The Breakfast Grille

Climate Bonds Initiative is an international non-profit organization working to mobilize global capital for climate action. Philip See speaks to Sean Kidney about the development and certification of green bonds, as well as what is required to accelerate its growth as we near COP27. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Nearly three years since Covid-19 ravaged the world's economy and nothing has been the same since. Throw in a war in Europe, and China that still wants to completely eradicate the virus, and you have a recipe for continued uncertainty. Brian Coulton, Chief Economist at Fitch Ratings, helps us unpack the latest Global Economic Outlook that forecasts a global recession amidst rising inflation while...

In a country teeming with long-serving politicians, the emergence of MUDA has galvanised political enthusiasm among Malaysian youth, especially in the wake of Undi18. But can they translate political enthusiasm into actual seats in Parliament in the next GE15? We speak to Syed Saddiq, Member of Parliament for Muar and President of MUDA on the party's plans for GE15. See omnystudio.com/listener for...

German Unity Day, which falls on the 3rd of October, is celebrated in Germany to commemorate its reunification in 1990, when West and East Germany were unified. More than three decades later, the country has grown to become a superpower in Europe and a symbol of progress in the world. But with a war raging on nearby in Ukraine and right wing governments rising in the region, how will this impact G...

Oil and gas service and equipment company, Uzma Group has faced volatile oil prices in the last two years leading to a sharp deceleration of earnings. We ask founder and CEO, Dato' Kamarul Redzuan Muhamed about the impact of unstable market conditions, what efforts are being taken to detach from black gold, and of course, if we should buy the stock of this listed company. See omnystudio.com/listen...

Malaysian-based company, Graphjet Technology will be converting palm kernel shells into graphite and graphene. The company aims to raise 115 million US dollars via a de-SPAC deal for a NASDAQ listing in October this year. Set to be the third Malaysian unicorn, CEO Lee Ping Wei shares with us business expansion plans, why the route of a SPAC listing, and how the rise of EVs will impact them. See om...

President Joko Widodo has made it his mission to transform Indonesia's economy and shepherd the migration of the capital city to East Kalimantan. We discuss the progress of these plans with His Excellency Hermono, Ambassador of Indonesia to Malaysia, as well as the pain points in Malaysia-Indonesia bilateral relations. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As the momentum for GE15 heats up, is UMNO ready for elections? UMNO's youth chief, Dato’ Asyraf Wajdi Dusuki tells us the party's strategy to appeal to the voters, party unity and his thoughts on the current political landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Islamic Banking landscape is competitive in Malaysia with 16 players, so is growth for Malaysia's largest Islamic Bank overseas an acquisition?  Dato' Rafique Merican, CEO of Maybank Islamic answers that question whilst also telling us if their plans for a separate listing are on track. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Vale is the world's largest producer of iron ore and nickel with operations in more than 30 countries, Malaysia included. Its Malaysian CEO, Rodrigo Ribeiro de Arajo takes the hot seat to talk to us about its operations, plans for expansion and how one of the largest mining companies in the world can operate in an increasingly ESG aware landscape. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy informatio...

While there is widespread acceptance that environment, social and governance or ESG principles are crucial for business continuity, what this looks like in practice is an ongoing debate. What are the trends driving ESG action in the economy today and how should businesses position themselves for resilience? Dr. Andrea Bonime-Blanc, author of "Gloom to Boom: How Leaders Transform Risk to Resil...

They say prevention is better than cure and information is what helps us win battles. So knowing your genetic history can provide you a snapshot of who you are and how to be on the lookout for any hereditary concerns. The ACE Market-listed Malaysian Genomics Resource Centre has been providing these services and is now diversifying into cancer immunotherapy. CEO Sasha Nordin talks to us about how M...

Hexagon AB is a publicly listed global InfoTech company specializing in hardware and software digital reality that was founded in 1992 and headquartered in Stockholm, Sweden. With an annual revenue of 4.3 billion euros, it is a global leader in digital reality solutions, combining sensor, software and autonomous technologies. We speak to the Asian head of its leading metrology and manufacturing so...

With international borders reopening and Covid-19 quarantine requirements mostly lifted, the travel and hospitality industry is seeing a return to normalcy after more than two years of near-zero revenue. Hilton International is now positioning itself to tap the increasing demand for hotel rooms across the Asia Pacific. Its Vice President & Regional Head for Southeast Asia, Alexandra Murray, ta...

Industrial REITs have outperformed in the last few years on the back of the e-commerce and logistic boom. However in the era of rising interest rates, what does this mean for REITs? Chan Wai Leo, CEO of AME REIT tells us whilst telling us about their asset injection pipeline and their plans for asset enhancement. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The inclusion of Sabah, Sarawak and Peninsular Malaysia under one national banner has created a rich tapestry of cultural heritage, including generational knowledge in producing crafts and handiworks. Can more be done to promote the economic potential of craftwork and cottage industries to elevate the livelihoods of indigenous and rural communities in the country? For reflections on this issue fro...

Tyson Foods is a 90 year old US company that's one of the world's largest frozen food producers, listed on the NYSE. It's been in Malaysia since 1987 but only in the last 4 years it seems to be making its presence known here with acquisitions to expand its operations. Keith takes them out of the freezer, and put them on the grille to find out why it has taken them 3 decades to make their mark here...

Singapore is an island that is just 57km wide and 27km long with a population of just over 5.9 million people. However this has not held it back from having ambitions to attract up to 6 million tourists this year and become the destination of choice in ASEAN. Keith Tan, CEO of Singapore Tourism Board tells us what their plans for growth are and how they are overcoming the headwinds of manpower sho...

Samling Group is a Malaysian conglomerate with diverse business interests from automobiles, to palm oil and most prominently, timber. It was once listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange in 2007 and then taken private in 2012. As one of the largest end-to-end timber companies in Malaysia, Samling is often embroiled in allegations of illegal logging and deforestation. We ask CEO, Lawrence C...

How will the upcoming 15th General Election be fought? Will the same old faces be fielded again? Issues of racial and religious divisions in Malaysia are slowly morphing into one that is split along class lines - between the haves and the have-nots. And this time, the younger generation will be included in the decision making process, adding another dimension to the battlefield. Nik Nazmi Nik Ahma...

Why do some countries remain poor, despite continuous policy efforts over decades to chart an economic path out of poverty? Development expert Stefan Dercon argues that it comes down to an implicit or explicit bargain among the elites to prioritize national progress. We speak to him about this theory put forth in his book, "Gambling on Development: Why Some Countries Win and Others Lose." See omny...

The push towards digitalisation, declining mail volumes and the rise of more nimble delivery competitors have affected the core business of postal service organisations. The more resilient postal services adapt to the changing times before becoming obsolete - can POS Malaysia join the ranks of the survivors? We catch up with CEO Charles Brewer to discuss his report card after one year of taking th...

Roche is a global leader in cancer treatments and one of the world's largest biotech companies with more than a century of history. Having established a presence in Malaysia since the 70s, the company has been expanding its footprint here in pharmaceuticals, diagnostics and other related products. Its Malaysian general manager Deepti Saraf comes on the Breakfast Grille to share some thoughts on Ro...

Malaysia is the biggest producer of rubber gloves in the world but will China overtake us soon? Dr Supramaniam Shanmugam, President of MARGMA tells us if that is possible and what needs to be done to avoid us losing that crown whilst telling us if the boom and bust cycle for gloves means that the industry is ripe for consolidation. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Qmed Asia is a homegrown healthcare tech start-up founded in 2018 by doctors who simply hated the long unproductive queues at hospitals. So, they developed an online appointment booking system for healthcare providers and they now have their sights set on going beyond Malaysia's shores. Its co-founder and CEO Dr Kev Lim talks about the journey, the challenges and the dream of Qmed Asia becoming a...