The Breakfast Grille

How is the US-China geopolitical rivalry affecting other countries also involved in the semiconductor space, like the Netherlands and Malaysia? We discuss the Dutch approach to semiconductor advancement and lessons that can be learned by Malaysia in growing its domestic industry with Michiel Sweers, Vice Minister for Foreign Economic Relations of the Netherlands.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Putrajaya has been laying out strategies to deal with what is being called a “supply-side crisis” sparked by the American and Israeli attack on Iran on February the 28th. From the Iranian blockade of the Strait of Hormuz, to the impacts on crude oil supplies and agriculture, leading to shortages of petroleum derived products and disruptions to manufacturing supply chains, to geo-political realignments and its economic consequences, the crisis is about to hit with increasing severity in the coming months. Are we ready for what it will demand of all stake-holders in the country?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The European Union has not been spared geopolitical whiplash under the Trump administration as US-China competition, the war in Ukraine and the crisis in the Middle East upends the global order. How is the bloc navigating these challenging times and how is this shaping its relations with Malaysia? We catch up with H.E. Rafael Daerr, EU Ambassador to Malaysia on the eve of Europe Day.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is the world on the brink of a recession?10 weeks into the paralysis of the Strait of Hormuz, the global market is still missing between 10 to 15 million barrels of oil daily, and the longer this goes on, the darker the economic scenarios look.Dr. Gaurav Ganguly, Head of International Economist at Moody’s Analytics, joins the Breakfast Grille to unpack Asia’s ‘Two-Part Story’, where Asia’s weakness in energy is offset by a surge in electronics exports due to the AI boom.We explore why Malaysia’s RM5 billion monthly subsidy bill is testing the absolute limits of fiscal resilience, how the supply shock could trigger a "wage-price spiral" that threatens to break the global labor market, and what this prolonged shock means for the permanent re-ordering of the global order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MARA Liner Group has been connecting rural communities across the country for decades, but with rising costs and low margins, can that model hold? New CEO Wan Agyl Wan Hassan discusses the challenges of transforming a legacy bus operator through digitalisation, diversification, and operational reform while navigating thin margins.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Warisan Kuala Lumpur initiative, which was launched in April last year with a RM600 million funding injection from Khazanah Nasional, is beginning to reap rewards with the reopening of heritage buildings in the city centre. We catch up with Dato' Hamdan Abdul Majeed of Think City on KL urban regeneration efforts and the potential economic multiplier of the upcoming Kuala Lumpur Festival beginning May 6th.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Strait of Hormuz has been effectively closed for over two months following the outbreak of war in Iran. What are the implications of this prolonged closure for international trade, shipping, and the lobal legal maritime regime? We explore these themes with Prof Dr Jason Chuah, Chairman of the Board of Research with the Maritime Institute of Malaysia (MIMA).See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

It has been two months since the start of the Iran War and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz, a vital artery carrying 20% of the world’s oil and 40% of Malaysia’s crude imports. Despite early optimistic projections of a four-week resolution, the deadlock has entered its ninth week, with global supply losses reaching 1 billion barrels.So, is this still just a "temporary shock"?Brian Coulton, Chief Economist at Fitch Ratings, joins The Breakfast Grille to audit the growing stagflation threat, a toxic mix of rising prices and falling output. We explore why Asia is uniquely exposed as a net oil importer, why equity markets are dangerously disconnected from energy realities, and why the "fragile" global job market is the real trigger for a 2026 recession.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Islamic banking now makes up nearly half of Malaysia’s financial system but as it matures, questions around differentiation, sustainability, and global competitiveness are coming into sharper focus. Rafe Haneef, president of the Association of Islamic Banking and Financial Institutions Malaysia (AIBIM) talks about challenges going forward maintaining Malaysia's lead in this space.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Southeast Asia’s real estate markets have long been seen as a growth story. But in a world of higher interest rates, shifting supply chains, and rising geopolitical tensions, that narrative is being tested. Michael Glancy, Managing Director for Southeast Asia at the international real estate advisory JLL, shares his insights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Systech Bhd has undergone a major shift following its acquisition of Wilstech Sdn Bhd, driving strong revenue growth and a new push into AI and GPU-as-a-Service, and with a new man at the helm. That person is Dr Wilson Low, the founder of Wilstech and now the MD for Systech. He discusses his ambitions and plans to turn Systech into a profitable business again.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Japan already sells more adult diapers than baby diapers, a stark harbinger for a rapidly aging Malaysia. By 2040, the national support ratio is projected to collapse to just five working adults for every senior, signaling a fiscal crisis unless longevity is reframed as a frontier marketplace.Michael Hodin, CEO of the Global Coalition on Aging (GCOA), joins the Breakfast Grille to discuss the $22 trillion Silver Economy. We explore why he believes the next 30 years of global growth will be driven not by the youth, but by a demographic that holds the lion’s share of disposable income. Is it time for a corporate "Aging Strategy" that goes far beyond bathroom grab bars.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Book Day was established by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) dedicated to promoting reading, literacy, and the joy of books worldwide. This year it is being celebrated under the shadow of several high profile and inexplicable book bans and seizures. While Malaysia boasts a literacy rate of over 94% and the government estimates that the average number of books read rose from two a year in 2005 to 24 in 2023, many issues remain to make reading books a popular way of experiencing the world.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The New START Treaty between the U.S. and Russia expired in February 2026, marking the end of the last, major nuclear arms control agreement. Alarm bells went off with the United Nations Secretary-General, António Guterres noting that “for the first time in more than half a century, we face a world without any binding limits on the strategic nuclear arsenals.” So how do we re-institutionalise restraints in an age of re-emergent Great Power rivalry?Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when Malaysian unicorn Carsome stops chasing "growth at all costs" and starts chasing the bottom line? After raising over $800 million and hitting a peak revenue of RM5.6 billion (pertaining to Carsome Sdn Bhd), the regional automotive e-commerce platform made a surprising move: it got smaller to get fitter. Group CEO Eric Cheng joins the Breakfast Grille to explain the revenue contraction, how financing now contributes up to 30% of their profit margin, and why their recent $30 million raise isn't a lifeline, but a tech-heavy bridge to Greater China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

What happens when Malaysian unicorn Carsome stops chasing "growth at all costs" and starts chasing the bottom line? After raising over $800 million and hitting a peak revenue of RM5.6 billion (pertaining to Carsome Sdn Bhd), the regional automotive e-commerce platform made a surprising move: it got smaller to get fitter. Group CEO Eric Cheng joins the Breakfast Grille to explain the revenue contraction, how financing now contributes up to 30% of their profit margin, and why their recent $30 million raise isn't a lifeline, but a tech-heavy bridge to Greater China.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The European Union and ASEAN will mark 50 years of diplomatic ties next year - but the pathway to the anniversary is fraught with geopolitical and economic uncertainties. How might the current Middle East energy crisis shape the trajectory of EU-ASEAN economic relations in the months to come? We discuss this with Chris Humphrey, Executive Director of the EU-ASEAN Business Council.Image Credits: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Few companies endure for more than a century. So, as Royal Selangor, one of Malaysia’s oldest and most recognisable brands, turns 141, we ask if a heritage, craft-driven business model can still scale in today’s economy. Dato' Yong Yoon Li, Royal Selangor's MD shares his thoughts on leading this family business now into its fourth generation and into the future.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With Whitman’s move on the LEAP market, a fundamental question emerges: Can you scale a 'trust-based' business without losing its soul to shareholder pressure?After 25 years of organic growth, Whitman Holdings’ public listing signals a shift from dividend payouts to expansion mode, potentially driven by an M&A appetite to consolidate Malaysia’s fragmented retirement advisory market.Founder and Managing Director Yap Ming Hui also discusses the firm’s quest for vertical integration via a traditional portfolio management license, rejecting pure robo-advisory in favor of human-led expertise, and his aspirations for an "Expert AI" agent designed to clone his 25 years of proprietary wisdom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

While the international system undergoes dramatic changes, Malaysian politics seems to be trapped in the same old political scripts and petty political rivalries. Even as many Malaysians yearn for a way out of stagnant politics, the question is will the next generation be part of the solution. We speak to two Kelantanese politicians about rebellion, Kelantan’s governance challenges and mobilising the young.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Following the US-Iran War, Malaysia’s retail landscape is entering a state of "nervous calm" as fuel prices surge and costs ripple through supply chains. Datuk Wira Ameer Ali Mydin of Mydin Mohamed Holdings joins the Breakfast Grille to warn that increases in basic food and retail items is imminent as logistics, LPG, and other costs surge. Ameer also breaks down the Madani Mart model, drawing on his own RM185 million loss with Kedai Rakyat 1Malaysia (KR1M), and his key concerns about the model, as well as why he views work-from-home policies as "burning money" for the economy and why Malaysia may be "too nice" to foreign retail competition.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Golden Destinations Group is heading for a public listing after a sharp recovery in global travel demand. But as growth begins to normalise, can the company sustain its momentum? Mita Lim, its managing director, discusses its B2B model, expansion plans, and what investors should expect.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Boustead Holdings, the investment arm of the Malaysian Armed Forces Fund (LTAT) is undergoing a major restructuring exercise to rebuild its financial position and realign its strategic assets in support of the domestic defence sector. We speak to the newly appointed managing director, Datuk Dr. Ahmad Sabirin Arshad about his plans to repair Boustead's image, which has been tarnished by scandals like the littoral combat ship (LCS) procurement, and the pathway to create a long-discussed defence ecosystem in Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

As AI automates the transactional tasks that once defined the profession, accounting faces a critical identity crisis. The hope is that this liberates practitioners to move from "bean counters" to strategic business advisors, but that is easier said than done. CPA Australia President Dale Pinto joins the Breakfast Grille to discuss the 17th Small Business Survey, why trust remains the industry’s primary currency, and how human ethics remain the ultimate safeguard against future corporate scandals. He also warns of a mounting skills gap as graduates use AI to bypass the foundational work that historically forged professional skepticism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

AMS Advanced Materials is seeking an ACE Market listing to raise approximately RM33 million, aimed at facilitating its transition further up the industrial value chain. The IPO arrives with a valuation of 20 times earnings and follows a financial year characterized by negative operating cash flow. For potential investors, the focus remains on whether the capital will effectively drive the company's shift from its traditional trading roots toward higher-value industrial processing.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MTT Shipping and Logistics is the dominant player in the Malaysian shipping sector commanding 46% of the domestic market. Its upcoming IPO, priced at RM1.03 and potentially raising RM652 million, is the biggest in the logistics sector since 2013. But could uncertainty in the global industry deter investor sentiment? We discuss MTT’s growth strategy in the face of headwinds with Managing Director Ooi Lean Hin.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Mechanical & electrical engineers Kee Ming Group’s share price surged on debut, riding optimism around data centres and renewable energy. But the question is - can this company deliver the growth needed to justify its valuation? Its Managing Director Nick Liew talks to us about Kee Ming's parnership with Solarvest, human resources and when it plans to pay a dividend.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Is your digital bank built to last, or is it just a very expensive app? Despite massive hype, only 24 of the 55 digital banks tracked across Asia have reached profitability. The rest remain trapped by vanity metrics, offering unsustainably high deposit rates instead of building real margins. As a massive wave of industry consolidation looms, Simon Loong, Founder and Group CEO of WeLab, joins The Breakfast Grille to reveal his Southeast Asian acquisition targets, why merging struggling banks is a trap, and what survival in the new financial landscape actually costs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Since 2017, Sarawakian corporate figure Dato' Sri Idris Jala has taken the PEMANDU transformation ethos beyond the corridors of Putrajaya through his consultancy, PEMANDU Associates. He outlines his latest pivot into capital investment through PEMANDU Capital and the growth targets for SME acquisitions.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Apple Inc. is 50 years old, a milestone once thought impossible when the company sat 6 weeks from bankruptcy in 1996. Today, as a $3.6 trillion "Empire," the Tim Cook era faces scrutiny for prioritising operational scale over the blockbuster hits of the Steve Jobs era.David Pogue, CBS correspondent and author of Apple: The First 50 Years, joins the Breakfast Grille to dissect Apple’s near-death experience and debunk persistent myths surrounding Steve Jobs. He explores the stark transition from a "rebel" cult to a “Empire” status, the critical innovations that could define the Tim Cook era, and why he believes Apple, at its core, remains a "Steve Jobs company".Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Uzbekistan, a doubly-landlocked country in Central Asia, is stepping onto the global stage, balancing ties with major powers while pursuing economic reform and regional influence.  Ambassador Karomidin Gadoev discusses Tashkent’s multi-vector foreign policy, its engagement with the US, China and Russia, and how Malaysia fits into this evolving partnership.Image Credit: Shutterstock. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ISF Group is a family-run piping systems specialist that listed on the ACE Market in January, raising RM61 million ringgit. They have been beneficiaries of the data centre boom in recent years, but can this trend sustain future growth? We discuss ISF Group’s business strategy and prospects with second-generation Managing Director Jeff Ai Boon Chen.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Xiao En operates in a sector many overlook, yet one that is essential. It is also a business that demands land, capital, long-term vision and deep empathy. Dato’ Frank Choo, Managing Director of Xiao En Group, discusses the realities of building a bereavement care group, and why it is far from a “dying” industry.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Analysts Ryan Bohl and Jared Mondschein join Philip See to discuss the Middle East's volatility, questioning U.S. strategic regional influence versus reactive crisis management and its economic impact on Asian markets.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Kazakhstan is a land-locked central Asian country situated along the ancient Silk Road and it aims for bilateral trade with Malaysia to grow from US$220 million currently to US$1 billion in the next few years. Ambassador Bulat Sugurbayev shares thoughts on how to make this happen, as well as his country's role in geopolitics and how Borat helped put Kazakhstan on the map.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

With over 500 companies currently under investigation for bid-rigging in government tenders worth RM2 billion, MyCC is sharpening its enforcement teeth. Datuk Iskandar Ismail, CEO of MyCC, discusses the critical upcoming amendments to the Competition Act, why the commission is targeting digital platforms, and the hard lessons learned from high-profile courtroom battles with Grab and Malaysia Airlines.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How does a mid-sized European nation navigate an increasingly turbulent world? Juraj Koudelka, the Czech Republic’s Ambassador to Malaysia, shares his thoughts on the state of Malaysia-Czech relations, opportunities for trade and investment, and how a Central European country, and member of NATO, approaches today’s shifting geopolitical landscape.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

MUDA completed its inaugural election last Saturday, ushering in a new leadership team. On today’s Breakfast Grille, Sharaad Kuttan sits down with new president Amira Aisya Abd Aziz and founder Syed Saddiq, MP for Muar, to discuss the party’s future plans, leadership approach, and strategies ahead of GE-16.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Solarvest Holdings is the largest pure-play solar energy player listed on Bursa Malaysia and can be seen as a bellwether of the national industry. While it's a darling of analysts, its share price has taken a hit trending 32% lower on a year to date basis. What is Solarvest doing to change investor sentiment? We discuss the prospects and growth strategy of the company with CEO Davis Chong.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Building construction firm Tuju Setia debuted on the Main Market in 2021 to much fanfare, but investor optimism for the stock has plummeted since as construction costs skyrocketed post-pandemic. What is Tuju Setia doing to reverse its fortunes? We catch up with Managing Director Wee Eng Kong and discuss his strategy for revitalising the firm.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Varia Berhad is a Bursa-listed mid-tier construction firm that has been involved in infrastructure projects ranging from flood mitigation to highway upgrades and sewerage treatment plants. It managing director, Datuk Benson Lau, is now setting his sights on transforming the firm into a property developer while aiming for a RM1 billion market capitalisation by early next year.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Madani Government came into power on the promise of institutional reform and anti-corruption, with Prime Minister Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim pledging no compromise in tackling misconduct in state-linked entities. Why then has progress on reforms been slow to emerge? We dig deep into the roots of Malaysia's Political-GLC Complex with Prof. Emeritus Edmund Terence Gomez of Universiti Malaya. He is the author of "Misgovernance: Grand Corruption in Malaysia."See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On The Breakfast Grille this morning, we examine Venezuela’s political crisis following the abduction of President Nicolas Maduro and what it means for diplomacy, sovereignty, and bilateral ties with Malaysia. Philip See speaks with H.E Radames Gomez Azuaje, Ambassador of the Embassy of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Three years ago, Fabrice Benard stood at the helm of a complex corporate marriage: the acquisition and merger of AXA Affin and MPI Generali into what is now Generali Insurance Malaysia. At the time, the priority was clear, integration.Today, the company has secured its position as the country's fourth-largest general insurer. However, being a general insurance heavyweight isn't enough. Generali is now actively hunting for a major life insurance acquisition to match its general insurance footprint and crack the top five in the life space.Meanwhile, the broader industry faces severe on-the-ground crises. With medical inflation hitting 15% and causing roughly 340,000 Malaysians to cancel their policies, the sector is banking on a massive, multi-stakeholder RESET project to fix private healthcare costs.Simultaneously, rising flood risks are forcing insurers to deploy hyper-local data models, fundamentally changing how motor coverage is priced.To unpack the shifting economics of modern risk, his M&A strategy, and the future of consumer premiums, Fabrice Benard, CEO of Generali Insurance Malaysia, returns to The Breakfast Grille.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Malaysia has ambitious climate goals, including a target to achieve net zero greenhouse gas emissions by 2050. But is the country’s institutional framework up to the task? We unpack the findings of the Malaysia Climate Change Institutional Assessment report with Carmen Loo of the World Bank Group.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

On International Women's Day, Minister of Women, Family & Community Development, Datuk Seri Nancy Shukri assesses Malaysia’s progress on gender equality and women’s rights. She also discusses the implementation of the Anti-Sexual Harassment Tribunal, the challenges survivors face in reporting abuse, and persistent legal and cultural gaps around marital rape and underage marriages.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The latest war in the Middle East erupted when the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran following failed negotiations on Iran’s nuclear programme. Was this conflict avoidable and how is Iran responding to the onslaught? We hear from H.E Valiollah Mohammadi Nasrabadi, Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Malaysia.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The Middle East tinderbox was struck ablaze on Saturday when the US and Israel launched air strikes on Iran. How might this conflict shape the power dynamics in Tehran as well as the broader region? We discuss the stakes at play with Middle East expert Dr. James Dorsey.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

One year into his presidency, Indonesia's Prabowo Subianto faces a complex balancing act, from domestic issues to balancing relationships with China and the US. Julia Lau of the ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute and Muhammad Haziq Jani of the S Rajaratnam School of International Studies share insights on the political and economic trajectory of Indonesia under Prabowo.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Free market proponents have commonly viewed state capitalism with suspicion. However, global trends indicate increasing state intervention in the world economy by both developed and developing economies alike. What are the implications of this for market players and is this development necessarily a net negative for the global economy? We discuss these themes with Adam Dixon, the Adam Smith Chair at Panmure House, a think tank under the Heriott-Watt University.He's also co-author of the book, The Spectre of State Capitalism.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.