Founded in Penang in 2012, Bon Estates has come a long way and rebranded itself to target high end luxury consumers in Kuala Lumpur with a handful of projects under its belt. We speak to CEO Chan Jin-Wy on the boutique developer's business performance, how the economic slowdown is impacting sales and future projects for Bon Estates.

Airbnb reported their best financial year to date in 2022, achieving their first profitable full year on the back of the resurrection of the travel and hospitality industry post-pandemic. How sustainable is this growth momentum and how much does the Southeast Asian region contribute to Airbnb's fortunes? We discuss the outlook for the short-term rental market in Malaysia and the region with Amanpreet Bajaj, General Manager for Southeast Asia, India, Hong Kong and Taiwan.

Private Healthcare providers saw earnings decline sharply during the pandemic as most differed elective procedures. But is recovery in sight? Nadiah Wan, Group CEO of listed TMC Life Sciences Bhd gives us that answer whilst offering her views on the structural issues facing Malaysia's healthcare system and if public private partnerships are one solution.

SME Bank as a DFI has multiple mandates but what is their track record in helping SMEs. Datuk Wira Dr Aria Putera Ismail, CEO, SME Bank answers that question whilst telling us how the bank is performing financially and the health of SMEs today.

Does a MOF company founded more than 100 years ago involved in legacy management, property and fund management still have relevance today. Questions we pose to Ahmad Feizal Sulaiman Khan, Group Managing Director at Amanah Raya Bhd, who will also tell us if the compliance issues in the past have been dealt with and their strategies for growth.

With almost two centuries of shared history, the UK without a doubt has had major influence in the political, economical and societal structure of Malaysia. With more than RM30 billion worth of total trade between both countries, the UK continues to be an important political and economic ally to Malaysia. H.E Charles Hay, British High Commissioner to Malaysia comes on the Breakfast Grille to discuss developments of our bilateral relationship, the rising geopolitical tensions and his outlook for the year.

The government is abolishing the mandatory death penalty for 11 offences, and will put a cap on prison sentences between 30 to 40 years. What are the implications of this on the overall prison system, and what other reforms need to be implemented in tandem to improve the rehabilitation chances and welfare of inmates? We discuss this with our panel of experts.Image credit: Shutterstock

Volvo Truck is the largest producer of heavy trucks in Europe and established its presence in Malaysia more than 50 years ago. Managing director, Tony O'Connell shares with us efforts to accelerate commercial EV adoption as well as their business growth in the country.

In the wake of the pandemic, academics and business schools now face pressures on multiple fronts. We speak to newly appointed CEO of Asia School of Business, Sanjay Sarma for his thoughts on how ASB is doing in today's landscape and get a sense of where the future lies in executive education.

The speed in which SVB and two regional banks collapsed in US and the subsequent demise of CS took markets by surprise. We speak to Thorsten Beck, Professor of Financial Stability, Florence School of Banking and Finance at the European University Institute as to the reasons for this, will there be a contagion effect on the banking system and what can regulators do to restore confidence.Image credit: Shutterstock

Despite global inflation and supply chain troubles permeating 2022, A&W Malaysia recorded its best performance to date on the back of new store openings in East Malaysia. How sustainable is this bounce in revenue and what are the greenfield regions still open for expansion? We get updates from the Global CEO of A&W Restaurants, Kevin Bazner.

Euromonitor International estimates that the market size for beauty will grow to nearly USD$550 billion dollars in 2027, with much of that driven by the Asia Pacific. However, with so many new labels emerging in an intensely competitive market place, can long-standing brands like The Body Shop stay relevant amid fast moving trends and the digital age? We catch up with Datin Mina Cheah-Foong, Managing Director of InNature Berhad, the brand owner of The Body Shop in Malaysia, Cambodia and Vietnam for an update on the business.

Malaysia and Brazil have established their respective embassies for four decades already. Brazilian ambassador, H.E. Ary Norton de Murat Quintella shares with us the bilateral trade and investment ties between the two nations, and President Lula's stance in the Russia-Ukraine war.

First invented by the Greeks in 5th Century BC, democracy has grown to be a very appealing form of government for many countries in the world. While the idea of democracy was different from present-day democracy, the core concept of a rule by the people with a system of which citizens have the power to participate in decision-making remains somewhat true. Author Dr Diego Fossati discusses the evolution of democracy and what it means in this region of the world on the Breakfast Grille.

The consortium comprising Boost and RHB Bank is one of 5 digital banks in Malaysia licenced by Bank Negara back in April 2022 and before 2023 ends, we should expect to see the result of this partnership. Sheyantha Abeykoon, Group CEO of Boost, returns to the Breakfast Grille to update us on the fintech player's path to profitability and the challenges of navigating this new, all online, playing field.

Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has made reforms the cornerstone of his government agenda, hence the Law and Institutional Reform portfolio under the Prime Minister’s Department takes on outsized importance in pursuing legislative change. But how much are political considerations holding back progress on reforms? We discuss the government's reform agenda with Ramkarpal Singh, Deputy Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Law and Institutional Reform).

Faber-Castell is a 261-year-old stationery maker that has had a presence in Malaysia for more than 40 years, manufacturing erasers and ballpoint pens, among others. How did this company weather the pandemic when demand for such products was at its lowest with the closure of schools, colleges, universities and offices. Andrew Woon, the Managing Director of Faber-Castell Malaysia, Indochina and East Asia, talks to us about how the company is navigating new challenges in this digital age while becoming more sustainable.

Started in 1919, Chatham House is an independent policy institute headquartered in London. We discuss recent world developments with the director of Asia Pacific, Ben Bland, including the rise of China as a superpower and our understanding of authoritarian vs libertarian regimes.

The Earthshot Prize, launched in 2019 by William, the Prince of Wales aims to catalyse solutions that can repair the planet and avert environmental disaster by awarding 50 million pounds to 50 solutions over the course of 10 years. Is this prize money a mere drop in the ocean - or can these ripples create a revolution in sustainability innovation? Hannah Jones, the CEO of the Earthshot Prize and former Chief Sustainability Officer of Nike discuss the evolving landscape of ESG and sustainability, as well as how much of an impact the Earthshot Prize can feasibly make.

The Indonesian Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KADIN) chairs the 2023 ASEAN Business Advisory Council. We speak to Arsjad Rasjid, the chairman on the potential of ASEAN. And as the president director of Indika Energy, how he managed a stark turnaround from losing millions of dollars to an increase in the company’s assets by about seven times within six years.

Sunzen Biotech started off specialising in animal health and in the past 25 years, it dabbled in CPO trading, traditional complementary medicine, human supplements and its latest venture - money lending. How does this Bursa Malaysia-listed firm find its niche or does it even need to. Executive director Ching Chee Pun talks about the challenges of navigating these businesses.

The global semiconductor sector is poised for a downturn this year, but the gloomy outlook hasn’t deterred the expansion plans of Oppstar Berhad, a front-end semiconductor player that will debut on the ACE Market on March 15th. Founder and CEO Ng Meng Thai joins me on the show today to discuss why he sees a bright future ahead for the business.

The venture capital landscape has had a boom in the past decade with a trajectory that is unlike any other. What's the story behind the successful firms that're seen as heroes of this tech century? Sebastian Mallaby explores this in his latest book, The Power Law. We speak to him to understand the history of tech incubation, in Silicon Valley and ultimately worldwide. We learn the unvarnished truth about some of the most iconic triumphs and infamous disasters in the VC landscape.

A Masters in Business Administration or MBA was once seen as the golden ticket to advancement in the corporate world. However with changing attitudes towards higher education and the financial squeeze of a global recession looming overhead, do MBAs still make economic sense? Prof. Ilian Mihov, Dean of INSEAD makes a case for continuing business education and how the famed institution shapes the next generation of corporate leaders.

In conjunction with International Women Day, we speak to one of the most powerful women in the government of the day, law minister Datuk Sri Azalina on her agenda and priorities in the government. She takes the hot seat to share her thoughts on her reform agenda, automatic citizenship for children born from Malaysian mothers overseas and other key issues.Image credit: https://www.facebook.com/ybaos

Women make up 35% of the workforce in the Malaysian tech space, but are they equally empowered as their male counterparts to take on leadership roles? What kind of policies would encourage women's participation in the digital economy? Ahead of International Women's Day on 8 March, we discuss the reality and recommendations with our panel of guests.

400%! That is how much the share price of TT Vision rallied by post its IPO on 18 January 2023. The stock has since given up some gains but is still up 264% from its IPO price of RM0.34 giving it a market capitalisation of RM590m. TT is involved in the manufacturing of machine vision equipment. We will speak to its CEO Goon Koon Yin on what has been driving the sharp share price gains and has it been a beneficiary of the US China trade diversion?

At any given point in time, more than 210 million people in over 60 countries are wearing a Bata shoe. How did a Czech brand founded in 1894 end up in so many countries and still made us all think it is locally made? Vaibhav Manrao is Bata Malaysia's Managing Director and he shares his insights into how the shoemaker took the Covid-19 pandemic impact in its stride and its plans to power through.

Paramount Corporation Berhad is a property developer with established townships in Klang Valley, Kedah and Penang. It also ventured into co-working space, owns a hotel in Kuala Lumpur as well as a fine dining restaurant Dewakan, which was recently awarded a Michelin Star. On the education side, the divestment has paved the way for a 12 sen special dividend or a one-off yield of more than 10%. YTD, the stock has done well, up 16%. With all this mind, what sort of growth trajectory is Paramount on in the coming years? We speak to Jeffrey Chew, CEO of Paramount Corporation Berhad.

Prime Minister Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim returned to the role he held two decades ago and tabled the largest budget in history this month with a RM388 billion price tag. Described by some as cautious and safe, does the budget pave the way for a return to the black for the country's financial accounts? Treasury Secretary General Datuk Johan Mahmood Merican discusses the thought process that went into drawing up the budget and future fiscal reforms on the table.

The United Kingdom is ranked 8th in the 2022 Monocle soft power survey no thanks to its strong currency of language and culture. Helped by the British Council which is known for its educational and cultural programs. However with a cut in spending, does this diminish their strategic goals and what plans do they have for the Malaysia after operating here for 75 years. We pose these questions to Scott McDonald, their CEO.

Finance Minister Dato' Seri Anwar Ibrahim tabled his maiden budget last week, three months after taking office. How well are the principles of Malaysia MADANI reflected in the country's fiscal plan? We assess the retabled Budget 2023 and what it says about the government's policy direction with our panel of experts Dr. Tricia Yeoh, CEO of IDEAS & Soh Lian Seng, Head of Tax from KPMG.

For past few decades, we have been seeing the rise of the role of middlemen and as they hold tremendously strong market power, economists have attributed the rising cost of living to their platform. Kathryn Judge, Author of Direct: The Rise of the Middleman Economy and the Power of Going to the Source shares with us how the middleman economy impact the way we buy and sell and how we can fight back.

In the lead up to the 100 days mark of the unity government, we sit down with Syerleena Abdul Rashid, MP for Bukit Bendera and Lee Chean Chung, MP for Petaling Jaya to discuss the challenges of the political landscape today. We also talk about their plans in government, accountability measures and working with former archenemies.

LH Plus, one of the oldest plastics companies faced rising costs and supply chain constraints during the pandemic. We check in with Callum Chen, CEO of LH Plus Sdn Bhd as to their growth plans, is a listing on the cards and the importance of succession planning.

Retail spending is back with a vengeance, at least for now. This is evident in the traffic jam in the mall car parks, packed eateries and the long queues at even the Louis Vuitton outlet. However, is this sustainable especially in the face of slowing GDP growth this year and higher inflationary pressures. Competition is also heating up with new malls such as 118 Mall and TRX Mall. We speak to Dato' Philip Ho, CEO of Pavilion REIT on the return of China tourists, competition, its future injection pipeline and are REITs still relevant as an asset class.

Kimlun Corporation Berhad is a contractor which has a niche in private sector projects but has been winning sizeable jobs in Sarawak. The differentiating factor with other contractors is its precast division where it had close to 60% market share for MRT 2. Earnings delivery has been improving but the share performance over the past year has been flat. Will it be a big beneficiary of MRT 3 when it is rolled out? We speak to Sim Tian Liang, CEO of Kimlun for insights.

Tragedy struck Türkiye early last week as a magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck southern and central Türkiye which has seen over 35,000 deaths so far. It is one of the strongest earthquakes ever recorded in the Levant and the deadliest earthquake worldwide since the 2010 Haiti earthquake and was felt as far as Egypt, Israel, Palestine, Lebanon, Cyprus, and the Black Sea. Estimated to have caused over US$ 84 billion worth of damage, we speak to His Excellency Emir Salim Yüksel, Türkiye’s Ambassador to Malaysia to discuss the tragedy, how Malaysians can help and the future of Malaysia-Türkiye bilateral ties.

Feeling sick but don't want to visit a Doctor physically or want to schedule an appointment but can't get through the busy lines? Doctor Anywhere is a tech-enabled, omni-channel healthcare service provider in Asia, on a mission to make healthcare simple, accessible, and efficient for everyone. Since its launch in 2017, it has grown exponentially to serve more than 1.5 million users across Southeast Asia. It was ranked #3 of 100 in the fastest-growing companies in Singapore. We speak to Lim Wai Mun, founder and CEO of Doctor Anywhere.

Switzerland-based Barry Callebaut is the world's biggest chocolate producer making supplying 1,000 tonnes of chocolate a day to companies like Nestlé, Hershey's, Leonidas and Neuhaus. But chocolate's raw material is cocoa which is mainly sourced from countries like Côte d'Ivoire and Mali - places not well-known for their human rights record. Robert Kotuszewski, Managing Director of Barry Callebaut in Malaysia talks to us about walking that balance between ensuring the confection they produce is ethical, sustainable and profitable.

Karex Bhd, the world's largest condom maker suffered 2 years of consecutive losses but the worst appears to be over. We speak to Goh Miah Kiat, CEO of Karex as to what will be driving growth, was diversifying into gloves a mistake and whether is it too late to buy the shares after the recent rally?

In conjunction with World Radio Day, the founder of this station, BFM 89.9, Malek Ali shares with us how radio will survive the age of disruption for traditional media, Malaysia’s media landscape with the changing of governments and the editorial independence of the station. And how does a station like this make money? 

Dr. Noraishah Mydin Abdul Aziz gained public prominence when she was fielded as the Pakatan Harapan candidate for Putrajaya in GE15, representing the disabled community. But the neurobiologist has been long known in scientific and medical circles through her work with the Malaysian Neural Tube Defects support group. To mark International Day of Women and Girls in Science on 11 February, we speak to Dr. Aishah on the challenges she's had to overcome sitting at the intersection of gender and disability in science, as well as her future prospects in politics.

The Schaeffler Group started more than seven decades ago in Germany and is now a leading global automotive and industrial supplier. But the success of the industry hinges a great deal on the automotive market and the semiconductor industry. Both are expected to face more headwinds this year. Its presence in Malaysia dates back to 1995 where it caters more to the industrial division which supplies rolling bearing to many industries and it also has an office in Penang which caters to the semiconductor industry. We speak to Kelvin Chong, Country Manager of Malaysia for Schaeffler for insights.

As inflation pressure rises and economic activity slows, Malaysian banks will likely see weaker loans growth in 2023. Newly appointed CEO of Alliance Bank, Kellee Kam comes on the Breakfast Grille to share his strategies on how the bank plans to contend with the headwinds in the coming quarters.

World Bank has forecast economic growth of 4% for Malaysia in 2023. Decent projections at first glance but what can be gleamed from their Economic Monitor Report? What are some of the policy recommendations that they have for this unity government to resolve our long standing economic issues? Dr Apurva Sanghi, World Bank’s lead economist for Malaysia answers those questions and more.

The Boba craze might have died but Loob Holding, parent of Tea Live and Bask Bear Coffee has grown exponentially despite the pandemic. We ask their CEO and founder, Bryan Loo how was this achieved, maintaining brand relevance and is going public still on the cards?

Trinidad Group began as a cigar distributor and retailer in 2002. Over the past two decades, the company expanded into hotel and F&B management as well as hospitality consulting. How are they positioning themselves amid the broad recovery in travel and tourism this year? We speak to Group President and CEO Dato’ Indera Naresh Mohan on their business strategy and expansion plans.

Analysts have described the Volvo Geely merger as one of the most successful in a decade. Volvo’s IPO in 2021 was seen as instrumental to help it realise its global goal of being fully electric by 2030. In Malaysia, Volvo Car Malaysia delivered a total of 3,194 vehicles last year, which represents a 43% increase from 2021. Two fully EVs have been launched which are the XC40 and C40 recharge and sales have been strong so far. We speak to Charles Frump, Managing Director of Volvo Car Malaysia for more insights.

Prior to GE15, Khairy Jamaluddin boldly stated his ambitions to become the Prime Minister of Malaysia, before his unceremonious sacking from UMNO last week. Will he become a cautionary tale, akin to Icarus flying too close to the sun or is this merely a long opening gambit in the chess game of politics? We hear from Khairy Jamaluddin himself on what happened and his political prospects for the future.

We speak to Dr. Rezal Khairi bin Ahmad CEO of NanoMalaysia Berhad on how this agency has been working towards energizing industries through the commercialization of nanotechnology as we reflect on the progress the past decade and understand their priorities particularly in the ESG space.

Despite the Malaysia Education Blueprint 2013-2025 providing the roadmap for education transformation, the quality of public education has suffered a decline due to various factors. What reforms are urgently needed to put public education back on track? We speak to Shahnaz Al-Sadat of LeapEd Services for reflections to mark International Day of Education.

The past two years have been cruel for the China Tech companies and while most of the spotlight was focused on Jack Ma and Ali Baba, there was another behemoth that for many epitomizes perhaps the best and worst of this industry. We speak to Lulu Yilun Chen, an editor at Bloomberg and author of Influence Empire which highlights the story of Tencent and China’s Tech ambitions.Image credit: Shutterstock

We take time to reflect on the position and role of the Chinese in Malaysian society, business and politics with Ngan Teng Ye, President of The KL & Selangor Chinese Assembly Hall which focuses on ensuring the voices within the Chinese community are heard while fighting for the benefits and rights of the community since 1923.

The Semiconductor industry is worth USD 580 billion dollars and has become a key part of the trade war between China and the US. Can Malaysia benefit from this? Do we have the right policies in place? Questions we ask Dato' Seri Wong Siew Hai, President of Malaysia Semiconductor Industry Association and John Neuffer, CEO & President of Semiconductor Industry Association.

After nearly three years of pandemic-impacted operations, the Oriental Group of Restaurants has finally returned to the black with revenues almost back to pre-MCO days. What fortunes will this Year of the Rabbit bring to this leader of Cantonese cuisine in the Klang Valley? Its founder and chairman Datuk Seri Philip Siew talks about the challenges the company had faced, the lessons learned and how to apply them going forward.

In 2022 Malaysia saw the launch of Malaysia’s new low-cost carrier, MYAirline. From 3 destinations in December last year, the carrier aims to expand its fleet size to 50 in five years. CEO, Rayner Teo shares with us their path to profitability and how they are differentiating themselves from the other low cost carriers.

2022 was a disastrous year for many asset classes driven by an aggressive interest rate cycle by the Fed and also the Russia Ukraine war. Mark Mobius who is known as “the Godfather of Emerging Markets” will be looking into his crystal ball and giving his insights on many asset classes - stocks, bonds, cryptos, property and what is the right investment strategy to take. Prior to launching Mobius Capital Partners in 2018, Mark served as executive chairman of Franklin Templeton Investments’ emerging markets group.

After three years, China eased its zero-Covid policy and reopened its borders on the 8th of January. We speak to Dr. Sri Ganesh Michiel, National President, Malaysia Budget Hotels Association and Hannah Pearson, Founder of Pear Anderson on whether Malaysia could benefit from this and what can we do to differentiate ourselves from regional peers.

Herbalife Nutrition sees further growth potential for its meal replacement products thanks to the growing waistlines of Malaysians with the latest National Health & Morbidity Survey showing that 50.1% are overweight and 19.7% facing obesity in 2019. Steven Chin, the Senior Director & General Manager for Herbalife Nutrition Malaysia & Singapore also talks about how the MLM company sees growth in the direct-selling business as many seek to supplement their income in the face of rising cost of living

Pengerang Energy Complex or (PEC) is developing one of the largest and most competitive Aromatics complexes in the world, to be strategically located within the Pengerang Integrated Petroleum Complex in Johor, Malaysia. Completion is only slated for 2026 where it aims to cater to the growing fuel-related commodities across the Asian market. It is forecasting an export turnover of US$5bn. But is this a realistic target with more competition on the horizon and if a recession in 2023 lasts longer than expected. We speak to its CEO, Alywn Boden for answers.

On the Breakfast Grille, Phil speaks to Jonathon Dixon, Vice President and MD, APJC short for Asia Pacific, Japan and Greater China, at Cloudflare, Inc. With 2022 seeing an unprecedented year of cyberattacks from governments to corporates to small businesses, we have a conversation with Jonathan about how Cloudflare's solutions are helping build resilience, with the advent of Zero Trust, and whether their fremium packages it currently offers is a sustainable business model.

History, geopolitics, chip war and the semiconductor industry. In the current world we live in, power be it military, economic and geopolitics is built on the essence of computer chips. The US has maintained its lead as a superpower due to its domination in advanced computer chips but this is in danger of slipping now. In early October, the US also announced a ban on the sale of high-end semiconductor chips to China. What does all this mean for the worldwide semiconductor industry? We speak to Chris Miller, economic historian and author of the book Chips War - The fight for the world's most critical technology. The book has won the Financial Times Business Book of the year.Image credit: Shutterstock

2022 started with such promise, the world was coming out of Covid hibernation and economies were reopening but that optimism proved short-lived. Most markets ended in negative territory but will 2023 prove to be a better year? Anand Pathmakanthan, Head of Regional Equity Research, Maybank Investment Banking Group and Patrick Chang, Chief Investment Officer for ASEAN Equities, Principal Asset Management give us their equity market outlook and which stocks will make money this year.

DS Sigma Holdings Berhad is a packaging products provider, with an in-house manufacturing of corrugated paper packaging products including cartons, protective packaging and paper pallets. It is en-route for a listing on the Ace Market on 6 January 2023. Although the company has an established track record of 20 years, it operates in a competitive environment. We discuss its prospects with Lucille Teoh, its Managing Director and how its share price will do when it debuts.

At the conclusion of the general election, several critical issues of constitutional law came to the forefront. Constitutional expert Prof Shad Saleem Faruqi comes on the Breakfast Grille to discuss these issues and what kind of reforms are critical for Malaysia to move forward into the 21st century as a nation that prioritises democracy and the rule of law.

The age of digitalisation and technology that we’re experiencing has enormous potential to drive Malaysia’s economic future, but it also comes with the perils of cybersecurity threats, online disinformation and the risks of a digital divide entrenching inequity. We speak to YB Fahmi Fadzil, Minister of Communications and Digital, for his thoughts.

On the final show of the year, we revisit the more unusual interviews we've conducted on the Breakfast Grille, reflecting the unexpected and curious nature of the world. Today's retrospective features a Malaysian-born scientist making strides in space exploration at NASA; the peculiarities of the British egg industry; as well as a trip down memory lane for the Hong Kong entertainment landscape.Featured interviews include:> NASA Trailblazer From Muar To Mars> Is The British Egg Industry Close To Breaking Point?> Delivering 55 Years Of Cantonese Entertainment - Where Next?> WWD 2022: Keep Forests Intact, Preserve Biodiversity

The political uncertainty that dogged the country for the past 2 years has been put to rest for the time being following the 15th General Elections that saw an unprecedented unity government being formed under the leadership of Dato' Sri Anwar Ibrahim. We look back at conversations with politicians and analysts on the twists and turns of Malaysia's political saga that held our attention hostage this year.Image credit: Shutterstock

In spite of economies largely reopening in 2022, there were still many trials and tribulations for companies this year due to rising inflation, higher cost of borrowing due to the central banks raising interest rates and consumers generally tightening their belts. This had contrasting impacts on two sectors where banks generally benefited and the F&B sector did not.Image credit: Shutterstock

Despite hopes that 2022 would see the global economy recover from the Covid-19 pandemic, the year threw a curveball with the outbreak of the Ukraine as well as the prolonged closure of China's borders, among others. We revisit discussions on how these events have impacted the Malaysian and global economy at different stages of the year.Image credit: Shutterstock

It has been more than 1 year since the floods that affected eight states across the peninsula, and left 55 dead. The Disaster Risk Reduction Team from the Netherlands shares expertise with governments in order to find the best possible solution to tackle urgent water issues. Marco Hartman and his team recently submitted the final flood mitigation report to the Ministry of Environment and Water and shares with us the urgent steps needed.

AC Ventures is a leading Southeast Asian venture capital firm investing in early-stage startups focused on Indonesia and ASEAN. We ask Ng Yi Chung, partner at AC Ventures Malaysia on the landscape of venture capital in Malaysia, and is tech still the darling?

Lagenda Properties is a relatively newcomer in the property business, but it has morphed into a developer with a niche in affordable landed housing, catering to the B40 and M40 income households. Its flagship project is in Setiawan, Perak but it has ventured into other states in an attempt to replicate this success by launching products below RM250,000. Will lady luck still shine when it spreads its wings beyond Perak? We discuss this with Dato Jimmy Doh, Managing Director at Lagenda Properties.

As the era of ultra low interest rates comes to an end and a global recession looms overhead, how are regional private equity players adapting to the challenging macroeconomic conditions? Dato’ Sri Nicholas Bloy, co-founder and Managing Partner of Navis Capital Partners discusses the outlook for private equity in the APAC region as well as their latest foray into private credit markets.

Listed in 2015, Sedania Innovator Berhad focuses on project-managing and investing in sustainable energy projects as well as sustainable healthcare. Sedania’s CEO, Daniel Ruppert shares with us their latest quarterly earnings and their shift from telco during their IPO.

Many organisations have realised the importance and benefits of sustainability which ultimately gives it a higher survival rate. Despite many positive trends, surveys point to a low percentage of firms changing their business models to take advantage of trends in sustainability. We speak to Peter McAteer, managing director of SustainLearning on how a company can ensure a smooth transition to become a more sustainable company and how important is talent and change management.

Despite multiple shocks to the global economy and supply chains in 2022, the world’s largest logistics player, DHL Group has thrived, with its express international shipping division, DHL Express, playing a key role in the Group’s overall resilience. But are the good times set to end in the coming year with a global recession looming amid continued geopolitical tensions? We discuss long and short term trends impacting the logistics industry with Global CEO John Pearson.

Kopi Kenangan is rebranding itself as Kenangan Coffee as it ventures outside its Indonesian home where it already has more than 800 outlets employing some 5,000 staff. It is also Southeast Asia’s first new F&B retail unicorn - all within a short space of 5 years. Its co-founder and CEO Edward Tirtanata sits down for a bit of coffee shop talk to explain what this grab & go coffee chain's plans are as it sets up shop in Malaysia first before venturing beyond.

While Perikatan Nasional lost the bid to form the government of the day, its influence to shape the political future of Malaysia is not to be underestimated. Wan Ahmad Fayshal, MP for Machang, and youth chief for Bersatu, one of the core parties of the coalition, tells us whether PN is a coalition for all Malaysians and what kind of opposition they intend to be.

Ekuinas, the Government's private equity fund management company has a focus to promote Bumiputera economic participation. With total committed investment exceeding RM4.4 billion to date, we ask CEO, Syed Yasir Arafat on how the possibility of a global recession will affect the PE landscape and their performance in turn.

Malaysia has continued to slide down the rankings of Transparency International's Corruption Perception Index CPI), despite pledges to combat corruption by successive governments. On International Anti-Corruption Day, we discuss the institutional reforms that need to be prioritised to make commitments to clean government more than just aspirational rhetoric.

YTL Communications was the first major telco to launch 5G services in Malaysia. But the rollout of 5G in Malaysia hasn't been smooth sailing. We ask CEO, Wing K. Lee, whether their stake in Digital Nasional Bhd (DNB) will be worth the money, and when will we see a profit?

PGF Capital Berhad has been listed on the Main Market of Bursa Malaysia since 1990 but has not seen the entry of any institutional investors. However, its share price has rallied by more than 130% YTD. Its core business is in design, manufacture and distribution of glass mineral wool insulation which provides indoor comfort through thermal and acoustic insulation. We speak to Fong Wern Sheng, Executive Chairman on what is driving the share price and their outlook for 2023.

From their retail stores at TTDI and Chow Kit in 1987, Bake With Yen now has over 90 outlets throughout Malaysia. And in 2017, private equity firm Creador acquired a stake in the group for US$13 million. We ask CEO, Alexandre Rosso whether the baking hobby during the pandemic was just a flash in the pan, and was its rapid expansion a piece of cake.

In the end, 28 ministers were announced with some surprises, in particular Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim also double hatting as Finance Minister. We evaluate the hits and misses whilst diving into the priorities of this cabinet with Pankaj Kumar, Business Commentator and Asrul Hadi Abdullah Sani, Deputy Managing Director, BowerGroupAsia.

Immigration is most commonly discussed through the lens of the emigre seeking a way into a new land and the rules put in place to secure borders from those deemed undesirable to enter the country. But another, less explored approach of looking at immigration control is to consider the impact on the receiving society and whether the costs of exchanging freedom for secure borders is ultimately what we as a society want. Prof. Chandran Kukathas, author of the book "Immigration and Freedom" puts forth alternative views of the immigration debate.Image credit: Shutterstock

The higher education business has always had a reputation of being lucrative and recession proof. With competition for education dollars on the rise and students opting for the gig or creator economy, does this still hold true? Additionally, there have been instances where Malaysian public universities have been subject to political interference. Are foreign based universities with a localised presence like Heriot-Watt University Malaysia different? We speak to Professor Mushtak Al-Atabi, Provost and CEO of Heriot-Watt University Malaysia for insights.

Asset management has been going through structural changes with intense competition, the shift to passive funds and lower fees. So why did CVC, one of the largest PE funds, buy a stake in Malaysia's 3rd largest fund managers? We ask Dato' Teng Chee Wai, Managing Director of AHAM Capital that question and also where markets are headed in 2023.

25 November marks the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women. How effective is the legal framework in Malaysia to address violations against women and girls? We take stock of the progress made and action urgently needed in order for genuine societal shifts in attitudes towards gender equality and women’s rights.Image credit: Shutterstock

After a long protracted battle for Putrajaya, Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim has finally become Malaysia's 10th Prime Minister. We explore his decades-long ambition to run the country with Jahabar Sadiq, Founder and Editor, The Malaysian Insight and  James Chai, Visiting Fellow, ISEAS Yusof Ishak Institute. We also ask if the hard work actually begins now with the different factions within this Unity government.

Islamic bonds or sukuks continued to record resilience compared to conventional bonds despite volatile crude oil prices, a high interest rate environment and general geopolitical uncertainty. How will it fare with increasing awareness of ESG investing? Bashar Al Natoor, Global Head of Islamic Finance at Fitch Ratings talks to us about the challenges Islamic finance is set to face with a global standardisation issue as well as what Malaysia needs to do to make its mark as an international hub for shariah-compliant investments.

The negotiations to form the next government of Malaysia following the 15th general elections have yet to yield results, but there have been surprises and U-turns over the past two days. Meanwhile the political polarisation at the elite level is also reflected in public and social media discourse, raising concerns about the unity of Malaysian society. What challenges will the next government need to contend with to rebuild the consensus of Malaysia? We unpack the developments with our panel of experts.Image Credit: Shutterstock.com

The Russia-Ukraine war and conflicts in Myanmar have highlighted the division between nations in ASEAN. Philip See speaks to Manu Bhaskaran, Founding Partner and President of Centennial Asia Advisors, for an in-depth analysis of ASEAN as a force of global diplomacy, which economies have the right fundamentals, and which governments have put the right policies to drive long-term economic development and growth.

As predicted, the 15th general elections culminated in a hung Parliament, but few foresaw the rise of the green wave in peninsular Malaysia as PAS secured the highest seats in the august house. Ibrahim Suffian of the Merdeka Center helps us contextualise the GE15 results and discusses where politics in the country is heading.

History will be made tomorrow as more than 21 million Malaysians will be able to head to the polls to chart the future of the country in GE15. This will be a critical election as it is seen as the make it or break it moment for many key figures of the Malaysian political scene. Will Datuk Seri Anwar finally become prime minister? Or will we see things go back to the way they were with Barisan Nasional taking the helm? What about newcomer Perikatan Nasional which touts itself as a clean coalition that can return Malaysia to its glory days? Experts Tricia Yeo of IDEAS and Dr Shamsul Amri Baharuddin of the Institute of Ethnic Studies share their views and thoughts on how the future of Malaysia will be made tomorrow.

Holland Circular Hotspot (HCH) is a private-public platform in which the local government authorities, experts and companies collaborate internationally to stimulate entrepreneurship in the field of a circular economy. CEO, Freek van Eijk shares with us their collaboration with Malaysian companies and the government, and how Malaysia can improve to have a better circular economy.

World Cup season is upon us and in the years and months leading up to the kick-off in Qatar this November 20th, we can't escape knowing about it. Go to the supermarkets and you see products from potato crisps to beers and fizzy drinks all emblazoned with the FIFA logo. It is for sure a big billion dollar global business which Simon Chadwick, a professor of sport & geopolitical economy, at the SKEMA Business School and also co-author of the Business of the FIFA World Cup, discusses with us.Image credit: Shutterstock

Khairy Jamaluddin is in the political challenge of his life with a seven cornered fight in Sungai Buloh. He has made known of his ambitions to be Prime Minister of Malaysia. We ask him why he deserves that role, is reform within UMNO possible and his political future if he loses.

While all airlines were badly hit by the Covid-19 pandemic in 2020, for Qatar Airways the global shutdown came on top of a blockade imposed by neighbouring countries on Qatar since 2017. With the blockade now lifted and pandemic recovery in full swing, is clear skies ahead for Qatar Airways, especially with the tailwind of the FIFA World Cup this month? We discuss the outlook for Qatar Airways with Dato' Muzammil Mohamad, ASEAN Regional Manager.