The Breakfast Grille
Episodes
Detaching From Black Gold
19 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Oil price volatility is set to continue in 2021, so how do oil and gas companies navigate the unstable market conditions, given that their fortunes ar...
Striving Towards A Perfect Union
18 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Following a fiercely contested election and the harrowing protests at Capitol Hill this month, what will be the legacy of the Trump administration? We...
Still The Strongman Of Politics?
15 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Former Prime Minister Tun Dr Mahathir Mohamad sets the record straight on why he resigned as PM during Langkah Sheraton when the Yang di-Pertuan Agong...
Growing The Appeal Of Islamic Finance
14 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Maybank is the market leader in Islamic banking by assets. Dato' Rafique Merican, CEO of Maybank Islamic, discusses the impact of the emergency on Mal...
From Plastics To Property, And Now, Gloves
13 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Mah Sing Group is diversifying into the rubber gloves business and expects their first six production lines to be operational in the second quarter of...
MCE Holdings - A Proxy To Proton's Resurgence?
12 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
2020 was a tale of two halves for the automotive industry. The first was tragic, but the second saw a boom in car sales on the back of pent up demand,...
Keeping The Velocity While Growing The Breadth
11 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Malaysian equity market has been a winner in this post-Covid-19 era with record-high volumes due to a jump in retail trading, but how can this mom...
Bull Or Bear For 2021?
08 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Bursa Malaysia ended 2020 as the best performing stock market within emerging markets in ASEAN, in large part due to the stellar profits of glove make...
Can Malaysia's Timber Industry Continue To Grow?
07 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
The Malaysian timber industry contributed 1.6% to GDP in 2019, accounting for RM22.5 billion in exports. With so many industries disrupted by the...
South Africa - Moving Up The Value Chain
06 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
South Africa is in the midst of a second wave of Covid-19 infections, with positive cases surging recently past the 1 million mark. How is it acting t...
Looking To North Asia
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
Semiconductor player Mi Technovation is on a high-growth path, and its solutions can already support wafer sizes of 7nm and below, versus the current ...
A General Election In 2021?
04 Jan 2021
Contributed by Lukas
At the start of a fresh year and with an eye on GE15, we look back on the political tumult that was 2020 and the lessons that can be drawn for a way f...
The Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2020 - The Economy
31 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Covid-19 pandemic shocked economies, causing unemployment and poverty rates to soar. The IMF predicted global GDP would shrink by 4.4% this year. ...
The Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2020 - Geopolitics
30 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The US-China trade war was overshadowed by the Covid-19 pandemic this year, but geopolitical tensions continue to manifest in other arenas. We revisi...
The Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2020 - Malaysian Politics
29 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia dealt with multiple crises this year - the pandemic and political upheaval. From the Sheraton Move to the Sabah elections, we revisit reveali...
The Best Of The Breakfast Grille 2020 - The Covid-19 Experience
28 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
2020 will go down in history as the year the world was upended by Covid-19. We revisit conversations on the Breakfast Grille with industry leaders on ...
Shipping Through The Covid-19 Pandemic
24 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Although global supply chains were severely disrupted in the first half of the year due to the pandemic, the shipping industry has returned to an even...
One Cut Too Many
23 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Klang Valley residents are no strangers to unscheduled water disruptions, with as many as 10 occurring in just the last three months, affecting millio...
Advend - A New Kind Of Convenience?
22 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Singapore-based Advend Group was acquired by Etika Holdings last year, in a deal reportedly valued at around S$67 million. However, with the rise of w...
Fundaztic - What's Next After Record 3Q Growth?
20 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Does Fundaztic plan to apply for a digital banking licence, sell out to a financial institution, list on the ACE Market, or issue Islamic investment n...
Axiata Digital - En Route To Profitability, An IPO, And Digital Banking?
18 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As telecommunication services become increasingly commoditised, the big players have been looking at ways to diversify their businesses. For Axiata Gr...
Will COVID-19 Drive SOCAR Out Of Business?
17 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can SOCAR ride out the pandemic? In December 2019, SOCAR was optimistic about the future, looking to spend just under RM100 million to grow the fleet,...
MIDF - What's Next After Failed Al Rajhi Merger?
16 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Malaysian Industrial Development Finance Berhad (MIDF) looked to be on track to procure a banking license in a potential merger with Al Rajhi Bank...
Rubber Glove Makers - Windfall Taxes, Labour Issues, And Growth Prospects
15 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
What lies ahead for the glove industry? With a vaccine on the horizon but average selling prices climbing ever higher, coupled with persistent labour ...
Can Supplements Invigorate Bioalpha's Fortunes?
14 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Five years since its IPO, we check in with Bioalpha, which has seen its business disrupted as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic. Khoo Hsu Chuang spea...
Sweating The Assets And Digitalizing More
11 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The retail sector has been through a rollercoaster ride this year with Covid-19. So, what does a retailer need to do to stay afloat or even thrive? S...
The Fight Begins With Information
10 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The victor of any election is not just determined at the ballot box, but also by the information war that happens at lighting speed and is often ubiqu...
Fighting The Good Fight
09 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
It's International Anti-Corruption Day and Dr Muhammad Mohan, President of Transparency International Malaysia, and YB Wong Kah Woh, Ch...
Winner In This Pandemic
08 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
While many businesses were decimated by the pandemic, one particular industry thrived globally, despite border closures and lockdowns. The global logi...
At KPJ, A New President And A New Plan To Recover From An Annus Horribilis
07 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 has rent all manner of businesses asunder, and healthcare is no exception. But what does Malaysia's largest private healthcare group do to co...
Ping An's OneConnect: The One-Stop Shop To Build Digital Banks?
04 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Is OneConnect here to support or replace banks? Roshan Kanesan dives into this and what this 'technology-as-a-service' firm does with their Southeast ...
Escaping The Poverty Trap
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Governments around the world constantly strive to reduce - if not completely eliminate - poverty within their respective countries. But the question h...
Can Selangor Continue To Bring In Jobs And Investment As FDI Flows Fall?
02 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Selangor reduced its investment target from RM12 billion to RM8.5 billion, due to the weaker global sentiment brought by the Covid-19 pandemic. Is it ...
Free Trade Vital Especially During A Pandemic
01 Dec 2020
Contributed by Lukas
International trade has functioned as the lifeblood of our globalised society for decades. However, in recent years, it has been on the decline, with ...
GHL Stock Has Doubled, Does It Have More Room To Run?
30 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
GHL Systems' stock price has double year-to-date on the back of optimism around cashless payments and its other financial services. Should you add thi...
Averting A Lost Generation
27 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The advent of Covid-19 has thrown our education system into disarray. As schools have been once again forced to close on the reimplementation of movem...
Price Controls, Subsidies Or Cash Handouts - What Works For The Rakyat?
26 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Domestic Trade and Consumer Affairs Minister, Dato Sri Alexander Nanta Linggi, talks to us about whether implementing price controls at the height of ...
Can Luno Compete With The Global Bitcoin Juggernauts?
25 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Bitcoin has almost quadrupled since its March low, now hovering at around $19,000. The cryptocurrency has seen a boost from the pandemic and expansion...
Can Newly-Listed Econframe's Stock Price Handle A Slowing Economy?
24 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Does Econframe’s future hinge on Malaysia's ability to manage the Covid-19 pandemic? Roshan Kanesan discusses this with Lim Chin Horng, as well ...
Unlocking Value By Breaking It Apart
23 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The telecommunications sector has seen increased commoditization of its services, with price wars and a sharp deceleration of revenue. To survive, div...
Aquaria Navigating Uncertain Waters
20 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Aquaria KLCC was once a great venue for kids, but now with Covid-19 uncertainties, is that still the case? In conjunction with Universal Children's Da...
APEC: Fighting Globalisation's Critics And Covid Fallout
19 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) strives for freer trade, smoother flow of people, and digital and gender-based inclusiveness among ...
Southeast Asia - Balancing Beijing
18 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
When it comes to relations with China, Southeast Asian countries tread between anticipation and unease, relying on its economic might but also wary of...
Scrutinising Budget 2021
17 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Johan Merican, Director of the National Budget Office at the Ministry of Finance, responds to criticisms about the over-optimistic projected tax reven...
A Strategic Rethink For Indonesia
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Covid-19 pandemic has driven Indonesia into a recession for the first time in 22 years, impacting the livelihoods of millions in the country. ...
A Strategic Rethink For Indonesia
16 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Covid-19 pandemic has driven Indonesia into a recession for the first time in 22 years, impacting the livelihoods of millions in the country. ...
Go Bold Or Go Home
13 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Budget 2021 is the largest in Malaysia's history as the country faces unprecedented times. Lim Guan Eng, Former Finance Minister, gives us his views o...
Should Governments Guarantee Jobs?
12 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Should the government be the employer of last resort, in good times and in bad? Roshan Kanesan explores this with Associate Professor of Economics at ...
Quality Of Boards Is Key In Pursuing Digital Transformation
11 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Covid-19 pandemic has compelled companies to speed up digital adoption because employees cannot access their workplaces as easily. Noelle Lim spea...
Can Gyms Evolve To Survive And Thrive?
10 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Can gyms like Fitness First, Celebrity Fitness, and FIRE Fitness not just survive the pandemic, but thrive? Roshan Kanesan speaks with Simon Flint of...
Expansionary Budget For All?
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Budget 2021 is Malaysia's most expansionary budget in history with three main objectives to help the country overcome the crisis brought upon by the C...
Expansionary Budget For All?
09 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Budget 2021 is Malaysia's most expansionary budget in history with three main objectives to help the country overcome the crisis brought upon by the C...
Budget 2021, Everybody Wants A Slice
06 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With Covid-19 casting a dark shadow on the economy with rising unemployment and slowing growth, much is riding on this expansionary Budget. But what s...
Building Fortune In The Middle Kingdom
05 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
A company that is benefiting from China's dual circulation strategy is JF Technology, a testing solution and equipment manufacturer that is partnering...
The Fight For The White House
04 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Americans head to the polls today, in what's been touted as the election of the century. Amid a bitterly polarized electorate, an ongoing healthcare c...
A Complex World Made Easier With Statistics
03 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In a world of big data and algorithms where statistics become increasingly important, Tim Harford, author of “How to Make the World Add Up: Ten ...
A Race To The Bottom In Asia
02 Nov 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Covid-19 has accelerated change in many respects, from the adoption of digital technologies to shifts in consumer behaviour. However, set against the ...
Covid And Immigrants, Two Kinks Seriously Ruffling Sweden's Nordic Calm
30 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Peaceable and wealthy Sweden has been a notable divergent from its European peers in handling Covid-19 and refugee immigration, two seismic events wit...
Two Tigers On A Mountain
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With the Covid-19 pandemic, has China's plan of becoming a global superpower by 2049 been derailed? Will it be able to resolve some of its structural ...
Is Domestic Tourism Enough?
27 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The home-sharing economy was hard-hit by the pandemic, nearly halving Airbnb's valuation from $30 billion to $18billion, but as economies reopen can A...
Yay Or Nay To CPTPP?
26 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Malaysia has signed the CPTPP (Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership) but not ratified it due to pushback by politicia...
Malaysia Needs To Go Green
23 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With climate change a reality and one of the greatest challenges that we face, what is Malaysia doing? Dr. Sanjayan Velautham, CEO of Sustainable Ener...
Growing Reach But Falling Revenues, How Will REV Media Navigate the Pandemic?
22 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Has digital media thrived during the pandemic? REV Media Group, formerly Media Prima Digital, has 30 brands in its portfolio and a wide reach, but is...
Can Dutch Lady Nourish All Malaysians?
21 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dutch Lady Milk Industries was the first milk company to list on the KLSE in 1968. Fast forward 50 years and a global pandemic later, the landscape ha...
TechBond Stock is up 130%, Is There More Room to Run?
20 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With TechBond's fourth quarter revenue down 31% on-year but stock up around 130% so far this year, does the stock have more room to run? Roshan Kan...
In The Face Of Covid-19, Are We Food Secure?
19 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
With a global pandemic disrupting supply chains and triggering economic crises around the world, governments are taking steps to ensure they do not al...
Malaysia's COVID-19 Vaccine Quest
16 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
We know Malaysia will be joining COVAX, the global vaccine access plan led by the World Health Organisation. But when will it be finalised? How much w...
The Continuing Challenge Of Curbing Illicits
15 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The World Bank has estimated that the global illicit cigarette market is worth as much as US$40 - US$50 billion annually, with Malaysia reportedly tak...
Scaling Beyond Malaysia
14 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
ACE-bound solar player Samaiden (pronounced as Sam-Aiden , names of her two sons) will be listed on 15th October. We discussed with Managing Director,...
Bridging Europe And Asia
13 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Fleur Pellerin, former French Minister for SMEs, Innovation and Digital Economy, and Managing Partner of Korelya Capital discusses the French tech sta...
As China’s Red Curtain Spreads Over Malaysia, Questions Arise
12 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
China is, today, by far and away the biggest foreign player in the Malaysian economy, a position that has been achieved in an alarmingly short span of...
UEM Edgenta - A Defensive Play for Your Portfolio?
09 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
UEM Edgenta is one of Malaysia's largest total asset solutions businesses involved in road maintenance and healthcare support amongst other services. ...
What Next For Malaysia's Economy?
08 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tengku Dato Sri Zafrul Aziz, Minister of Finance sticks to BNM's GDP forecast despite the rise in Covid-19 cases; aims to keep within the debt-to-GDP ...
Pandemics, Not A Black Swan?
07 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
COVID-19 has changed the fundamentals of our global economy, and introduced us to a new version of normality. But is the coronavirus pandemic the Blac...
Textbook Sales Down Due To Exams Deferment
06 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Law King Hui, Managing Director and co-founder of Sasbadi Holdings discusses the impact of the pandemic on the school textbook business, the challenge...
Ready To Charge Ahead
05 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Edmund Lee, the General Manager of Sales & Marketing at Red Bull Malaysia discusses how the brand from Thailand, popular among Muay Thai fighters,...
In A Competitive Landscape, What Gives Xeraya Capital An Edge?
02 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Xeraya Capital is the life sciences investment arm of Khazanah Nasional, invested in medical technology and biological sciences. Why did Khazanah choo...
Can MoneyGram Ride The Digital Financial Wave?
01 Oct 2020
Contributed by Lukas
MoneyGram International is an American money transfer company that allows you to set up a money transfer online, or in person by visiting an agent. On...
Priority Is To Survive The Pandemic And Stick To Its Knitting
30 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Dr Mandar Vaidya, the CEO of OYO Hotels & Homes in South East Asia, Middle East & Japan on how the company is responding to uncertainties due ...
Containing Fallout From End of Loan Moratorium
29 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Borrowers nationwide are days away from recommencing loan payments. But how many are prepared? And what other relief measures exist? Arsalaan Ahmed, a...
After a Loss in Q2, Is The Worst Over For Paramount?
28 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Even though property is a favoured asset in Malaysia, it was not spared by the pandemic. The property market declined in the first half of 2020, with ...
Reset and Recover : Selangor's Tourism Plan
25 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Azrul Shah Bin Mohamad - General Manager of Tourism Selangor, discusses the state's plan to attract visitors to the country's wealthiest area. Image ...
Is Aspen Stretching It Thin?
24 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Analysts are skeptical of new glovemakers like Aspen Group, the property developer, entering the market. Dato Murly Manokharan, CEO of Aspen discusses...
Will Top Glove Remain Top Dog In Rubber Gloves?
23 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As the world's largest glove manufacture, Top Glove's star has rocketed upwards on the back of the pandemic-driven demand for gloves. But what does To...
Old Faces, Familiar Politics in Sabah
22 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As polling day for the Sabah state election draws near, all eyes are on the fervent campaigning happening in the state. How will the Perikatan Nasiona...
New Lease of Life For Beleaguered Builder Ikhmas Jaya
18 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Construction firm Ikhmas Jaya Bhd may have badly mis-pivoted in its attempt to mitigate the impact of slowing government infrastructure projects. But ...
MUDA: Syed Saddiq's Dream For a Better Malaysia
17 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The former Youth and Sports Minister Syed Saddiq has made his intentions clear on formalising his new youth based political party, MUDA. But will this...
After 57 Years, Time For Modernisation
15 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Sabah is one of the most resource rich states in Malaysia, and frequently within the top 5 largest contributors towards the growth of the national eco...
Long Winter Ahead
14 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Tourism has been one of the worst hit sectors in Singapore. In the first quarter of 2020, tourism receipts and number of international visitors fell b...
Are Political Party Youth Wings Still Relevant?
11 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The youth have been in the forefront of many recent political discussions, from lowering the voting age to the setting up of a youth party. To discuss...
Urban Poverty is Worsening, How Do We Address It?
10 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The pandemic has impacted all of us, but it has hit low-income families harder. And while the government has stepped in, there are still gaps in their...
With Cyberthreats Increasing, Who Ya Gonna Call?
09 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
In the age of rapid digitalisation, Nasdaq-listed CrowdStrike has seen significant stock price optimism as cybersecurity has become much more importan...
Maintaining Pole Position in The Race
08 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Honda Malaysia has maintained is number one position in the non-national car segment but is their pole position at risk of being lost? We ask Sarly Ad...
Ousted But Vocal, Tan Sri Ariff Talks Parliamentary Reforms, Malaysia's Direction
07 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
The Perikatan Nasional govt's unprecedented ouster in July of the Speaker of the House of Representatives - the Dewan Rakyat - took Malaysia and the w...
Aemulus Enters Multibillion Dollar Global CMOS Market With China JV
04 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ng Sang Beng, the CEO of semiconductor testing firm Aemulus Holdings, outlines his strategy to flatten his earnings curve by entering a new global mar...
Enough Growth Catalyst For Maybank Kim Eng?
03 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Ami Moris, the CEO of Maybank Kim Eng (MKE) discusses why and how the investment bank could continue to thrive in the long-term if larger Chinese bank...
Can MaGIC Build MOSTI’s Ambitious Tech Sandbox?
02 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
Having recently transferred to a different ministry that will see its focus more centred on technology, while keeping a finger on the pulse of social ...
New Solutions For Old Problems
01 Sep 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Malaysia turns 63 years old, much progress has been made on the economics front with the country attaining middle income status. But has enough pro...
Doing Our Part For Malaysia
28 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
As Malaysia turns 63 years old, we take the time to reflect about the state of racial unity. Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi ,Tunku Abdul Rahman Professor...
Best Inc - Managing Margins While Pushing Into Southeast Asia
27 Aug 2020
Contributed by Lukas
China based, NYSE listed Best Inc has recently moved into the Southeast Asian region. Considering the buzz around ecommerce growth over the last few m...