The Breakfast Grille

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 in Malaysia, Sunway University was the most improved, jumping over 120 spots. Dr Edward Harcourt, Senior Vice President for International Student Recruitment at QS Quacquarelli Symonds also discusses how the current Trump administration's approach tow...

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. Teh Wee Chye their Managing Director tells if the worst is over and what is their strategy for growth in a very competitive environment with low margins. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia and Switzerland have enjoyed more than six decades of diplomatic ties. Having recently inked a landmark EFTA trade deal, what does this mean for businesses, diplomacy, and shared values in a fast-changing world? Chantal Moser, Switzerland’s Ambassador to Malaysia, talks about these issues and more. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 discuss some of the legal challenges of the Trump presidency with Prof. Julian Davis Mortenson, the James G. Phillipp Professor of Law at the University of Michigan Law School. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

The long-standing Kashmir conflict, strained India-Pakistan relations, and rising tensions in the Middle East are once again testing regional stability. Philip See speaks with H.E. Syed Ahsan Raza Shah, Pakistan’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, on the prospects for peace, the role of international mediation, and how Malaysia fits into this complex diplomatic landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener...

Pan Merchant Berhad is Malaysia’s largest solid-liquid filtration solutions provider. It is heading to Bursa Malaysia’s ACE Market after 38 years in business. Wong Voon Ten, PMI's MD and co-founder sits down to discuss the company's journey and post-IPO plans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pharmaniaga Berhad,a PN17 company, appears to be on track with its regularisation plan. We speak with Managing Director Zulkifli Jaafar on the company’s restructuring efforts, how they plan to grow operations, and what this means for the future of one of Malaysia’s key pharmaceutical players which has a lucrative government concession agreement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) announced global staff cuts as budget constraints bite. On World Refugee Day, we discuss the challenges of upholding protection for refugees and engaging with the Malaysian government despite resource limitations with Louise Aubin, the UNHCR representative in Malaysia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inf...

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. How much progress has Malaysia made in nuclear technology over the past 50 years, and where does it position the country as the momentum shifts on public acceptance of nuclear energy? We discuss this with the Director General Dr. Rosli Darmawan. Im...

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 tag attached to education in international schools, whether there is still demand for such education by Malaysian parents, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 service tax. Why has the government decided to make this move despite cost of living pressures. Questions we pose to the Treasury Secretary General at the Ministry of Finance, Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican whilst we also get a preview of Budget 2026 and the...

The international community has missed the 2025 deadline to eliminate child labour in all its forms. What are the gaps in the legal framework, economic mechanisms and societal viewpoints that need to be addressed for child labour to truly be eradicated in Malaysia? We discuss this with Dr Amjad Rabi, Visiting Expert at the Social Wellbeing Research Center at University Malaya; and Sharmila Sekaran...

Professor Dr. Barry Winn, Vice Chancellor and President, Taylor's University, discusses trends in higher education, parents' expectations and student outcomes, income generation, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Often overshadowed by its larger neighbours, Eswatini is quietly positioning itself on Africa’s economic map. With political stability, pro-business policies, and a young population, the kingdom is eyeing greater regional integration and trade. Aisalli Ayub speaks with H.E. Menzie Sipho Dlamini, Eswatini’s High Commissioner to Malaysia, on investment opportunities and global partnerships. See omny...

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 long list of property reforms to be accomplished. And is the property market weighed too heavily in favour of the developers? Questions we pose to Nga Kor Ming, Minister of Housing and Local Government whilst asking if he is next in line to lead DA...

The government estimates that in 2024, cybercrime incidents incurred total losses exceeding RM1.5 billion ringgit involving more than 35,000 reported cases. As businesses step up safeguards against cyberattacks, how is ACE Market-listed cybersecurity specialist LGMS positioning themselves to benefit from this long-term theme? We catch-up on the business strategy and prospects of LGMS with CEO&nbsp...

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 economic policy? We discuss the evolution of US-ASEAN economic ties and what's ahead with Marc Mealy, Executive Vice President of the US-ASEAN Business Council.  Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

JTI Malaysia, the Malaysian Business of Japan Tobacco, is one of the three largest tobacco players globally. We’ll be speaking with Juliana Mohd Yahaya, Managing Director of JTI Malaysia to understand the pace of the transition from cigarettes and also how regulatory changes are reshaping the business model of tobacco companies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As more consumers and businesses go cashless, how are payment industry players positioning themselves to capitalise on this potential growth, especially in Asian digital economies? We discuss the business strategy and regional prospects for Global Payments with Krishnaraj Tantri, Senior Vice President for South and Southeast Asia. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Signature Alliance Group, an interior fitting-out specialist company, is set to make its market debut on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market. Darren Chang, its managing director, talks about the company's growth strategy, its edge in a competitive sector, and what investors need to know about its post-IPO plans. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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 debuts on the Main Market this Jun 24. Hoe Kian Choon, CUCKOO's CEO, talks about the IPO journey, the company's pivot from distributor to brand powerhouse, its growth ambitions, and whether current market sentiment will support its lofty valuation....

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 the solutions and whether the government remains too pro-business. We also ask if DAP is MCA 2.0 and his own political future when tasked with uniting the party. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Microsoft recently launched Malaysia West, its first hyperscale cloud region in the country, part of a USD2.2 billion investment spanning four years. What’s the end game for Microsoft in Southeast Asia, and how do we translate the benefit of AI to the Malaysian workforce? We discuss this with Scott Guthrie, Executive Vice President for Cloud + AI of Microsoft on the sidelines of the Microsoft AI T...

As nations confront the twin challenges of ageing populations and shifting global influence, questions of sustainability and governance take center stage. Fredrik Reinfeldt, the former Prime Minister of Sweden, discusses these issues from a uniquely Swedish perspective as well as the lessons Malaysia can learn. Prime Minister Reinfeldt will be a speaker at the International Social Wellbeing Confer...

Malaysia’s tech leasing space is picking up speed, driven by growing demand for smarter, more flexible ICT solutions. One local player stepping up is ICT Zone Asia Berhad, a home-grown device financing firm making the jump from the LEAP to the ACE Market, with plans to raise RM26.6 million ahead of its June 3 listing.  Managing Director & CEO Tommy Lim joins us to discuss their growth str...