The Breakfast Grille

Tan Sri Datuk G and Ruben Gnanalingam, Executive Chairman and Executive Director of West Port, talk about how they took the business from a greenfield project in 1994 with 20 staff to the 11th-largest port in the world, with 3,500 staff. They discuss challenges, strategies, financials and industry drivers. Tan Sri G also discusses his involvement in Maika Holdings. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

Dr Gue See Sew, President of the Oxford Cambridge Society in Malaysia, tells us what makes Cambridge and Oxford worldclass universities, and what it takes to gain admission into these prestigious universities. This is our Education Special. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Professor Emeritus Tan Sri Anuwar Ali, President and Vice Chancellor of the Open University talks about how students with minimal education qualifications can upgrade themselves at the university. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Saifuddin Abdullah, Deputy Minister of Higher Education, explains government's rationale for scrapping JPA scholarships, issues regarding the PTPTN fund deficit, the declining standards of public universities and appointment of Vice Chancellors. He says entry to public is based on merit, and not race or creed, and that there should be no special preferential treatment to certain students. Se...

Jeffrey R Beard, Director-General of International Baccalaureate, offers an overview of the program, how it prepares people to be more competitive, issues faced in implementing the IB across the world, how it ensures standards are met,  as well as other challenges and its practical applications. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Frank Brown, Dean of Business and Management School INSEAD, talks about MBA rankings, entry criteria, costs, expansion of the school, relvance in a changing world (subsequent to the global financial crisis) and outlook for B-School grads. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Valentine Willie, founder of Valentine Willie Fine Art, gives insights into the state of Southeast Asian art market. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ramanathan Sathiamutty, MD of IBM Malaysia, talks about how Big Blue is coping with the smaller, more nimble players, its 'Smarter Malaysia' initiative, and the challenges of doing business in Malaysia vis-a-vis corruption and 'middlemen'. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Serina Hijjas, Director of Hijjas Kasturi Associates Sdn Bhd, talks about the green movement, the work she has done, about the business of architecture and working with her father, Hijjas Kasturi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chan Kwai Heng, Executive Director of Padini Holdings, tells us why the group managed to double its sales and triple its profits over the past four years, and the important ingradients for success in the retail business. He explains why Vincci created the Vincci + line (premium product), and has to move out of KLCC given that it's highly profitable and has helped create brand awareness among...

Senator The Hon Kim Carr, Australia's Minister for Innovation, Industry, Science and Research, talks about how Australia is spreading its wings, to diversify from the China growth engine for future growth. He also discusses how the Australian Labour government is dealing with opposition to its moves into higher value-add in the context of its proposals for R&D tax write-offs, and its resources...

Uche Okonkwo, Executive Director at Luxe Corp in Paris and a luxury brand consultant talks about building luxury fashion brands and Malaysia's potential in jewellery design. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Chin Jit Sin, Managing Director of New Hoong Fatt Holdings Bhd, talks about staying remarkably focused on the business of making and selling replacement vehicle parts, how growth is going to come from ASEAN, driven by AFTA, dividend policy and outlook for capital expenditure. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Boon Kang, Managing Director of Ken Holdings Bhd, discusses their move into green buildings and their environmental aspirations, project pipeline, plans to venture into boutique hotels, views on slope protection and rehabilitation works and financial outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Tan Sri Dato' Sri Lim Wee Chai, Chairman and founder of Top Glove Corporation, tells us how he started the business, what it takes for a Malaysian entrepreneur to become number one in his industry, and why the premium for Top Glove's shares is justified. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Datuk Pang Tee Chew, Managing Director of Mamee Double Decker Bhd, talks about how it went from a family owned business into a major exporter of snack food, venturing into new countries like Australia, Uganda, Armenia, Congo, Liberia and Guam -- and the secret of their success in these far-flung markets. He also talks about why they quit the China market, how it formulates ideas for new flavours a...

Azim Mithani, CEO of Prudential BSN Takaful Bhd, talks about the difference between Takaful and conventional insurance, regulation, role of takaful in motor insurance debate, how BSN secured a tieup with Prudential, outlook for premiums and investible assets. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Sri Tony Fernandes, CEO of AirAsia group, tells us why the Sydney route is important to AirAsia. He clarifies that the Indonesian and Thailand operations are profitable - the losses are due to hedging. On its focus on capacity management rather than yield management, he says that has to be the case because AirAsia is a low cost carrier. He addresses listener questions and how he does no...

Albert Chan, Managing Director of HPI Resources, talks about how the company started, some of its key challenges, and the challenges of the Chinese business community in Johor, where he is based. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Ham Hon Kit, Managing Director of Voir Group, talks about how the company went from simple beginning in 1970s as a family owned business into a listed multi-brand fashion wear company. He also discusses the fashion business, marketing and branding and the business and financial outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Dato' Teo Chiang Quan, Executive Deputy Chairman of Paramount Corp, owner of KDU College group and one of Malaysia's oldest property developers, discusses the country's challenges in the education and property sectors. In particular, he touches on and talks about the government decision to teach maths and science in Malay, and the level of consultation with private educators in the buildup to the...

Dennis Lim, senior executive vice president/senior managing director/CEO of Templeton Asset Management, Ltd. discusses Malaysia in some detail, in the context of capital controls, the NEM, weightage, corruption, and its investments here. He also discusses other emerging markets like Vietnam and Thailand, and offers his views on ongoing problems in Thailand, China, Greece and te Eurozone. See omnys...

KW Lau, Founder & Executive Director of Cellsafe Group International, talks about how this stem cell biotechnology company offers cryogenic preservation of a newborn baby’s umbilical cord blood stem cells, which is rich in haematopoetic stem cells that can be used in treating certain blood diseases and disorders through transplantation treatment in future. He also discusses a growing tre...

Thoo Chow Fah, the Executive Chairman of Notion VTec Berhad, talks about the origins of the business, its management style and focus. He also discusses the business outlook and focus, operations and finance, corporate maneouvers and expansion. In particular, he addresses issues like the cyclical nature of the business, the threats of an appreciating ringgit, the teething problems of its expansion...

Ganesh Kumar Bangah, Group Chief Executive Officer of MOL Global, defends his acquisition of Friendster, and discusses the price he paid, its users, value of patents, its revenue, and his gameplan for the company. He also discusses online payments, which forms the majority of his business, the fact that he might base Friendster in Joho's Iskandar region and whether he has plans to re-list MOL Glob...