The Breakfast Grille

UNHCR: Mission Steady Despite Funding Shortfall

19 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) announced global staff cuts as budget constraints bite. On World Refugee Day, we discuss the c...

Nuklear Malaysia, Custodian Of Malaysia's Nuclear Tech

18 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has a long history in nuclear technology research, with the genesis of what is today the Malaysian Nuclear Agency starting in the early 1970s...

Taylor's Schools Fostering Agility In The AI Age

17 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

BK Gan, President and CEO of Taylor's Schools and Phillip See will be sitting down to talk about what makes Taylor’s Schools different, the price ta...

SST, A Better Option To Raise Tax Revenue For Now

16 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Come July 1st, a whole list of items like selected fruit, fish and even services will become more expensive due to an expansion of the sales and servi...

Why Does Child Labour Persist In Malaysia?

15 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The international community has missed the 2025 deadline to eliminate child labour in all its forms. What are the gaps in the legal framework, economi...

Taylor's University: Emphatic On Employability

12 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Professor Dr. Barry Winn, Vice Chancellor and President, Taylor's University, discusses trends in higher education, parents' expectations and student ...

Eswatini Rising: Between Tradition And Tomorrow

11 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Often overshadowed by its larger neighbours, Eswatini is quietly positioning itself on Africa’s economic map. With political stability, pro-business...

KPKT, Building A Better Malaysia With URA And Homeownership

10 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has secured the presidency of the UN-Habitat General Assembly for the 2025–2029 term, but is this accolade deserved when there is still a l...

LGMS Building Capacity For Cybersecurity Surge

09 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The government estimates that in 2024, cybercrime incidents incurred total losses exceeding RM1.5 billion ringgit involving more than 35,000 reported ...

Can US-ASEAN Business Survive US Policy Shifts?

08 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The value of US-ASEAN trade in goods grew by 13% in 2024 - but is the era of trade growth coming to an end in light of the seismic shift in US economi...

Foggy Regulations Cloud JTI Outlook?

05 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

JTI Malaysia, the Malaysian Business of Japan Tobacco, is one of the three largest tobacco players globally. We’ll be speaking with Juliana Mohd Yah...

Global Payments Riding Digitalisation Wave In SEA

04 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As more consumers and businesses go cashless, how are payment industry players positioning themselves to capitalise on this potential growth, especial...

Inside Signature Alliance Group's IPO Ambitions

03 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Signature Alliance Group, an interior fitting-out specialist company, is set to make its market debut on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market. Darren Chang, it...

CUCKOO International: Will Investors Go Cuckoo For This IPO?

02 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

CUCKOO International, best known for its home appliances and wellness solutions, is set to become Bursa Malaysia's biggest listing in 7 months when it...

Steven Sim, Labouring 24/7 For Malaysian Workers

29 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With Malaysia facing significant labour structural issues, Minister of Human Resources, Steven Sim has a hard task ahead of him. We ask him what are t...

Microsoft Hyperscaling Malaysian AI

28 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Microsoft recently launched Malaysia West, its first hyperscale cloud region in the country, part of a USD2.2 billion investment spanning four years. ...

Soft Power And The Ageing Challenge: The Swedish Proposition

27 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As nations confront the twin challenges of ageing populations and shifting global influence, questions of sustainability and governance take center st...

ICT Zone’s ACE Market Leap: Betting On Smarter Tech Financing

26 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia’s tech leasing space is picking up speed, driven by growing demand for smarter, more flexible ICT solutions. One local player stepping up i...

Alpha IVF Regional Expansion Seeding Future Growth

25 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fertility specialist Alpha IVF is looking to expand its regional presence to 15 facilities by 2027 following its ACE Market debut in 2024. We catch up...

Books, Business, And Borders: Penguin’s Strategy In South East Asia

22 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Penguin Random House, one of the world’s largest English-language publishers, has expanded in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and North A...

MSB Global: Pursuing Expansion After Listing

21 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

This morning Philip See sits down with Oscar Ow, Executive Director of MSB Global Group Bhd, a company that specializes in the distribution, marketing...

Never Too Late To Get It Ryt

20 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Ryt Bank — a joint venture between YTL Digital Capital and e-commerce giant Sea Ltd — is the latest digital bank to commence operations. We’ll b...

Betamek: Diversification & EVs In Sight

19 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Two years after Betamek was listed on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market, this automotive electronics company has seen some solid earnings, made strategic ac...

UTAR Striving For More Affordable Higher Education

18 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), a leading not-for-profit private university in Malaysia, continues to nurture talent and drive innovation across...

Toys "R" Us Asia: Turning Play Into A Lifestyle

15 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Toys "R" Us Asia has been largely insulated from the bankruptcy fallout of its American parent company in 2018. How resilient is the toy retail busine...

Can Universal Basic Income Be A Viable Safety Net?

14 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The idea of a universal basic income or UBI has been gaining attention and sparking debate, as the planet grapples with rising inequality, job insecur...

DHL Express Unfazed By Global Trade Turmoil

13 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The World Trade Organisation has warned that global trade could contract by as much as 0.8% this year as a result of potentially higher US tariffs on ...

Hartanah Kenyalang Remains Focused On Sarawak

12 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Seah Boon Tiat, Managing Director of Hartanah Kenyalang Berhad to talk about its financial performance - the company’s revenue roughly quadrupled in...

Unlocking Greater Value in EU- Malaysia Relationship

08 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Each year on May 9th, we celebrate Europe Day, reflecting on the strengthening EU-Malaysia bilateral partnership. Today, we sit down with H.E. Rafael ...

Teleport's Race To 2 Million Deliveries A Day

07 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Teleport, the logistics arm of Capital A has the lofty goal of delivering 2 million parcels a day by the end of the year - which means they need to in...

HI Mobility: Electric from the First Mile to the Last?

06 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

HI Mobility Bhd, the Johor-based bus operator, made a strong debut on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in March, opening at a 4.1% premium after rais...

Trump's Second Go at MAGA: The First 100 Days

05 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

When President Donald Trump exited the White House in 2021, many didn’t foresee that he would stage a remarkable comeback four years later. What do ...

PEOPLElogy: Upskilling Malaysians For Future Jobs

04 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

PEOPLElogy Group is a 24 year-old, homegrown award winning integrated people development solution provider dedicated to upskilling and reskilling indi...

IJN's Mission Vs Margin Balancing Act

01 May 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) was established in 1992 as a hybrid public-private organisation in Malaysia’s healthcare system to provide premier car...

Whipsawed Markets: Global Investment Outlook

29 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Markets have been whipsawed in light of US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Todd Jablonski, Global Head of Multi-Asset and Quant Strate...

AEON Bank, Keeping To Its Own Pace

28 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

AEON Bank is Malaysia 1st Islamic digital bank. We speak to Raja Teh Maimunah, CEO of AEON Bank about the bank's ambitions, how it intends to monetize...

West River Steady Amidst Economic Rapids

27 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Mechanical and electrical engineering firm West River is raising RM27.9 million through its ACE Market debut, aiming to leverage on the booming proper...

MDA’s Medtech Mission: Balancing Safety, Innovation, And Global Growth

24 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia’s Medical Device Authority (MDA) stands at the intersection of regulation and innovation, safeguarding public health while advancing the na...

Reach Ten Targets Growth With RM104m IPO And Rural Network Expansion

23 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sarawak-based Reach Ten Holdings is scaling up its digital infrastructure ambitions with a RM104 million IPO—marking the state’s first Main Market...

URA, The Good and Bad

22 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In the 2024 Budget Speech, the Prime Minister proposed a new law for urban renewal, with the bill expected to be tabled this year. However, this Urban...

Fibromat, No Erosion Just Growth

21 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Fibromat a geotechnical solutions company is transferring from the Leap to the Ace Market. We speak to Danny Ng, CEO, Fibromat Berhad about why they a...

Wawasan Dengkil's Vision Unimpeded By Lacklustre IPO

20 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Construction and earthworks firm Wawasan Dengkil made its ACE Market debut on 25 March, but its share price has since trailed its IPO price of 25 sen....

Trump's Tariffs Turmoil: Shifting Global Alliances

17 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Dominating the headlines these past weeks was how US President Donald Trump's trade policies - and the subsequent reversals of some - have impacted th...

TVB At 60: Legacy, Losses, And Reinvention

16 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Once a Hong Kong TV giant, TVB is now eyeing Southeast Asia for growth. Desmond Chan, General Manager of TVB International, discusses the company’s ...

DataSnipper Snips Time For Accountants And Auditors

15 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

DataSnipper is changing the game for accountants and auditors by automating time-consuming tasks like data matching and document preparation. With a s...

President Xi In Malaysia: What’s At Stake?

14 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia is welcoming President Xi Jinping for a 3-day official visit starting today. Xi’s tour of our country is being closely watched in the regio...

Tariffs, Technology And Talent Dominate CEO In-Tray

13 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

FTA will catalyze EU-Malaysia trade. Karl Godderis, CEO of Eurocham discusses the current state of trade relations between Europe and Malaysia, the on...

Moody’s Primed For APAC Market Growth

10 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Moody’s Descriptor: Moody’s is a brand name that is arguably best identified as a credit ratings agency, but its biggest revenues come from its no...

Tariffs, Trade & Trump : Malaysia’s Economic Crossroads

09 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Donald Trump has unleashed uncertainty after uncertainty in the 80 days since taking office as President of the United States for a second term. The l...

Reimagining Johore’s Growth Story

08 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Johore has ambitions to be the state to attract the most investments in Malaysia. Is SEZ the catalytic project that will be the game changer? We speak...

Westports, Supply Chains And Tariff Tides

07 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

A slowdown in demand for goods due to US President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs is a major downside risk for logistics players, including Westpor...

LSH Capital : Leaping, Listing, Levelling Up

06 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Construction player and property developer, Lim Seong Hai Capital Bhd, transferred from the LEAP Market of Bursa Malaysia after less than four years a...

Sumisaujana Eyes Growth With IPO

03 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sumisaujana Group Berhad, a Malaysian firm specialising in oil and gas specialty and industrial chemicals, is gearing up for its debut on the ACE Mark...

Does Malaysia's Economy Have The Agility Of Sang Kancil?

02 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia emerged from 2024 on strong economic footing, but how resilient is the country's foundation to withstand potential global turbulence? And as ...

What Is True Inclusivity For Autism In The Workplace?

01 Apr 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What is the state of inclusion for autistic persons in the Malaysian working environment? On World Autism Awareness Day, we discuss this with Bea...

Sri Ternak Redefining The Malaysian Wholesale Market Experience

27 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The wholesale grocery sector is notoriously competitive given its high-volume low-margin business model. So what’s the story behind the Sri Ternak G...

Sorento Capital Bhd, First Mover Advantage

26 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Sorento Capital Bhd, a bathroom and kitchenware distributor, was listed on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia in late October last year. Lee Chee Keong,...

Government Procurement Deals Boost Duopharma Bottom Line

25 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In Budget 2025, the Madani Government increased its allocation for the Ministry of Health by 10% to 43.5 billion ringgit. So how will this benefit pha...

Paramount Corp Bullish On Real Estate Demand

24 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Malaysian real estate sector was upbeat in 2024, and this is reflected in the full year earnings of mid-cap property developer Paramount Corporati...

Perdana Petroleum Scaling New Highs With Fleet Renewal

23 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As many debate whether the oil and gas sector is in structural decline, Perdana Petroleum Berhad posted its biggest net profit in 18 years. Despite th...

LKIM : A Conversation About Food Security & Politics

20 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Fisheries Development Authority of Malaysia, or LKIM, has been at the forefront of shaping policies, supporting fishermen, and ensuring sustainabl...

Bhutan: More Than A Shangri-La

19 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Kingdom of Bhutan is often referred to as the happiest country, having pioneered the Gross National Happiness (GNH) Index as a multi-dimensional m...

Assessing Malaysia's Healthcare Challenges

18 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Issues surrounding Malaysia’s healthcare sector have become increasingly discussed in political settings, as it faces challenges such as overcrowdin...

Lost Opportunities On The Road To Unity

16 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

From the early days of independence to the present, Malaysia has missed key opportunities to build a truly united nation. Phillip See speaks with Datu...

MetMalaysia On The Frontlines Of Climate Change

13 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

As climate change wreaks havoc on weather patterns around the world, how equipped is MetMalaysia to forecast inclement weather in order to prepare for...

TNG Digital Has Market Share To Be Profitable

12 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has ambitions to be a digital economy and cashless society. How are we progressing on that front and what role does TNG Digital play? Questio...

Mydin: Growth Expectations, Policy Challenges & Consumer Shifts

11 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia's retail landscape continues to evolve with shifting consumer behaviour, uneven government policy implementations and rising cost of living. ...

Media Prima Fends Off A Structural Decline With A 3 Year Plan

10 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Legacy media companies have struggled to compete with a plethora of platforms that offer varied content. What is the solution to this structural decli...

UCSI: The Higher Education Group With International Ambitions

09 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

UCSI University is today one of Malaysia's top ranked higher educational institutions of learning, ranked 265 on the latest QS World University Rankin...

ACCA: Prioritise Merit, Transparency For Gender Diversity 

06 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 1909, the Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA) became the first professional accountancy body to admit a woman as a member. 120 ye...

Vimto Makes A Splash In Malaysia

05 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Outside of the UK, Vimto, the 107-year-old Manchester-born beverage, has been most popular in the Middle East, particularly during Ramadan. It is now ...

2025: The Year The Love Returns For Glove Makers

04 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The post-Covid-19 years have been wrought with challenges for Malaysia's glove makers as demand normalises from the unexpected surge at the height of ...

UTP : Ensuring A Steady Climb Up University Rankings' Lists

03 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Founded in 1997, Universiti Teknologi Petronas has been steadily climbing the Times Higher Education’s World University Rankings and for the first t...

Miti Using Asean And FTAs To Weather The Tariff Storm

02 Mar 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia’s achieve a trade surplus of RM137 billion in 2024, the highest ever recorded in the nation’s history. However with a tariff storm brewin...

LBS Ready For It's New Phase of Growth

27 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Property sales are the highest in a decade for the whole industry but is listed LBS Bina also showing a similar trend in 2024 and of course what is th...

Continuing To Build On 70 Years Of Malaysia-Australia Ties

26 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Australia and Malaysia celebrate 70 years of diplomatic relations this year, having developed strong cooperation in sectors like trade, defence, educa...

TAR UMT Works Towards Being Self-Sustaining

25 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Tunku Abdul Rahman University of Management and Technology is strengthening its focus on industry collaboration, research excellence, and student deve...

Solarvest, Moving Up The Value Chain

24 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia has been rolling out a series of renewable energy policies that have benefited the solar industry. One beneficiary is listed Solarvest Holdin...

Boost Bank, Boosting Their Way To Profit

23 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Boost Bank is one of the 5 digital banks in Malaysia which was launched in June 2024. We check in with Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group CEO of Boost to find ...

Malaysia’s Trade: Soaring High Or Stuck On The Runway?

20 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia's trade hit a record RM2.88 trillion in 2024, with exports rising 5.7% and imports up 13.2%. We speak to Liew Chin Tong about the outlook for...

IPSOS, Making Research Even More Relevant In This New World Order

19 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

With AI, demographic shifts, and geopolitical tensions, is research still the key to understanding this new world order. We speak to Ben Page, Global ...

Rimini Street Marks 20 Years Of Disruption In IT Sector

18 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2025, third-party enterprise software services provider Rimini Street marks 20 years since its entry into the IT landscape disrupted conventional b...

Can The US Retake The Panama Canal?

17 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump baffled many around the world when he made known his intentions to retake the Panama Canal on his very first day in office. ...

Oriental Kopi Brewing Plans For Success

16 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oriental Kopi’s impressive listing on the ACE Market saw its shares nearly double on debut, marking a strong start for the brand. But beyond the hyp...

Malaysia's Fight Against Corruption : No Change In Perception

13 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Transparency International's annual Corruption Perceptions Index for 2024 has ranked Malaysia 57 out of 180 countries and territories, with a score of...

Everyone's Prey To Scam Inc

12 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Scam Inc is the latest podcast series produced by the news magazine The Economist, and it uncovers the sprawling global network behind online financia...

Karex, Firmly In The New Stage Of Growth

11 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The earnings of Karex for FY2024 were exceptional but will this new world order disrupt this trend in 2025? We ask Goh Miah Kiat their CEO if Trump 2....

Tailwinds For ASEAN Tourism

09 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to the United Nations World Tourism Organisation, 2024 saw 1.4 billion international tourists, signaling the return to health of an industry...

What's Best For Malaysian Families?

06 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It was only last year that Malaysia amended its laws to give Malaysian women equal rights as men to confer automatic citizenship to children born over...

2024 Was A Hot Year For IPOs

05 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

For 2024, Bursa Malaysia had a record year of initial public offerings with 42 companies going public with a market capitalization of RM31.4bn. We loo...

Making Money From The Malaysian Property Market

04 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

In 2024, Malaysia's property market saw an uptick in transactions and values across all sectors, driven by positive sentiment and increasing investor ...

Invest Johor Bridging Federal-State Ambitions

03 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Johor has become synonymous with Malaysia’s burgeoning data centre industry, and the spotlight on the southern region has only intensified with the ...

Uzma Transitions From Core O&G Business

02 Feb 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Uzma Group, a leading energy and technology company in Malaysia, is achieving notable progress with its 60:40 revenue split between O&G and non-co...

Round-Up Of Early Trump 2.0

30 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

On January 20th, 2025, Donald Trump was sworn in for a second term, making a remarkable comeback as the 47th President of the United States after prev...

PUSPAL: Facilitator Or Interferer In The Arts Industry?

27 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Before any concert involving a foreign artist can be held in Malaysia, approval is required from the Central Application Agency for Filming and Perfor...

KL Convention Centre Adapting For Next Decade Of Business

26 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Kuala Lumpur Convention Centre is a magnet for business tourism, generating an estimated RM12.3 billion in economic impact since it was first open...

EMCC: The Future Of Pawnbroking In Malaysia

23 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Evergreen Max Cash Capital is one of three pawnbroking companies listed on Bursa Malaysia and is operating in a landscape that is challenging and rife...

Swift Energy: Small But Mighty In Ex-Solar PV

22 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Swift Energy Technology has the distinction of being the year’s first IPO on Bursa Malaysia, making its ACE Market debut on the 8th of January. How ...

The Investment Opportunities In 2025 Despite Uncertain Markets

21 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Equity markets started on a wobbly note in 2025 due to uncertainty over a Trump Presidency. We ask Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Resear...

Uphill Task To Save The Planet

20 Jan 2025

Contributed by Lukas

After more than two years of helming the position as Minister of Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability, Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has recently ...