politics on a federal level. Is this ...
Malaysia's Employment Predicament: Unemployment or Underemployment?
11 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to wages, many of us can agree that it should be increased. But the question that provokes intense debate is when and how? Should market...
D&O Green Technologies In The Driver’s Seat
10 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The past few years have been booming for semiconductor players. Automotive LED supplier D&O Green Technologies Bhd’s managing director, Tay Khen...
Spreading Its Wings for Insurtech
09 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Two years into the pandemic and hardly any flights happening, how does a general insurance player tied to an airline like Tune Protect grow and mainta...
InNature, Can It Stay Ahead?
08 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
On International Women’s Day 2022, we speak to a pioneer that championed the environment, social causes and women's issues: listed company InNature ...
Love, Bonito Hearts Global Growth
07 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Prudent, measured growth has been key to managing Covid's retail fallout but having raised Series C funding, it's now all systems go for regional and ...
Improving Margins for B2B Industry Supplier KVC
04 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Eddie Wong, Managing Director of KVC Industrial Supplies and Country MD of Sonepar Malaysia shares with us how this one stop shop for commercial and i...
WWD 2022: Keep Forests Intact, Preserve Biodiversity
03 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia is home to one of the most biodiverse ecological environments, widely recognized for the richness of flora and fauna species with whom we sha...
Wanted: A National EV Framework
02 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Thanks to the success of its Civic sedan and HR-V and BR-V SUVs, Honda is the top non-national make in Malaysia, but longer-term challenges centre on ...
Al Rajhi Bank Malaysia, Small But Big Ambitions
01 Mar 2022
Contributed by Lukas
In a crowded field of 16 Islamic Banks, how does one of the smallest standalone banks make waves? Arsalaan Ahmed, Chief Executive Officer of Al Rajhi ...
Extra Shots of Caffeine Boosting Berjaya Food Growth
28 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
From the most recent earnings, it looks like the worst is over for Berjaya Food but what is their strategy for growth in a crowded field? And with the...
Ukraine Envoy: National Morale Is Strong
25 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Tensions between Russia and Ukraine have boiled over into a full-scale invasion after Russia sent military troops into the country on Thursday, 24 Feb...
CARRO: Buying A Car In A Few Clicks With A Disruptor
24 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic had resulted in a rise in online transactions for used cars, but the competition is also intense. We speak to CARRO, a Singapore-based au...
Can TalentCorp Stem The Brain Drain?
23 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It was first established in 2011, and is now under the Ministry of Human Resources. But TalentCorp did not have a CEO for more than 2 years in June 20...
The Right Time For SIAB's IPO?
22 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the advent of the pandemic and a challenging time for the construction sector, we ask Ng Wai Hoe, Managing Director, SIAB Holdings the rationale ...
Can Nokia Stage Comeback in 5G Race?
21 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Nokia today has moved beyond the mobile phone business, focusing on telecommunications technology services and network equipment supply, where it’s ...
Big Plans For Rosti Group In Asia?
18 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Patrick Williams, Senior Vice President for Asia of Rosti Group, a global plastics injection moulding company and contract manufacturer, shares with u...
Mavenir's Asian Expansion and the Case for OpenRAN
17 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
US-based telecommunications software company Mavenir created its name as a disruptor in the industry, championing cloud-native software solutions and ...
Have Universities Stayed Current?
16 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Big business wants to hire technologists while students fear debt and increasingly, seek meaningful and rewarding careers not necessarily centered on ...
MyNews, Turning Things Around 24/7
15 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
After the largest loss since the IPO, is 2022 the year of recovery for this 24 hour convenient store operator? Dang Tai Luk, Group CEO of MyNews Holdi...
Karex, Globe's Largest Condom Maker, Seeks Rebound
14 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
It may be Valentine's Day but condom usage is down 30-40% globally while the fortunes of the world's largest maker of the prophylactic, Karex Bhd, has...
Malaysian Don Pioneering Bioethics Research
11 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
According to United Nations data, less than 30% of researchers are women, indicating a significant diversity gap in knowledge generation in academia. ...
UCrest Berhad: Hospital In The Cloud
10 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ucrest Berhad's Founder, Chairman and Managing Director, Mr Eg Kah Yee, shed light on how their i-Medic platform penetrate the digital health business...
Are Malaysian Companies Behind the Sustainability Curve?
09 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The United Nations Global Compact (UNGC) is the world's largest corporate sustainability initiative, first set up in 2000 to galvanize private sector ...
B. Braun's Next 50 Years
08 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
We speak to one of the world's leaders of medical devices, global multinational B Braun. With a rich 200 plus history in Germany, we ask Mr. Christoph...
TCM Reaching A Brand New Audience
07 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Traditional Chinese Medicine has gone mainstream in the last few years, seen as complementary to western medicine. Is the challenge now attracting the...
QS On A Mission To Transform Higher Education
04 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Quacquarelli Symonds (QS) is known for their QS World University Rankings. Dr. Edward Harcourt, Senior Vice President joins Philip to talk about how t...
Caely Reveals Plans to Expand Beyond Undergarments
03 Feb 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysian undergarment manufacturer Caely Holdings has evolved from a small-direct selling company to the largest exporter of lingerie and matern...
Ascott: Business is Booming In Serviced Residences
31 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Ascott International Management is wholly owned by Capitaland Investment, and in Malaysia is the largest international serviced residence operator wit...
Liquid Dreams. Can Spritzer Improve Its Margins?
28 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
During Chinese New Year, carbonated water for some is a must. Philip See speaks to Spritzer, a leader in manufacturing bottled water products. Kenny L...
MEASAT's Broadband Ambition
27 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia’s satellite operator MEASAT Satellite Systems Sdn Bhd’s Chief Operating Officer, Yau Chyong Lim talks about Malaysia’s satellite indust...
Brighter Outlook For ERS Energy?
26 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
ERS Energy installs and designs solar power systems from all sectors like residential and industrial. On The Breakfast Grille, Jonathan Kan, Managing ...
Covid Cools Huawei Pact Mania For JF Tech
25 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
A pact with China tech giant Huawei has sent shares of local circuit testing firm JF Technology Bhd through the roof, but production delays, China's Z...
Transforming Malaysian TVET
24 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
How can technical and vocational education and training (TVET) be made more relevant and attractive to Malaysians? To mark the International Day of Ed...
TK Elevator Malaysia - These Malls Were Made For Walking
21 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic has upended travel, retail and meetings, prompting the question of the implications for property and construction - including lifts, elev...
Ninja Van Malaysia Targets Same-Day Delivery Across Peninsular by June
20 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Logistics players have made banks during the pandemic as movement restrictions drove up demand for delivery services. Ninja Van Malaysia is one o...
Is US Digital Bank MoneyLion Looking to Prowl Asia?
19 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
MoneyLion has the distinction of being a US digital bank with a Malaysian workforce, courtesy of its co-founder and CTO Foong Chee Mun who set up an o...
Tackling Climate Change Requires Imagination
17 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Are there any lessons that can be drawn from the pandemic to tackle the climate crisis? Alice Hill, the author of The Fight for Climate After COVID-19...
Disrupting Broking With Technology And Low Commissions
14 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Volumes on Bursa Malaysia had been on a declining trend except for 2020 when many turned to online trading as working from home became the norm. But a...
Coraza Banking on MNC Ties for Future Growth
13 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Engineering support services provider Coraza Integrated Technology is set to be one of the first companies to debut on the ACE market this year with t...
Going Beyond Auditing To Advisory, Tax And Legal
12 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Accounting firms have evolved over the years and now offer a range of services but does this business model have inherent conflicts of interest? Soo H...
Country Heights Is Back, This Time With Lofty Ambitions
11 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Country Heights Holdings, a property juggernaut in the 90s that has fallen to losses in four of the last five years, is aiming for a turnaround, this ...
MI Technovation On Track To Deliver Its 10 Year Roadmap
10 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
With the semiconductor industry growing more than 25% in 2021, we speak to Kuang Eng Oh, Group Chief Executive Officer & Executive Director, Mi Te...
MHTC Aims To Revive Medical Tourism
07 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Mohd Daud Mohd Arif, CEO, Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC) is in the hot seat as he explains about the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Industry Bl...
Senheng's IPO Plans To Dominate The Market
06 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
As Senheng seeks to raise around RM270 million from its IPO at the price of RM1.07 per share, we ask Lim Kim Heng, Executive Chairman of Senheng New R...
Time For FBMKLCI To Shine In 2022?
05 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Once again the FBMKLCI disappoints. Why and will 2022 be a better year or are there other markets that will provide better returns. Anand Pathmakantha...
ProtectHealth Driving Public-Private Partnership In PICK
04 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
ProtectHealth Corporation, a subsidiary company under the Ministry of Health, is playing a key role in accelerating the distribution of vaccines ...
Pejuang, A Breakaway Or A Brand New Party?
03 Jan 2022
Contributed by Lukas
Pejuang is the latest Malay political party with 4MPs. But what does the party stand for and will it make any headway in the next elections? Datuk Ser...
Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2021: Pandemic Winners
31 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Although the Covid-19 pandemic took a toll on the global economy, there were undoubtedly some players that managed to come out on top. We revisit conv...
Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2021: Travel and Tourism
30 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The travel and tourism sectors were the hardest hit by the pandemic as global and domestic borders shuttered. How have different industry players navi...
Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2021: The Economy
29 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2021 was touted as the year of pandemic recovery - but as the Covid-19 virus mutated and new variants emerged, uncertainty dominated the economy and m...
Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2021: Politics
28 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The tumultuous politics of 2020 which witnessed the Sheraton Move continued into 2021, with a national state of emergency declared in January followed...
Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2021: Covid-19 And Healthcare
27 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Covid-19 pandemic took a twist this year with the emergence of the Delta and Omicron variants throwing obstacles into recovery, despite the robust...
AFG Mining For Potential Regional Fintech Riches
24 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
According to recent surveys, fintech investments in the Southeast Asian region tripled this year to a record USD3.5 billion amid pandemic-driven digit...
Sunway University: Local With World Class Ambitions
23 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic has changed higher education permanently but is that better for students and universities? Professor Sibrandes Poppema from Sunway Univer...
Awesome Awaits For LEGOLAND Malaysia
22 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Legoland Malaysia Resort in Johor had reopened in October after months of closure. Philip See speaks to CS Lim, the Divisional Director of LEGOLA...
No Sunset For Niro, Instead Going Public
21 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Tiles manufacturer Niro Ceramic Group was first established in 1979 now has plans to go public in 2023. We speak to Managing Director, Ian Kok about o...
Jade Marvel's Big Transformation Plans
20 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Property and construction firm Jade Marvel Group Bhd wants to transform into a mini private equity firm with initial interests in seafood process...
The Malaysian Nanotech REVOLUTIoNT
17 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
NanoMalaysia Berhad, a not-for-profit government venture builder has spent the last 10 years building a nanotechnology ecosystem in Malaysia from the ...
ALP Making Their Mark In Malaysia
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Founded in 2014, Ally Logistic Property is Taiwan’s first and largest institutional logistic property developer and is setting up their first SEA lo...
UWC's Next Growth Trajectory
15 Dec 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Matin Ng, Deputy CEO of UWC Berhad helps us understand how they grew from a wire cutting machine manufacturer into an integrated engineering services ...