The Breakfast Grille

Can Samaiden Continue to Shine in RE Space? 16.07.2026 22min

Samaiden, an integrated renewable energy solutions provider and asset owner is one of the big beneficiaries of the RE transition momentum, with revenue and profit growing steadily over the past 2 years. However as external factors create cost pressures and with increasing competition in the EPCC space, can Samaiden maintain its shine? We discuss the fortunes and prospects of the company with Group Managing Director Dato’ Chow Pui Hee.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can UK's Next Premier Deliver Bold Change? 15.07.2026 23min

This month, No.10 Downing Street is set to welcome a new resident: Andy Burnham is expected to replace Keir Starmer as the 5th UK Prime Minister since 2020. How will this influence the UK policy agenda? We discuss this with Mark MacGregor of Penta Group.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Manulife Malaysia : Can Medical Insurance Stay Affordable? 14.07.2026 22min

Medical insurance has become one of Malaysia's biggest public policy challenges amid rising healthcare costs and insurance premiums. Vibha Coburn, Group CEO of Manulife Malaysia, discusses the company's growth strategy, the future of medical insurance, and how rebuilding consumer trust will require action from insurers, healthcare providers and regulators alike.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

France & Malaysia: Building Partnerships in a Fragmented World 13.07.2026 23min

France and Malaysia have had formal diplomatic relations ever since Merdeka, with the relationship growing significantly over the decades, leading to expanded cooperation in trade, higher education, and defence. HE Marc Abensour, Ambassador of France to Malaysia join us on this Bastille Day to discuss the evolution of Malaysia-France relations and its future.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Blue Wave: How Far North Will It Head? 12.07.2026 30min

The big winner was Barisan Nasional going from 40 to 48 seats in the 56 seat House with UMNO’s partners contributing a large part to the extra eight seats to that boost. The MCA doubled its representation from 4 to 8, and the MIC increased from 3 to 4, giving them 25% of Barisan’s ADUNs. Biggest losers were Perikatan Nasional fielding candidates in 33 seats, but they won none, losing the three ADUNS they had. And finally Pakatan, which was in a confidence and supply agreement with the previous Barisan government, had its representation shrink from 12 to 8 ADUNs in the Assembly. We look at the depth of the Blue Wave, the Bersama spoiler effect, PAS’ ‘Malay-Muslim’ government strategy and the wake-up call for Pakatan.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Voter Turnout, Coalition Fractures, Bogeymen 09.07.2026 32min

Johor goes to the polls on Saturday and Negeri Sembilan in a couple of weeks, and Melaka soon after: the country enters a period of domestic political volatility after three and a half years of relative stability. What harm will the current jostling for dominance between coalition partners do to the MADANI government? What does the future hold for the DAP as it holds its national congress after two state elections? And what new political realities and leaders will Malaysians wake up to in the coming months. All this against the backdrop of big power rivalries that are rocking the international stage and upending the rules-based order.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

ACCA on AI Disruption, Ethics, & Gen-Z Anxiety 08.07.2026 22min

More than half of finance professionals are quietly sweating over what AI means for their careers, and Gen Z graduates are the most anxious of all. But is automation destroying the profession, or simply clearing out grunt work to give humans a more strategic role?Pulkit Abrol, Director of Asia Pacific at ACCA, joins The Breakfast Grille to look past the AI hype and talk about real human trust. We dive into "agency decay", the danger of younger professionals blindly trusting machine reports over their own judgment, and explore how corporate ethics must evolve as technology shifts.We also unpack why massive corporate collapses are almost always failures of human courage rather than technical math, and break down the eye-opening data from ACCA's latest Global Trends report, including that 66% of Malaysian finance talent are unhappy with their pay, and 61% face severe workplace mental health strain.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Timber Drive Malaysia's Next Growth Story? 07.07.2026 22min

Malaysia's timber industry is at a crossroads. While it remains one of the country's largest commodity exporters, the sector is contending with weaker global demand, US tariffs, labour shortages, and mounting pressure to automate and meet stricter sustainability standards. As the government pushes the industry towards higher-value products and stronger global competitiveness, can Malaysia transform its timber sector into a modern, innovation-driven export powerhouse?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Institutional Reform: What’s Left to Accomplish? 06.07.2026 23min

As the Madani Government enters the home stretch of its tenure, the question is not only what's left of its legislative agenda but also what it has accomplished thus far, and how much time does it have for the remainder of its term. With the noise from the upcoming Johor and Negeri Sembilan elections increasingly obscuring the cooperation at the Federal-level can the government convince the public that it has accomplished the most important legislative tasks the country needs.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Reform Agenda: Not By Slogans Alone 05.07.2026 22min

Parti Keadilan Rakyat has been in the hot seat about their commitment to reform including its pace. But as a former PKR activist writes, “PKR did not become one of Malaysia’s mainstream political parties because it had the most sophisticated reform manifesto, but because it assembled a broad coalition spanning the urban middle class, wage earners, civil society, minorities, and voters seeking an alternative model of governance.” Arguing it's not only sloganeering over values, but coalition-building leading to taking Putrajaya that’s the real test for commitment to reform.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Will US-China Minerals Rivalry Be Zero-Sum for ASEAN? 02.07.2026 24min

The US-Malaysia Agreement on Reciprocal Trade that was signed in October last year remains in limbo as the Trump administration tries to sort out its tariff regime. What does the uncertainty mean for US-ASEAN business activity? We break down the latest developments on US tariffs and discuss what growing US involvement in critical mineral supply chains means for ASEAN with Marc Mealy of the US-ASEAN Business Council.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

How the US-Iran War Shook the Global Sukuk Market 01.07.2026 29min

The global Sukuk market entered 2026 with strong momentum after a record year in 2025, when global issuance grew 25% year-on-year to surpass USD 300 billion for the first time. Then came the US-Iran war, triggering a 35% plunge in first-quarter global Sukuk volumes, effectively grounding the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) market to a halt in March.Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings, joins The Breakfast Grille to break down how the asset class is navigating this ultimate geopolitical stress test.We dive into why global yields refuse to return to pre-war baselines, how Malaysia’s local, ringgit-denominated market acts as a shield against international volatility, and whether the future of Shariah-compliant capital will be powered by blockchain tokenisation.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can foodpanda Win Without a Super App? 30.06.2026 43min

Malaysia's food delivery market has evolved beyond restaurant meals into a broader contest over groceries, convenience, and quick commerce. As rivals tap into larger ride hailing, e-commerce, and fintech ecosystems, foodpanda is pursuing a more focused strategy centred on operational efficiency and rapid delivery. With competition intensifying and its parent company undergoing global restructuring, can foodpanda build a sustainable and profitable business without the advantages of a super app?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Puspakom Shifts Gears as Rivals Join the Race 29.06.2026 23min

For thirty years, Puspakom, a wholly-owned subsidiary of DRB-Hicom, has been the sole company appointed by the government to conduct mandatory inspections of commercial and private vehicles. This long-term monopoly officially ended in August 2024. How prepared is Puspakom to compete in an open market and can it overcome the legacy issues it has collected over the years? We discuss Puspakom’s strategy and outllook with Mahmood Razak Bahman, the CEO of Puspakom.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Can Marriott Stay Ahead in Malaysia? 28.06.2026 22min

Malaysia's hospitality sector is enjoying strong tourism growth, but hotel operators are also navigating rising labour costs, wage pressures, and intensifying competition. Marriott International continues to expand aggressively across both established and emerging destinations, raising questions about brand positioning, operational efficiency, and the long-term potential of secondary cities. As the industry evolves, how is Marriott balancing growth with profitability in one of Southeast Asia's fastest-changing hotel markets?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Generational Politics: PKR vs UMNO 25.06.2026 22min

With the Johor state assembly around the corner there is increased jostling between political parties, even those which are formally in alliances. And there has been quite a bit of chatter about wanting youth voices and with many parties claiming that their candidates reflect a mix of veterans and new faces, experience and youthful idealism. But what’s really at stake in the political contest and can our political leaders speak from a different script? We talk about the history of youth wings, cooperation during the Madani period, UMNO Supreme Council Puad Zarkashi's shock resignation and if Bersama is eating any party’s proverbial lunch.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The ASEAN Way: A Blueprint for New Multilateralism? 24.06.2026 25min

The US-China geopolitical rivalry and President Donald Trump's mercurial policies have upended the established multilateral order, to the detriment of countries like Malaysia that base development strategies on the rules-based system. Can multilateralism survive these geopolitical shifts and what role do smaller countries play in reshaping multilateralism for the future? We discuss these themes with Danny Quah, the Li Ka Shing Professor in Economics at the National University of Singapore.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

World Refugee Day : A Turning Point For Malaysia? 23.06.2026 22min

Malaysia's refugee policy vacuum, rising anti-Rohingya sentiment, and whether refugee issues are becoming politically salient in the lead-up to upcoming elections. Adrian Pereira of the North South Initiative and May of the Refugee Emergency Fund and Reimagine Education, discuss refugee governance, shifting public attitudes, and whether Malaysia's decades-long approach is still fit for purpose.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Navigating a New Era in Malaysia–Netherlands Relations 22.06.2026 23min

The Netherlands has long been one of Malaysia’s key partners in Europe, with ties spanning trade, investment, semiconductors, water management, and sustainability. As geopolitical tensions, supply chain shifts, and climate challenges reshape the global landscape, both countries are looking to deepen cooperation in areas critical to future growth and resilience. How is the bilateral relationship evolving, and where do the biggest opportunities for collaboration lie in the years ahead?See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Atlas Copco: Engineering SEA's Industrial Future 21.06.2026 24min

Atlas Copco is a Swedish multinational giant in the industrial sector, providing much of the infrastructure and equipment needed for manufacturing plants to operate. How are they navigating global economic headwinds and does Malaysia provide safe harbour for geopolitical currents? We catch-up with Khalid Shaikh, General Manager of Atlas Copco Malaysia & Singapore.Image Credit: ShutterstockSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.