The Breakfast Grille

Nearly 80 years after the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, the institutions created to uphold it are under unprecedented strain. Philippe Bolopion, the Executive Director of Human Rights Watch discusses Gaza, Malaysia, refugees, international law and why, despite mounting challenges, he still believes human rights are worth fighting for.

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Scicom MSC Bhd started life as a call centre. Today it processes the visa for every international student entering Malaysia, and holds a 15-year concession on GITC — the country's first national platform matching TVET graduates to jobs, launched by the Deputy Prime Minister in June. After 3 straight years of falling revenue, trailing twelve-month revenue is up 37%, profit up 96%, and the share price has more than doubled. Group CEO Datuk Seri Leo Ariyanayakam on what the platform actually does, how much of the group rides on government contracts, and whether a doubled dividend is sustainable when cash has halved and receivables have doubled.

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PEOPLElogy just turned 25, and it's marking the milestone with a pledge to make five million Malaysians AI-ready by 2028, roughly one in three working Malaysians. It's a bold ask at a moment when over 52,000 Malaysians have already lost their jobs this year, more than half of them PMETs. But 14 months after listing on the ACE Market, the stock is at 21 sen, below its 25-sen IPO price, and FY2025 net profit came in at just RM41,000 on RM29.8 million in revenue. Managing Director and Group CEO Allen Lee returns to the Breakfast Grille to account for the numbers, the IPO proceeds, the dividend, and whether the recovery is real.

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China and Taiwan have had frigid relations since Democratic People's Party (DPP) became the ruling party in 2016, currently with President Lai Ching-te at the helm. How are the dynamics between Beijing and Taipei shifting in light of the Trump administration 2.0 policies? We discuss developments with Bonnie Glaser of the German Marshall Fund.

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Barisan Nasional’s switch in strategy paid off handsomely, grabbing half the state assembly and with Perikatan Nasional securing control of the state. The question being asked is if this winning strategy can go national and deliver UMNO leadership of the country? Also laid bare several are other political realities: Pakatan Harapan’s weak hold of the Malay ground, Wawasan’s replacement of Bersatu as PAS’ Malay nationalist partner and Borneo’s potential loss of the kingmaker position if GE16 goes the way of the PAS-UMNO alliance.

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In 2023, the elections ushered in a Pakatan Harapan-led government with the support of the Barisan Nasional. Neither coalition had sufficient seats to lead the 36-member assembly. In this election, Barisan has switched strategy, forming an informal electoral pact with Perikatan Nasional instead. No doubt the outcome of the Negeri Sembilan vote will be consequential for the people of the state but will it determine the future stability of the current Federal government.

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As Malaysia Business Events Week 2026 gets underway, the spotlight is on how the country plans to strengthen its position as a regional destination for international conferences, exhibitions, and corporate events. Amid intensifying competition from neighbours such as Singapore and Thailand, success will depend on more than marketing, with infrastructure, sustainability, regulatory efficiency, and measurable economic returns all coming under greater scrutiny. Can Malaysia build a more competitive and resilient business events industry?

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Teladan Group has spent nearly three decades building homes in Melaka. Now, the Main Market-listed developer is embarking on its most ambitious chapter yet, expanding into Negeri Sembilan, the Klang Valley and industrial developments. Richard Teo, Managing Director of Teladan Group, discusses the company's growth strategy.

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