The Breakfast Grille

EMGS a government entity is the sole agency responsible for promoting and facilitating international student arrival to Malaysia. Datuk Ahmad Shalimin Ahmad Shaffie, their chairman tells us what their KPIs are and if Malaysian provides a holistic education experience compared to the like of UK or Australia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Civil Aviation Authority of Malaysia (CAAM) now serves as the sole agency responsible for the technical, safety, security, and economic regulation of the country's civil aviation industry. CEO, Datuk Captain Norazman Mahmud, following the merger with MAVCOM,  tells us if new structure benefits the aviation industry, stakeholders and consumers. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy infor...

Médecins Sans Frontières or Doctors Without Borders, has long been a symbol of compassion in conflict zones. Dr Javid Abdelmoneim, the new International President of MSF, joins us to talk about the realities of delivering medical care in war zones, maintaining neutrality in an increasingly politicised world, and what it means to lead in times of crisis. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudi...

Budget 2026 is the first under the period of the 13th Malaysia Plan that runs until 2030 and which has the lofty goal of redesigning national development. How well does this budget reflect the transformational aims of RMK13? We peel the layers of Budget 2026 with Dato’ Johan Mahmood Merican, the Secretary General of the Treasury. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Today, all eyes are on Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim as he tables Budget 2026, the last before GE16. It continues the Ekonomi Madani agenda and sets the stage for the 13th Malaysia Plan. Julia Goh, Senior Economist at UOB, and Soh Lian Seng, Head of Tax at KPMG tells us their expectations against a backdrop of fiscal consolidation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As Southeast Asia faces one of its most uncertain economic periods in recent years such as global trade tensions and currency fluctuations, we speak with Tan Sri Nazir Razak, Chairman of the ASEAN Business Advisory Council 2025, to hear his insights on how businesses and economies in the region can navigate deep volatility, and what opportunities may emerge amid these challenges See omnystudi...

The US-China rivalry is commonly framed as one of ideology between capitalism and socialism, or autocratic versus democratic systems. But researcher Dan Wang presents a new spin on the competition as one between engineers and lawyers, which he details in his book. We discuss his thesis and the prognosis for both economies. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Koichiro Satomi, Deputy Group Managing Director of Asia Pacific Kinokuniya and Managing Director for Kinokuniya Malaysia to talk about what differentiates Kinokuya from other bookstores in the country, why its digital platform appears to be lagging behind its physical counterpart, whether Malaysians still have the habit of reading, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

With over 1000 listed companies on Bursa Malaysia, how does the country rank when it comes to governance and protecting minority shareholders? Our panel consisting of Ng Zhu Hann, CEO & Founder of Tradeview Capital, and Dr Ismet Yusoff, CEO of Minority Shareholders Watch Group (MSWG) gives us their perspective and what improvements can be made. See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

The TRX development project was envisioned under the 10th Malaysia Plan to put Kuala Lumpur on the map as a global financial hub. But has it managed to shake off its association with the 1MDB scandal that haunts its origin story? We discuss the progress of TRX and its development ethos with Dato' Azmar Talib, CEO of master developer TRX City Sdn. Bhd. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy inform...

Curtin University Malaysia, Curtin’s largest overseas campus, has worked with the Sarawak Government since 1999 and is ranked 183rd in the QS World University Rankings 2026. Prof. Vincent Lee Chieng Chen, Pro Vice-Chancellor and CEO, talks about the university’s vision, growth strategy, and its commitment to combining global excellence with local relevance. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnys...

Malaysia aims to be among the world’s top 20 AI economies by 2030. Shamsul Izhan Abdul Majid, the CEO of the nine-month-old National AI Office (NAIO), shares the agency's progress and how far the starting RM10 million funding has gotten it to date, while sharing his hopes and dreams for Malaysia's AI future. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia aims to move up the high-tech value chain, from electronics to aerospace, green technologies and smart cities. Rushdi Abdul Rahim, President & CEO of MIGHT (the Malaysian Industry-Government Group for High Technology), shares how the agency is helping drive these national ambitions. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

TMK made its Bursa debut in December 2024 but has since traded below its IPO price. Wong Kin Wah, their Managing Director joins us again for an update on their growth strategy and if it is time to bottom fish the stock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What led to the vacancies in Malaysia’s judiciary, including its two top positions, and how can such critical issues be avoided in the future? Former Malaysian Bar Council president Ragunath Kesavan and constitutional lawyer Lim Wei Jiet argue that the real problem lies not in the law itself, but in the responsibility—or lack thereof—of parties involved in the appointment process. See omnystudio.c...

The Madani government launched the Bumiputera Economic Transformation Plan 2035 (PuTERA35) in August last year to accelerate the empowerment of the bumi community. What is the role of the Bumiputera Agenda Steering Unit, better known by its Malay acronym TERAJU in implementing the comprehensive and complex blueprint? We find out from its CEO Junady Nawawi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy i...

Today on the Breakfast Grille, Philip See will be sitting down with Teoh Han Boon, Managing Director of Camaroe Bhd to talk about the company’s upcoming listing on the ACE Market on Bursa Malaysia, how Camaroe sets itself apart from the competition in the aquaculture industry, and its growth prospects. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Riyaz International plans to roll out 50 hotels across Malaysia over the next five years through a regional partnership with China’s hotel giant Jin Jiang. Yap Lip Seng, CEO of RJJ Hotels and Riyaz Hotels & Resorts, shares how this expansion could reshape Malaysia’s hospitality landscape See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Alliance Bank, Malaysia's smallest bank by asset size is halfway through its Acceler8 2027 strategy to diversify its core business and strengthen market leadership in the SME segment. Despite achieving record earnings in 2025, could global economic uncertainty decelerate its progress? We get updates from Kellee Kam, CEO of Alliance Bank. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Karcher is renowned for its professional cleaning solutions, helping homes and businesses stay spotless with innovative products and services. Philip See speaks with William Kew, Managing Director of Karcher Malaysia, about the company’s growth, market strategies, and vision for the cleaning industry in the country. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly half of Malaysia’s workforce facing high exposure to artificial intelligence, with women and younger workers most at risk. What does this mean for inequality, education, and the country’s social protection systems? Calvin Cheng, the economics programme director at ISIS Malaysia and Dr Matthew Dornan, a Senior Economist at the World Bank, talk about their new report on this subject...

The global geopolitical landscape has changed dramatically since the outbreak of the war in Ukraine with the return of President Donald Trump to the White House proving a wildcard in ongoing efforts to find a resolution. How does this affect the foreign policy calculations for Kyiv and how is it strengthening alliances beyond the Western sphere? We discuss this with Ukrainian lawmaker Oleksandr Me...

The UK under Prime Minister Keir Starmer is adjusting its foreign policy to global challenges amid changing geopolitical dynamics. How is the government balancing US-China tensions while pursuing new opportunities with ASEAN? We discuss this with H.E. Ajay Sharma, British High Commissioner to Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Increasingly more companies are required to have internal auditors but what role do they play ? Anthony Pugliese, President & CEO, The Global Institute of Internal Auditors tell us and if AI benefits this profession or threatens it. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia is one of just 20 countries that has not yet ratified the UN Convention against Torture, despite expressing commitment to do so over the years. What are the obstacles to signing the treaty and how does Malaysia stand to benefit from taking a legally-backed anti-torture stance?  We build a case for Malaysia’s accession to the treaty with our expert panel. See omnystudio.com/listener f...