The Breakfast Grille

Home ownership remains a major aspiration for Malaysians, but affordability pressures, unsold properties and weaker transactions continue to expose the disconnect between what buyers want and what the market provides. PropertyGuru Malaysia sits at the centre of that market, connecting buyers, sellers and agents while wielding significant influence over how properties are discovered and marketed on...

The artificial intelligence revolution is underway, but how prepared are governments and businesses to navigate the changes this technology will bring over the next decade? We attempt to untangle some of the threads of policy discourse in Europe and Asia, as well as what this means for business strategy with Conall McDevitt, President of the Penta Group, an international strategy and com...

Businesses across Southeast Asia are under pressure to modernise their technology while keeping costs under control and managing growing expectations around artificial intelligence. For Workday, that creates opportunities to expand its cloud-based HR and finance platforms, but also challenges ranging from legacy enterprise systems and cautious IT spending to uneven digital capabilities and employe...

DXN Holdings has quietly built one of Malaysia's most international businesses through a global network across some 200 markets. Prajith Pavithran, the company's executive director and group CEO, explains why DXN is investing heavily in manufacturing and expanding across Latin America, while still fundamentally a direct-selling company, or something more? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy in...

While solidly green, Parti Islam Se-Malaysia (PAS) is helping create what pundits are calling the Blue Wave. After the Johor and Negeri Sembilan state elections the role of Parti Islam Se-Malaysia or PAS as part of a future federal government is being entertained as a real possibility. In this conversation with discuss PAS’ current political strategy, the foundations of its economic philosophy, th...

Nearly 80 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the institutions created to uphold it are under unprecedented strain. Philippe Bolopion, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch discusses Gaza, Malaysia, refugees, international law and why, despite mounting challenges, he still believes human rights are worth fighting for. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener...

Scicom MSC Bhd started life as a call centre. Today it processes the visa for every international student entering Malaysia, and holds a 15-year concession on GITC — the country's first national platform matching TVET graduates to jobs, launched by the Deputy Prime Minister in June. After 3 straight years of falling revenue, trailing twelve-month revenue is up 37%, profit up 96%, and the share pri...

PEOPLElogy just turned 25, and it's marking the milestone with a pledge to make five million Malaysians AI-ready by 2028, roughly one in three working Malaysians. It's a bold ask at a moment when over 52,000 Malaysians have already lost their jobs this year, more than half of them PMETs. But 14 months after listing on the ACE Market, the stock is at 21 sen, below its 25-sen IPO price, and FY2025 n...

China and Taiwan have had frigid relations since Democratic People's Party (DPP) became the ruling party in 2016, currently with President Lai Ching-te at the helm. How are the dynamics between Beijing and Taipei shifting in light of the Trump administration 2.0 policies? We discuss developments with Bonnie Glaser of the German Marshall Fund. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener...

Barisan Nasional’s switch in strategy paid off handsomely, grabbing half the state assembly and with Perikatan Nasional securing control of the state. The question being asked is if this winning strategy can go national and deliver UMNO leadership of the country? Also laid bare several are other political realities: Pakatan Harapan’s weak hold of the Malay ground, Wawasan’s replacement of Bersatu...

The Breakfast Grille - Aug 1, 2026 See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

In 2023, the elections ushered in a Pakatan Harapan-led government with the support of the Barisan Nasional. Neither coalition had sufficient seats to lead the 36-member assembly. In this election, Barisan has switched strategy, forming an informal electoral pact with Perikatan Nasional instead. No doubt the outcome of the Negeri Sembilan vote will be consequential for the people of the state but...

As Malaysia Business Events Week 2026 gets underway, the spotlight is on how the country plans to strengthen its position as a regional destination for international conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events. Amid intensifying competition from neighbours such as Singapore and Thailand, success will depend on more than marketing, with infrastructure, sustainability, regulatory efficiency, and...

Teladan Group has spent nearly three decades building homes in Melaka. Now, the Main Market-listed developer is embarking on its most ambitious chapter yet, expanding into Negeri Sembilan, the Klang Valley and industrial developments. Richard Teo, Managing Director of Teladan Group, discusses the company's growth strategy. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Pekat Group Berhad has transformed itself from a lightning protection specialist into a leading player in Malaysia's solar engineering sector, reflecting the country's accelerating energy transition. With plans to move from Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market to the Main Market, the company is entering a new stage of growth amid rising demand for renewable energy and data centre infrastructure. Can Pekat...

The latest entrant to the Malaysian political scene is Parti Wawasan Negara led by Dato’ Sri Hamzah Zainuddin and comprising disgruntled former members of Bersatu. How is Wawasan positioning itself in an increasingly crowded space? We find out from the party’s Secretary General, Dato’ Sri Saifuddin Abdullah. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Malaysian Media Council or  Majlis Media Malaysia (MMM)  is a statutory body established to uphold journalistic standards, mediate public complaints and advocate for press freedom. How will it shape the contours of the media industry for the future? We discuss the role and aims of the MMM with its newly appointed Chair, Tan Sri Nallini Pathmanathan, former justice of the Federal Cour...

Recent international trade numbers are record breaking. In the first half of the year, it grew 22.4% year-on-year to a record RM1.796 trillion in the first half of 2026. The Ministry of Investment, Trade and Industry said exports increased 27.5% to RM971.59bil, while imports rose 16.9% to RM824.44bil, resulting in a trade surplus of RM147.15bil. Reports stated that “manufactured goods continued to...

As Food & Drinks Malaysia 2026 opens at MITEC, the food and beverage industry is navigating shifting supply chains, evolving consumer demand, and growing regional competition. Trade exhibitions are also changing, with greater emphasis on delivering measurable business outcomes rather than simply showcasing products. What will it take for Malaysia to strengthen its position as a regional food a...

CGS International Securities Malaysia is looking beyond its traditional roots as a stockbroker to become a broader investment house. Its CEO Khairi Shahrin Arief Baki explains what's driving that strategy, where future growth opportunities lie and why the future of brokerage will depend on far more than executing trades. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Samaiden, an integrated renewable energy solutions provider and asset owner is one of the big beneficiaries of the RE transition momentum, with revenue and profit growing steadily over the past 2 years. However as external factors create cost pressures and with increasing competition in the EPCC space, can Samaiden maintain its shine? We discuss the fortunes and prospects of the company with Group...

This month, No.10 Downing Street is set to welcome a new resident: Andy Burnham is expected to replace Keir Starmer as the 5th UK Prime Minister since 2020. How will this influence the UK policy agenda? We discuss this with Mark MacGregor of Penta Group. Image Credit: Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Medical insurance has become one of Malaysia's biggest public policy challenges amid rising healthcare costs and insurance premiums. Vibha Coburn, Group CEO of Manulife Malaysia, discusses the company's growth strategy, the future of medical insurance, and how rebuilding consumer trust will require action from insurers, healthcare providers and regulators alike. See omnystudio.com/listener for pri...

France and Malaysia have had formal diplomatic relations ever since Merdeka, with the relationship growing significantly over the decades, leading to expanded cooperation in trade, higher education, and defence. HE Marc Abensour, Ambassador of France to Malaysia join us on this Bastille Day to discuss the evolution of Malaysia-France relations and its future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privac...

The big winner was Barisan Nasional going from 40 to 48 seats in the 56 seat House with UMNO’s partners contributing a large part to the extra eight seats to that boost. The MCA doubled its representation from 4 to 8, and the MIC increased from 3 to 4, giving them 25% of Barisan’s ADUNs. Biggest losers were Perikatan Nasional fielding candidates in 33 seats, but they won none, losing the three ADU...