The Breakfast Grille

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...

Fertility specialist Alpha IVF is looking to expand its regional presence to 15 facilities by 2027 following its ACE Market debut in 2024. We catch up with Managing Director Dato' Dr Colin Lee on the expansion strategy of Alpha IVF amid shifts in the regulatory landscape for private healthcare in Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Penguin Random House, one of the world’s largest English-language publishers, has expanded in India, Southeast Asia, and the Middle East and North Africa. Aisalli Ayub speaks to regional CEO Gaurav, Gaurav Shrinagesh, of Penguin Random House India, South East Asia, Middle East and North Africa on amplifying local voices, embracing regional languages, adapting to digital trends, and taking regional...

This morning Philip See sits down with Oscar Ow, Executive Director of MSB Global Group Bhd, a company that specializes in the distribution, marketing and services of automotive parts and lubricants. Philip will be quizzing Oscar on the decision to list on the ACE Market in these turbulent times, whether it is affected by global supply chain troubles, its plans in the EV industry and more. Se...

Ryt Bank — a joint venture between YTL Digital Capital and e-commerce giant Sea Ltd — is the latest digital bank to commence operations. We’ll be speaking with Melvin Ooi, the bank’s CEO, about its journey so far. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Two years after Betamek was listed on Bursa Malaysia's ACE Market, this automotive electronics company has seen some solid earnings, made strategic acquisitions, and has EV-related tech in its sights. Mirzan Mahathir, the company's managing director, gets candid with why Betamek's share price isn't performing as well as it should as well as his personal legacy. See omnystudio.com/listener for priv...

Universiti Tunku Abdul Rahman (UTAR), a leading not-for-profit private university in Malaysia, continues to nurture talent and drive innovation across the region. We speak with Ir. Professor Dato' Dr. Ewe Hong Tat, President of UTAR, about the university’s journey, its commitment to accessible education, and preparing future-ready graduates in a rapidly changing world. Image Credit: Shutterstock.c...

Toys "R" Us Asia has been largely insulated from the bankruptcy fallout of its American parent company in 2018. How resilient is the toy retail business in the face of rapidly changing consumer trends, supply chain risks and geopolitical uncertainties? We discuss its strategy for brand longevity and sustainability with Leo Tsoi, CEO of Toys "R" Us Asia. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy info...

The idea of a universal basic income or UBI has been gaining attention and sparking debate, as the planet grapples with rising inequality, job insecurity, and rapid automation. Professor Guy Standing, Professorial Research Associate at SOAS University of London and a founding member and honorary co-president of the Basic Income Earth Network, helps us unpack the economic, political, and ethical di...

The World Trade Organisation has warned that global trade could contract by as much as 0.8% this year as a result of potentially higher US tariffs on imported goods, which affect nearly every country in the world. So, what does this mean for logistics players such as DHL Express? We catch-up with Global CEO John Pearson for updates. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for pr...

Seah Boon Tiat, Managing Director of Hartanah Kenyalang Berhad to talk about its financial performance - the company’s revenue roughly quadrupled in the last 4 years, the unique challenges of taking up government projects, plans for the funds raised from its Ace Market listing, and more. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Each year on May 9th, we celebrate Europe Day, reflecting on the strengthening EU-Malaysia bilateral partnership. Today, we sit down with H.E. Rafael Daerr, EU Ambassador to Malaysia, to discuss key issues such as the EU Deforestation Regulation (EUDR), U.S tariffs, trade, climate goals, security, and other areas of cooperation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Teleport, the logistics arm of Capital A has the lofty goal of delivering 2 million parcels a day by the end of the year - which means they need to increase their volume five-fold. What’s the pathway to achieving this amid competing headwinds? We discuss company updates with Teleport CEO Pete Chareonwongsak. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

HI Mobility Bhd, the Johor-based bus operator, made a strong debut on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia in March, opening at a 4.1% premium after raising RM115.9 million through its initial public offering (IPO). CEO Lim Chern Chuen shares how he plans on steering HI Mobility toward a future of cleaner, smarter, and more efficient mobility solutions across Malaysia. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

When President Donald Trump exited the White House in 2021, many didn’t foresee that he would stage a remarkable comeback four years later. What do the first three-months of his second presidency tell us about the direction he’s taking the world’s largest economy? We reflect on some of the developments in US policy and politics with Wendy Schiller, Professor of Political Science at Brown Universit...

PEOPLElogy Group is a 24 year-old, homegrown award winning integrated people development solution provider dedicated to upskilling and reskilling individuals and businesses for the digital economy. Founder, Managing Director, and Chief Peoplelogist Allen Lee sits down to discuss PEOPLElogy’s future plans as it prepares to achieve its dream of becoming a listed company this month. Image Credit: Shu...

Institut Jantung Negara (IJN) was established in 1992 as a hybrid public-private organisation in Malaysia’s healthcare system to provide premier cardiothoracic treatment. Is this unique position a boon or a bane for IJN as it navigates the competing aims of commercial interests with public service ethos? We discuss this with IJN CEO Prof. Dato’ Sri Dr. Mohamed Ezani Md Taib. See omnystudio.com/lis...

Markets have been whipsawed in light of US President Donald Trump’s tariff threats. Todd Jablonski, Global Head of Multi-Asset and Quant Strategies at Principal Asset Management speaks about the outlook for listed companies across the world and what investment strategy one should adopt during these turbulent times. Image Credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informa...

AEON Bank is Malaysia 1st Islamic digital bank. We speak to Raja Teh Maimunah, CEO of AEON Bank about the bank's ambitions, how it intends to monetize the AEON brands and the path to profitability. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechanical and electrical engineering firm West River is raising RM27.9 million through its ACE Market debut, aiming to leverage on the booming property sector and energy efficiency trends. But is this the right time to go public amidst global  economic uncertainty? We discuss the plans and prospects of West River with its Managing Director Stanley Lim. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy...

Malaysia’s Medical Device Authority (MDA) stands at the intersection of regulation and innovation, safeguarding public health while advancing the nation’s medtech ambitions. From AI-driven diagnostics to global partnerships, the MDA is positioning Malaysia as a regional hub. Aisalli Ayub speaks to CEO Dr. Muralitharan Paramasua who shares his insights on MDA’s strategy, enforcement, and the future...