The Breakfast Grille

Turner & Townsend at 30: Balancing Local Needs with Global Standards

07 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Turner & Townsend has been in Malaysia for 30 years, helping deliver some of the country’s most complex construction projects. As demand grows, ...

WWF-Malaysia’s Long-Term Strategy For Conservation Impact

06 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

What will it take to reverse the decline of the Malayan tiger? Sophia Lim, Executive Director and CEO of WWF-Malaysia, talks about the urgent conserva...

Energy Commission, Electrifying Malaysia In A Safe And Cost Effective Way

05 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Energy Commission plays an outsized role by ensuring that Malaysia has a reliable, safe and cost effective supply of electricity and gas. Siti Saf...

Snowflake, Reaffirming Its Focus On Asean

04 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Snowflake, a cloud data company has been in Asia for many years but has of late increased its footprint in Asean. We ask Satchit Joglekar, Managing Di...

Oasis Home’s Next Chapter After Making Market Debut

03 Aug 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Oasis Home Holding Bhd made history in May as Malaysia’s first listed live commerce company, debuting on the ACE Market in May 2025. CEO Datuk Jaden...

SIRIM at 50: Rethinking National Standards

31 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

SIRIM Berhad is one of Malaysia’s most recognisable yet least understood public institutions even as it celebrates its golden jubilee. Best known fo...

Women Hold Up Half Of The Sky But Are They Work Opportunities?

30 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The World Bank recently published its Inclusive Employment Practices Survey 2024, which aims to provide insights into inclusive employment practices a...

Keeping Volvo Swedish In A Chinese EV World

29 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Volvo has transformed from a safety-first Swedish brand into a sleek, electrified marque under Geely’s ownership. Chris Wailes, Managing Director of...

RIA Money Transfer, Happily Growing Market Share

28 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

According to the UN, six of the world’s top ten remittance-receiving countries are in the Asia Pacific region, highlighting the critical role these ...

MyCC : Inside Malaysia’s Competition Watchdog

27 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The Malaysia Competition Commission is set to get more bite once amendments to the Competition Act 2010 makes it through Parliament some time this yea...

Velesto Achieving Regional Ambitions 

24 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The oil and gas industry is known for its boom and bust cycles. How then does Velesto an upstream drilling company navigate these challenges. Question...

Halfway To GE16: Has The Madani Government Delivered?

23 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

It’s been 2 1⁄2 years since Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim took office, leading a minority government after GE15 with reform promises up ...

MOSTI Has Its Work Cut Out To Ramp Up R&D Investments

22 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Science Minister Chang Lih Kang talks about Malaysia’s ambitions in space, AI, and what it really takes to build a tech-driven future that’s inclu...

Faber-Castell : Relevance of Traditional Stationery In A Digital World

21 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Faber-Castell is a legacy brand making pens and colour pencils in a world that's getting more used to ChatGPT, iPads and AI textbooks. Its managing di...

Synergy House, Growing Despite Tariffs

20 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Many Malaysian companies are caught in the whirlwind of uncertainty caused by Trump’s tariffs. So, how challenging is it to navigate such turbulent ...

Timor-Leste’s Time To Shine In ASEAN

17 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Timor Leste is working hard to join ASEAN, aiming for full membership at the upcoming summit this October. H.E. Lisualdo Gaspar, Ambassador of Timor L...

The Blind Box Boom: POPMART's Playbook

16 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

We dive into the world of POPMART, the brand that's taken Asia by storm with its wildly hyped blind boxes and designer toys. We speak with POPMART’s...

ASM, Expanding For Growth

15 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

ASM Automation Group Bhd, a provider of end to end automated machinery solutions for food and beverage packaging recently debuted on Bursa Malaysia’...

Watt's Next For Samaiden's Bright Ambitions?

14 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Samaiden Group Berhad, once purely an EPCC contractor, is now transitioning into a renewable energy asset owner. Datuk Ir Chow Pui Hee, Samaiden's Gro...

Farm Fresh On The Lookout For Deals 

13 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Loi Tuan Ee, Managing Director, Farm Fresh Malaysia gives us an update on how the company is doing, its expansion plans including East Malaysia as it ...

Ejen Ali And The Rise Of Local IPs

10 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Animated films are a bright spot for the Malaysian industry, with Ejen Ali the Movie 2 breaking box office records this year. How does the homegrown s...

Where to Put Your Money In 2025?

09 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

At our bi-annual investment outlook and with a plethora of headwinds, what is the best investment strategy to adopt? How can you build a resilient por...

Wentel Engineering: Thriving In A Time Of Trade Tensions

08 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Philip See will be joined by Freddy Wong, Executive Director, Wentel Engineering Holdings Bhd on today’s Breakfast Grille. They’ll be discussing t...

BRICS Counterweight Against The US?

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump has threatened an additional 10% tariff on countries that orient themselves along the “Anti-American policies of BRICS” ...

Achieving Greater Asean Economic Intergration Requires Political Will

07 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

ASEAN aims to become the world’s fourth-largest economy by 2045. Achieving this requires deeper regional integration and inclusive, sustainable grow...

PMCK IPO: A Prescription For Growth

06 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

PMCK Berhad, a 30-year-old private healthcare provider based in Alor Setar, is heading for a listing on the ACE Market of Bursa Malaysia. Dato' Lee Ga...

NTT Data Payment Services Eyeing Growth Post-M&A

03 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Philip See will be having a conversation with Sean Hesh, Group CEO of NTT Data Payment Services. The company formerly known as GHL System Bhd provides...

MCE Holdings: EVs, Exports And Expansion

02 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

MCE Holdings is a homegrown automotive electronics and mechatronic components manufacturer. It is also a part of a critical network of parts suppliers...

QS University Rankings: Is Asia Winning Higher Education?

01 Jul 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The 2026 edition of the QS World University Rankings paints a picture that Asia is on the rise, with Singapore’s NUS now ranking 8th globally, while...

Malayan Flour, Better Times Ahead

30 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malayan Flour has seen choppy earnings in the last few years as both the flour and grain business and the poultry JV face their respective headwinds. ...

Switzerland: Neutrality Amidst Today's Geopolitical Challenges

29 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Malaysia and Switzerland have enjoyed more than six decades of diplomatic ties. Having recently inked a landmark EFTA trade deal, what does this mean ...

How Far Does Trump's Executive Power Go?

25 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

US President Donald Trump in his second term is rocking the foundation of the legal checks and balances that the US government is built upon. We discu...

Pakistan: Peace, Pressure And Power Plays

24 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

The long-standing Kashmir conflict, strained India-Pakistan relations, and rising tensions in the Middle East are once again testing regional stabilit...

Pan Merchant IPO: Filtering For Growth

23 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pan Merchant Berhad is Malaysia’s largest solid-liquid filtration solutions provider. It is heading to Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market after 38 years ...

Pharmaniaga Easing Its Way Out Of PN17

22 Jun 2025

Contributed by Lukas

Pharmaniaga Berhad,a PN17 company, appears to be on track with its regularisation plan. We speak with Managing Director Zulkifli Jaafar on the company...

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...