The Breakfast Grille

Mainland-China based streaming platform iQiyi is often described as China's answer to Netflix. But while it dominates the China market, can it make inroads into Southeast Asia where audiences have built loyalty to other streaming platforms that have been around longer and have deeper local roots? We speak to Malaysia Country Manager Dinesh Ratnam on iQiyi's 2019 foray into the SEA market, and thei...

After more than 600 days in the grip of the Covid-19 pandemic, Malaysia is seeing an easing of daily new infections amid a high vaccination rate with nearly 90% of the adult population fully vaccinated. Have we weathered the worst of the pandemic? We discuss the possible pandemic trajectory in Malaysia as well as the transition to an endemic phase of the virus with infectious diseases expert Dato'...

Malaysia Debt Ventures, a government agency under the Ministry of Science, Technology and Innovation hits a milestone - it’s 20th Year Anniversary. It's CEO, Nizam Mohamed Nadzri tells us what their KPIs are and their relevance. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

SMEs, the economic life bloods of Malaysia, were arguably the biggest victims of the pandemic. But funding their revival has to be balanced with a new focus on fiscal prudence even while the entire DFI -- Development Financial Institution -- sector is overdue much-needed consolidation. Aria Putera Ismail, the CEO of SME Bank, discusses. Image credit: SME Bank See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

The 12th Malaysia Plan was unveiled with the broad theme of a prosperous, inclusive and sustainable Malaysia. A goal that all Malaysians would aspire to but is the policy too ambitious and will policy inconsistency and poor implementation be its undoing? Dato' Sri Mustapa Bin Mohamed, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department for Economic Affairs tells us. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

By 2060, Malaysia will be a super-aged nation, where 1 in 5 Malaysians will be over the age of 65. The rapidly ageing population will bring with it a host of economic challenges, not least an imminent retirement crisis which will test the capacity of our social protection system to keep up with the needs of a large elderly society. How can the social protection framework be strengthened to ensure...

We get into conversation with Nestle, the world's largest food company, Nestlé as we ask Chief Executive Officer of Nestlé (Malaysia) Berhad on their strategy going forward and how their products have evolved as consumer tastes rapidly change. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The banking sector has faced many challenges from a prolonged Covid-19 pandemic whilst structural changes are fast approaching. Joel Kornreich, Group CEO of Alliance Bank tells us the strategy for growth and are M&A opportunities being considered. Image credit: Yusnizam Yusof / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Copper product manufacturer, Ta Win Holdings aims to supply to the healthcare and electric vehicle industries as well as venture into blockchain. What is the likelihood of its plans materialising? Datuk Seri Ngu Tieng Ung, the Group Managing Director discusses. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Postal services are all facing a structure decline as online communication has become the dominant way of life. But what tricks does newly appointed Group CEO of Pos Malaysia, Charles Brewer, has up his sleeve to turn things around and stem the losses at this listed company? Image credit: Abdul Razak Latif / Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kishore Mahbubani, former diplomat, author of the book "Has China Won?", and Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Research Institute, of the National University of Singapore (NUS) discusses the US-China conflict and how a resolution, if any, could be achieved. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We get into a conversation with Chuah Choon Bin, Executive Director of Pentamaster about his journey so far and the plans he has to grow the business beyond automation test equipment. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kedah-based cable and wire maker Southern Cable is graduating to the Main Market by the end of the year, with its post-pandemic recovery plans and new product lines squarely in focus, according to Group General Manager Ooi In Keong. Image credit: Southern Cable See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

We speak to Mieke De Schepper, Executive Vice President and Managing Director for Asia-Pacific, Amadeus on how this global travel technology leader sees the future of the travel industry and what solutions and services the customers as well as the travel eco-system are interested in. Image credit: Shutterstock.com & Amadeus See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The unusual pairing of Oxford university scientists and British-Swedish pharmaceutical giant AstraZeneca led to the not for profit Covid-19 vaccine. Billions of doses have been produced but at cost for how long? And why did this particular vaccine receive such intense public scrutiny? We speak to Dr. Sanjeev Panchal, Country President of AstraZeneca Malaysia to find out. Image credit: Shutterstock...

We speak to Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin, President of the Paralympics Council of Malaysia on Malaysia's record haul, the controversy surrounding Ziyad Zolkefli, preparations for Paris 2024, as well as how the country and government should build on the success of Malaysia's Tokyo Paralympics. Image credits: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Despite the nearly six-decade union between the states of Peninsular Malaysia, Sabah and Sarawak, misconceptions of history, the constitution and cultural identity abound, creating long-standing tensions between east and west. How do these disaffections impact Malaysian national identity and unity? We discuss the knotty issues with constitutional expert Prof. Datuk Dr Shad Saleem Faruqi and socio-...

Known for their dim sum lunches and lavish Chinese banquet dinners, Phillip Siew, Chairman of Oriental Group, one of Malaysia's largest Chinese Restaurants Groups, shares his plans to ride out this pandemic as dining restrictions have badly affected his restaurants which include Noble House and Yu. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With a click of a button, sending money quickly is now an option and for less charges than before. We speak to one of the disruptors, WorldRemit as to how they plan to enter the Malaysian market and make a profit in this very competitive market. Ridzuan Aziz, Country Director for Malaysia and Head of ASEAN Business, tells us. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

The toll of the Covid-19 pandemic extends far beyond the physical disease; it's impacts include the mental health dimension. According to official statistics, on average three people died by suicide per day from January to May of this year. On World Suicide Prevention Day, we discuss why it's imperative for Malaysia to decriminalize suicide and the policy recommendations to strengthen the mental h...

Affordable homes have been the only bright sparks in a moribund property sector, but new growth opportunities can and must be unearthed, possibly in the ports management and tourism sector, according to Tan Sri Lim Hock San, Executive Chairman of LBS Bina. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Besides social distancing and vaccines, another tool in the fight against COVID-19 has been contact tracing, and with the COVID-19 pandemic, contact tracing was modernised, using mobile apps, bluetooth, WiFi, and GPS. Roshan Kanesan speaks to Professor Susan Landau, Professor of Cyber-Security at Tufts University and author of People Count: Contact-tracing Apps and Public Health, about t...

The fintech space in Malaysia is still at a nascent stage but the field is getting crowded. GHL one of the earliest payment players recognises this and is evolving their business model to diversify earnings. Sean Hesh, Group CEO tell us their plans and answers the important question - is their share price overvalued? Image credit: GHL See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dr Kenneth Pereira, the founding Managing Director of Hibiscus Petroleum Bhd, Malaysia’s first SPAC with oil and gas assets in Malaysia, Australia and the UK, discusses its new acquisition and whether it is transitioning to a fossil-fuel future. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The United Nations projects that 70% of the world’s population will reside in urban settlements by the year 2050. Additionally, the Covid-19 pandemic and climate change have underscored the need for sustainable urbanization if cities are to remain thriving centers of growth. We discuss with Dato’ Sri Paduka Maimunah Mohd Sharif, Executive Director of UN-Habitat how cities can be design...