The Breakfast Grille

Have teachers become the new whipping boy for all our frustrations with our education system? What responsibility does Government bare in declining standards?  And are parents themselves guilty of conflicting values and priorities that undermine teachers in their role to create well-rounded students? We speak to Shahnaz Al-Sadat. Appointed Trustee at Yayasan Amir in 2010, this lawyer and acco...

We look into whether tourism's growth motive may be at odds with the quest for sustainability. David Scowsill, President and CEO of the World Travel and Tourism Council, also gives his views on how Visit Malaysia Year 2014 will pan out. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The rise of Asia is perhaps the singular developmental and political story of our era, attracting praise and criticism, wonder and skepticism,” Professor Quah is reported to have said on the announcement of the new inter-disciplinary center. He speaks about Western obsessions over ‘ballot box democracy’, the importance of the performance dimension of governance, what will be a ga...

Prof. Michael Heise, Chief Economist, Allianz SE speaks to us on the Breakfast Grille on the group's decision to move its regional office to Singapore to spearhead growth in the region and his chief advisory role to navigate the group in times of great turbulence and political instability. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

According to the Budapest Memorandum of 1994, Russia, the US, and the UK confirmed, in recognition of Ukraine becoming party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons and in effect abandoning its nuclear arsenal to Russia, that they would: respect Ukrainian independence and sovereignty within its existing borders; refrain from the threat or use of force against Ukraine; and also re...

Lazada is Southeast Asia's biggest online shopping mall, with operations in Malaysia, Indonesia, Philippines, Thailand and Vietnam. We speak with Igor Pezzilli, Chief Executive Officer of Lazada Malaysia who discusses the increasingly crowded e-commerce marketplace and coping with fickle consumer trends. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kedai Rakyat 1 Malaysia or KR1M is a project funded evenly by Mydin and the government but 100% owned and operated by Mydin. Datuk Wira Dr. Haji Ameer Ali Mydin declares this a loss-making project. This can be beneficial if a relatively small investment can fulfill social objectives like lowering the cost of necessities for the poor. We look into whether KR1M stands the tests of logic, transp...

Bas Melssen the National Biomass Strategy Team Leader and Executive Vice President of Agensi Inovasi Malaysia (AIM) speaks to us on the Breakfast Grille on his role to mobilise the biomass strategy and the potential for RM 30 billion in contribution to national income. He also discusses what's in it for palm oil growers to partcipate and if innovation is alive and well in Malaysia. See omnystudio....

Ng Yih Chen, Executive Director of Tomei Consolidated Berhad discusses the group's financial performance and aspirations reeling from a tough year in 2013 and increasingly volatile prices. He speaks on sustainability of gold investment schemes, possible prixe-fixing by giant cartels and increasing the group's retail presence in the market. He also discusses the everlasting appeal of these precious...

LBS Bina Group Bhd's managing director Datuk Seri Lim Hock San comes on the Breakfast Grille to discuss the property developer's prospects as challenges for the property sector mounts. Listed on the stock exchange with a RM852.7 million market capitalisation, we talk to him about LBS' recent joint venture in Johor's Iskandar, the company's focus in Cameron Highlands as well as its prospects in Chi...

Datuk Ismail Ibrahim, Chief Executive of Iskandar Regional Development Authority, discusses progress report on “developing Iskandar Malaysia into a strong and sustainable metropolis of international standing”, re Investments and Population targets, secured projects, high-speed rapid-transit link between Singapore and Johor, clean/sustainability ambitions, projects oversight & corru...

There is a lot contractors and the government can do to make the nation a better place, some of which include removing bottlenecks and addressing governance of big projects. We talk to Matthew Tee, President of Master Builders Association Malaysia (MBAM) as well as Group Executive Director of Bina Puri about this. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Mohd Nor Idrus, CEO, Kidex Sdn Bhd, discusses the 14.9km Kinrara Damansara Skyway in terms of: the need for another highway, highway vs public transportation (MRT/LRT Line), benefits and business case, the homes, offices and buildings that will be displaced, Health, Safety and Environment issues, public feedback / consensus sought and the social impact and controversy of the project. He...

Petronas is pumping billions of dollars into the Canadian economy through its wholly owned Canadian subsidiary, Progress Energy Canada Ltd, and Canadian global oil and gas exploration and production company Talisman is here in Malaysia. Is that the extent of the relationship between the two nations? We speak on the recently inked MOU on security as well as plans for Canada to capture a bigger shar...

Girish Ramachandran, director of strategy and transformation for built assets consultancy EC Harris. The company helps its clients to make the most from their investment and expenditure in assets in their four main sectors namely buildings, infrastructure, water and environment. He talks about the challenges of playing a middle man when implementation is an issue and his take on the current water...

Dato' Chevy Beh comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about his family company, one of Malaysia's leading healthcare providers, BP Healthcare Group. He discusses his progression from Ivy League universities to his time on Wall Street, along with BP Healthcare's growth and regional expansion plans to Indonesia and Thailand. What are the implications of an aging Malaysian population on the healthcar...

AEON Co Malaysian Bhd's Executive Director Pooh Ying Loo comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the company's growth path and what to expect in the coming months. AEON is already a household name and is gradually strengthening its niche in suburban areas. However, as budgets get tighter, how will the retailer cope? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Juan Valdez was a brand set up to give fair pricing and recognition to Colombian coffee growers. It is now also the name of a coffee shop with an international franchise. We look into how Juan Valdez balances the profit motive with its original social mission. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Harith Iskander, the dubbed godfather of Malaysian comedy comes on the Breakfast Comedy Grille to tell us about his transition from burger advertising to becoming one of Malaysia's biggest names in stand-up comedy. He encourages Malaysians to embrace our multi-cultured diversity and to seize the day, one pound at a time.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Looi Kong Meng the CEO of Lonpac Insurance Bhd comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the landscape of the insurance industry in Malaysia, and in particular the company's plans going forward. He talks about how Lonpac wants to be different from its peers by focusing away from motor and towards fire insurance, the challenges he sees both local and abroad, and what the tragic case of MH370 will...

What has Malaysia’s economic and political trajectory been since its formation? Was the May 13th incident and the suspension of Parliament a derailment of the positive trajectory that we were on? Professor Woo, President of the newly established Jeffrey Cheah Institute on Southeast Asia, talks about the watershed moment in the country’s recent economic history and argues for a bi-parti...

Tami Overby, the Vice President of the US Chamber of Commerce for Asia comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the future of USA-Malaysia relations and how it can grow further. She talks about the controversy surrounding the TPP and how it will help, rather than hinder, trade. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mr. Sip Mun Yee, Chief Operating Officer & Director for DA Land speaks to us about his property developments to the Northern Klang valley, specifically Rawang and the stigma behind leasehold perceptions. How will Rawang develop as a property hub?   See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Thevendran Sivanantham, General Manager, Strategy Planning & Marketing of Fuji Xerox Asia Pacific Pte Ltd comes on the Breakfast Grille to talk about the future strategies of the company as both technologies and needs change. Fuji Xerox is best known for its copying machines and printers, but some see it as a sunset industry. Thevendran comes on to discuss the evolution of the company and how...

Mukhtar Hussain, Group General Manager and CEO HSBC Bank Malaysia, discusses housing sector, defaults / NPLs, household debt, bad-loan impairments, exposure to manufacturing and household-retail sectors, deposits, cost of funds, personnel costs, Shariah finance, the Islamic Financial Services Act (IFSA) 2013, KL as an Islamic finance hub, subsidy rationalisation, GST, Consumer, business confidence...