The Breakfast Grille

The Covid-19 pandemic has spawned more than just health and economic emergencies, it has also created a crisis of misinformation that the World Health Organization has dubbed an infodemic. The spread of misinformation is especially dangerous when it affects the implementation of public health measures, such as vaccination drives. Why do people fall for misleading scientific claims or conspiracy th...

Myanmar has been under a military dictatorship for more than 6 months, a period marked by civil disobedience movements and demonstrations which drew deadly and violent responses from security forces. This follows the February 1st overthrow of the elected National League for Democracy administration, led by Aung San Suu Kyi. Today, lawmakers from the NLD have regrouped to form the National Unity Go...

IBM bought Red Hat for approximately $34 billion, making it the largest software acquisition in history. Roshan Kanesan speaks to Red Hat’s Asia Pacific Vice-President and General Manager Marjet Andriesse for the enterprise open-source software makers' role in the Cloud and software ecosystem, their APAC strategy, and presence in the region, and how well they work with IBM. Image credit: Red...

Datuk Dr. Kuljit Singh, President, APHM & Nadiah Wan, Group CEO, TMC Life Sciences Bhd joins us for a panel discussion on the state and future of Malaysia's private healthcare industry. We discuss with them their collaboration with the public sector in managing the pandemic and how the private sector is adapting pre and post-pandemic. Image credit: TMC Life Sciences Bhd, princecourt.com, shutt...

The Land of Smiles is feeling a little sullen. As the pandemic continues to ravage the tourism industry globally, Thailand is certainly a country not spared. The tourism industry is the lifeline to Thailand's economy. Philip See speaks to the Thailand Tourism Authority on how the tourism industry has been badly impacted and its recovery strategy following the launch of its Phuket Sandbox program....

We speak to Joel Neoh, CEO and founder of Fave, on how one of the pioneers of the Malaysian mobile wallet space navigates these difficult waters with its recent Indian expansion plans and its new BNPL product Fave Now Pay Later? See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On the Breakfast Grille today, we ask Dr. Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate, Nottingham University Malaysia and Jahabar Sadiq, Editor-in-Chief, The Malaysian Insight to share their thoughts. What does this mean for the country moving forward? Who will take over and how will this change the Malaysian political landscape in the years to come? Is this Anwar's race to lose? And are there only...

On the Breakfast Grille today, we ask Dr. Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate, Nottingham University Malaysia and Jahabar Saddiq, Editor-in-Chief, The Malaysian Insight to share their thoughts. What does this mean for the country moving forward? Who will take over and how will this change the Malaysian political landscape in the years to come? Is this Anwar's race to lose? And are there onl...

Lester Chin, executive director of Hong Seng Consolidated Bhd discusses the dramatic revival of the company's fortunes as a result of selling Covid-19 test kits, and how it plans to become a supply chain platform by providing other solutions to help us live with Covid as an endemic, as well as his plans for the rubber glove-making business. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Lim Chung Chun, the Chairman and CEO of Singapore-listed wealth management Fintech iFAST Corp has witnessed a 2x jump in its share price in 2021 as locked-down investors put money into ETFs, unit trusts and direct stocks. And now it wants China and the rest of ASEAN to help meet its target of hitting Assets Under Administration of S$100 billion ($75 billion) by 2028. Image credit: Shutterstock.com...

Lim Chung Chun, the Chairman and CEO of Singapore-listed wealth management Fintech iFAST Corp has witnessed a 2x jump in its share price in 2021 as locked-down investors put money into ETFs, unit trusts and direct stocks. And now it wants China and the rest of ASEAN to help meet its target of hitting Assets Under Administration of S$100 billion ($75 billion) by 2028. Image credit: Shutterstock.com...

Why bother voting? This is a troubling question that some young people are asking following the events of Langkah Sheraton. That’s the question Roshan Kanesan tackles today in conjunction with International Youth Day with YB Lim Yi Wei, Kampung Tunku Assemblywoman, and activist Qyira Yusri, co-founder of UNDI18. They explore the role of youths in politics -- from getting them to vote, encour...

GIIB Holdings has been a market leader in tyre retreading and rubber compound manufacturing. Due to losses in the past 5 years, it is now looking to shift to rubber glove making. Is it late to the party? And will it exit its rubber compound business? Chairman and CEO, Tai Boon Wee discusses his outlook. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With the rapid growth and strong global demand for semiconductor chips, we speak to the Managing director of QES Group, Chew Ne Weng on his ambitions and challenges to expand his manufacturing as he outlines his plans for China and when he will begin rewarding his shareholders. Image credit: QES Group See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Grab's ability to combine mobility, delivery, and now financial services with a touch of a button make it one of the most widely used apps in the region. But is its business model flawed, taking advantage of all stakeholders? We speak to Sean Goh, country head of Malaysia to find out and what are their strategies for growth. Image credit: Jirapong Manustrong / Shutterstock.com & Grab Malaysia...

Stephen Ng, Executive Chairman of Sabah-based aquaculture company MAG Holdings, is switching from its China-based edible oils business into prawn farming to serve high-growth export markets in the Asia-Pacific region, though the journey entails tough financial hurdles that need addressing. Image credit: Shutterstock.com & MAG Holdings See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Why is it that despite longstanding calls for women to be better represented both in political and business leadership, women's representation continues to lag? This is especially concerning, seeing as women make up nearly half of the population of the country. We speak to Rohit Nambiar, CEO of Tune Protect Group, a Corporate Member of the 30% Club Malaysia, and Norliza Azmi, Communications Lead,...

The pandemic has been a calamity for the F&B and hospitality sector, but thanks to a couple of cash infusions and a much-needed pivot, there appears to be a silver lining on the horizon. Mac Chung Lynn, the Founder and Group CEO of Nando's in Malaysia and Singapore explains. Image credit: Min Jing / Shutterstock See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Formerly known as Sinotop Holdings, Pertama Digital is setting its sights to expand its govtech business through its unit, Dapat Vista, a pioneer in government SMS communication. Sabri Abdul Rahman, CEO of Pertama Digital discusses the gaps in gov tech, and what the company brings to the table for the B40 community if it gets a digital banking license. Image credit: Shutterstock.com & Pertama...

Every year, thousands fall into the hands of human traffickers, and are placed in positions of forced labour, exploitation, or worse. In order to bring the spotlight onto this issue, the UN has designated the 30th of July every year as World Day Against Trafficking In Persons- so in conjunction with that, we speak with Jerald Joseph, Commissioner of SUHAKAM and Liva Sreedharan, Labour Rights Consu...

Back in 2019, the federal government said it was aiming to achieve 40% of public transportation usage within the next 10 years, from the 20% it was at the time. Can Malaysia realistically hit that target and are we doing enough to develop public transport in the country? Roshan Kanesan breaks this down with Dato Ridza Abdoh Salleh, Prasarana's first CEO and was involved with the LRT project during...

With travel being the first to close and last to reopen and with the advent of technologies such as Zoom, when will we see business travel recover? We speak to Bertrand Saillet, Managing Director of FCM Asia, on how travel management companies have been coping and their future prospects. Image credit: Shutterstock.com See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

pitchIN raised RM59.5 million in 2020, almost 3 times more than in 2019. This was almost half of the capital raised on equity crowdfunding platforms in 2020 and makes them Malaysia’s leading crowdfunding platform by far. On the back of this astounding growth, Roshan Kanesan speaks to CEO and Co-founder Sam Shaffie about the pitchIN's plans to open a secondary market, get an Initial Exchange...

Since its birth in 2017 and operationalizing its peer-to-peer platform in 2020, CapBay has lent out more than RM1.2 billion to underserved small and medium-sized businesses. Founded by former investment bankers and management consultants, how is CapBay taking market share from traditional banks, how regulatory changes would remove limits to its growth, and how it will grow market share as more non...

After months of uncertainty, the 2021 Tokyo Olympics is finally here despite a surge in COVID-19 cases in Tokyo, and a state of emergency that runs until 22nd August. Malaysia is sending a contingent of 30 athletes to the Games, who will be looking for Olympic medals in the cycling, diving, and badminton events. Just before joining the Malaysian contingent in Tokyo, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zaka...