The Breakfast Grille

Philips Group of Companies Malaysia Managing Director Lee Weng Seong discusses: - Its three global businesses of Consumer Lifestyle, Lighting and Healthcare; - Its Malaysian presence since the late 1930s, extent of product line; - Marketing, technical and application support as its main Malaysia roles; - Philips investment in Malaysia and Penang LED factory; - Malaysia market share, main competiti...

Stephen Hagger, Head of Malaysian Equities, Credit Suisse discusses: - Huge market volatility and Malaysia's stock market; - Program trades and fundamentals; - Risk appetites; - Malaysia's defensive nature; - MAS - AirAsia deal; - Privatisations; - Corporate earnings; - Non-bumi CEOs in GLCs; - Govt divestment program; - Fiscal deficit; - Elections; - Govt "leakages"; - Opposition - and downsides...

Courts Asia CEO Terry O'Connor discusses: - Number of stores in Singapore and in Malaysia; - Expansion plan; - Decision tree in expansion planning, closure; - Ratio of country contribution to revenue; - Key differences between Singapore and Malaysia market; - Electronics as focal point for building the Malaysia business; - Tactics behind 'growing' a successful product line; - The furniture busines...

Mark Edleson, President of Alila Hotels and Resorts, talks about his entrepreneurial journey and how to create a successful brand in luxury hospitality. Alila differentiates itself with a contemporary architecture. In Malaysia, Sabah and Langkawi are potential spots for Alila.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Italian Ambassador Folco de Luca Gabrielli discusses: - Eurozone and Euro challenges and Italy's Role within- Eurozone and Euro challenges; - Ramifications of the ECB's intervention in the Italian debt market;  - How he rates the measures taken so far to stave off panic: a second package for Greece and a bond-purchase fund; - Whether there should be a ceiling for the ECB's bond-buying program...

Dato' Hafsah Hashim, CEO of SME Corp, tells how the agency is growing the SME sector. It contributes 30% to the GDP which is in line with the average of developing nations but lower than developed countries like Singapore and Korea (49%).  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Andre Hoffman, Asia Pacific president of L'Occitane, talks about the challenges expanding in China and its product diversification plans. There will be more focus in promoting men's grooming products, and spa facilities and Melvita will be introduced in Malaysia. The French manufacturer and retail of skincare and toiletries is listed in Hong Kong.  "L'Occitane Asia Pacific President, Andre Ho...

Deputy German Foreign Minister Dr. Werner Hoyer discusses: - Position of Euro, Eurozone as safe haven in face of US economic concerns, debt downgrade; - The Eurozone's efforts to placate global markets; - Germany's position in Eurozone and whether it can survive without it; - Issues surrounding Malaysia's talks for a Partnership and Cooperation Agreement as well as an EU-Malaysia FTA; - Roadbumps...

HE Dr Rolf Lenz, the Swiss ambassador, gives an update on trade and Swiss investments in Malaysia, the impact of the rise of the Swiss franc on its export sector, his economic outlook of Switzerland, changes in its banking sector, the level of interest in Islamic banking, and on dealing with anti-Muslim movement. While investments in Malaysian companies are increasing, they're not for new technolo...

Benalec Holdings Bhd Group Managing Director Vincent Leaw discusses: - Its recent listing;  - Its business of marine construction, vessel charter, land reclamation; - The uniqueness of its model of accepting part of the reclaimed land as payment; - Competition - rivals - market share; - Main customers; - Prospects locally; - Reclamation projects in Penang, Malacca and Iskandar region in Johor...

Tan Teng Boo Capital Dynamics Asset Management Sdn Bhd Tan Teng Boo, Managing Director of Capital Dynamics Asset Management Sdn Bhd, discusses: - The impact of the US Debt ceiling impasse, and what it means; - Gold as a 'safe haven'; - The Euro's long-term existence and the Eurozone; - The Malaysian IPO market; - Listing and de-listing of companies; - CG Blueprint and governance issues; - Property...

Danone Dumex Malaysia Sdn Bhd Managing Director Toni Brendish discusses: - Details of its Malaysia business and operations; - Investment capital; - Staff - numbers - Skill levels - Production - utilisation rates; - Key markets and market share; - Positioning - price points; - Business breakdown between infant and child nutrition; - How price points differ between markets; - Drivers - Challenges -...

Datuk Che Azizuddin Ismail, CEO of Konsortium Logistik, tells how it will triple the market capitalisation of the company to RM1 billion by 2015 through mergers and acquisitions, possibly in logistics for FMCG. Ekuinas bought the company for RM1.55 per share late last year and the share price has since fallen to RM1.25. Datuk Azizuddin attributes it to the shares' low liquidity.  See omnystud...

Phil Robertson, Deputy director, Human Rights Watch (Asia division), discusses: - The negative implications of the asylum seeker deal recently signed between Malaysia and Australia; - Malaysia’s track record from a human rights standpoint; - The implications of Australia’s effective flouting of the 1951 Refugees Convention See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Petronas Base Oil (M) Sdn Bhd CEO Joe Rousmaniere provides details of and discusses: - A short overview of Base Oils; - Details of its complexity, plant locations, raw materials used, commercial applications; - Details of its origins and the impact of its 2008 purchase of Selenia; - Details of Group III Base oils; - Comparison with other "Base" oils; - How Asian producers compares with traditional...

Brazil Ambassador Sergio Arruda discusses: - Malaysia's role in Brazil's global economic roadmap; - Value of trade 2011 - outlook; - Breakdown of trade: direction - outlook; - Types of trade; - Opportunities for Malaysian companies from the infrastructure backlog in Brazil; - Opportunities as regards the World Cup 2014 and Olymics 2016; - Specific examples, including Scomi, Felda, Vale, Petrobras...

Hans de Cuyper, CEO of Etiqa Insurance & Takaful, the second largest insurance company and largest Takaful operator in Malaysia, says the group's premiums will reach RM2 billion by year end, double that of last year. On the Takaful business, he says the double digit growth is largely due to government support in the form of tax incentives etc, and explains that it is not mere labels that diffe...

Dodge Dorland, Chairman and Chief Investment Officer of Landor & Fuest Capital Managers, discusses whether market risks have inched up a couple of notches following what appears to be a stalemate over the debt ceiling in the US, his view on the best possible solution to this problem,  and whether there is a doomsday scenario about to play out by Aug 2. He also discusses expectations that...

Darrel Webber, Secretary-General of the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil (RSPO), discusses: - Primary aims; - Initial difficulties in creating RSPO standards; - How climate change affected these initial standards; - Difficulties of a consensual approach; - Membership and percentage of palm industry that is RSPO-certified; - Steps to obtaining RSPO certification; - The primary benefit of being RS...

Chua Say Sin, CEO of MSM Malaysia Holdings, explains the upside and plans of the company. It made an impressive debut on its listing day where the share price rose 40%, and it is now trading above target price. Key points: 1) MSM is the largest sugar refiner in Malaysia, accounting for 57% of output. The other licensed player is Tradewinds. Analysts are projecting slower growth due to higher sugar...

Jeremy Hobbs, Executive Director of Oxfam International, tells Noelle Lim how Oxfam is bringing change to the poorest countries. Food security is a real issue, and aid needs to be spent more judiciously to bring more meaningful change. More should be spent on health and education efforts rather than just on infrastructure spending. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Muktesh Mukherjee of China Oriental Group, one of the biggest steelmakers in China, tells his outlook for the company that provides H-section steel to construction projects in second and third tier cities in China in view of slowing economic growth and budget cuts. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Su Chin Hock, Managing Director of Perfect Food, the manufacturer of Julie's biscuits explains how he handled the melamine crisis in 2008 that resulted in the company losing RM10 million, and improvements to the manufacturing process, and expansion plans in China. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato CK Teo, director of Bandar Utama City Corporation, tells his plans to develop the remaining 200 acres of Bandar Utama township, and interest in acquiring and developing land in old town areas of Petaling Jaya.  "Director of Bandar Utama City Corporation Dato' CK Teo shares his views on the 1Utama MRT project and plans on developing the remaining 200 acres of the Bandar Utama township alo...

Hibiscus Petroleum Berhad MD Dr. Kenneth Pereira discusses: - Reasons behind taking nearly two years after the Securities Commission (SC) introduced the SPAC listing guidelines; - What a SPAC structure entails; - How to mitigate a weak IPO market and Hibiscus not having a profit track record, assets and very little visibility as to which projects are on the horizon; - The response so far; - Detail...