x Executive Focus | Malaysia (HD)

Kellee Kam is the Group Managing Director of RHB Banking Group, a Malaysian based financial services group. He spoke with The Prospect Group about RHB’s growth and development plans in Malaysia and throughout ASEAN, M&A projections for the region, the impact of the European debt crisis.

Tan Sri Bashir Ahmad is the CEO and Managing Director of Malaysia Airports Holdings Berhad (MAHB), a publicly listed airport company that manages 39 airports across Malaysia including Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KLIA), the country's largest airport terminal. He spoke with the Prospect Group about challenges in the aviation industry, support from the government, Malaysia as an international hub, and increasing airport capacity.

Tan Sri Datuk Dr. Yusof Basiron is CEO of the Malaysian Palm Oil Council (MPOC), a not-for-profit organization that aims to promote the market expansion of Malaysian palm oil and palm oil products. He spoke with The Prospect Group about palm oil’s contribution to Malaysia’s economy, the opportunities for Malaysian palm oil as a raw material for bio-fuel, and the negative connotation that has been placed on the palm oil industry by various NGOs.

Dr. Mary Wong Lai Lin is the CEO of the Malaysia Healthcare Travel Council (MHTC). She spoke with The Prospect Group about the healthcare industry in Malaysia, the medical treatments Malaysia specializes in, and the recent growth in the medical tourism sector.

Ian Pashby is the CEO and Provost of The University of Nottingham Malaysia Campus. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the makeup of the student body, the role of education in Malaysia, and competition between universities in Malaysia.

Nazir Ariff is the Chairman for Penang & North of the Malaysian International Chamber of Commerce and Industry (MICCI). He spoke with The Prospect Group about medical tourism, the privatization of the Port of Penang, and potential business opportunities in the region.

Muhamad bin Lebai Juri is the Director General of the Malaysian Nuclear Agency (Nuclear Malaysia), which is responsible for all of the technical aspects of nuclear technology in Malaysia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the presence of nuclear technology in Malaysia, and the growth of the industry over the past 40 years.

Dr. Jalaluddin Harun is the Director General of the Malaysian Timber Industry Board (MTIB), a statutory body accredited to the Ministry of Plantation Industries and Commodities whose main objective is to promote and coordinate the overall development of the timber industry in Malaysia. He spoke with the Prospect Group about Malaysia’s timber industry, moving towards higher value-added production, and the future of sustainability in the sector.

Dato’ FD Iskandar is the CEO and Group Managing Director of Glomac Berhad, which comprises more than 40 subsidiaries with involvement in every face of the real estate business encompassing property development, property investment, construction, property management and car park management. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the property market in Malaysia, Glomac’s upcoming projects, and what challenges the property industry faces.

Rohaizad Darus is the President of UMW Oil & Gas Corporation, one of the core businesses of the UMW Group. He spoke with The Prospect Group about UMW’s upcoming plans, the energy sector in Malaysia, and why energy companies operating in Asia are a good buy.

Professor Dato’ Dr. Omar Osman is the Vice-Chancellor of Universiti Sains Malaysia (USM), one of Malaysia’s leading universities which now offers courses at undergraduate and postgraduate levels to approximately 20,000 students. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the University’s long-term plans, future enrollment projections, and partnerships with other academic institutions and the business community.

Au Leck Chai is the CEO of the Malaysian Furniture Promotion Council (MFPC), a specialized promotional body that promotes and develops the Malaysian furniture industry to establish Malaysia as a globally recognized source of world-class furniture. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the industry’s transition into the ODM (Original Design Manufacturer) phase of production, Malaysia’s competitive advantages with regards to the manufacturing of furniture, and the non-traditional markets that the industry is looking to move into.

Rauf Rashid is the Country Managing Partner - Malaysia at Ernst & Young. He spoke with The Prospect Group about the changes in Malaysia’s economy and further reforms in education and innovation.

Ho Hoy Sum is the General Manager of One World Hotel, a 438-room property in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about competition among business-oriented hotels in Kuala Lumpur, future growth markets, and the outlook for the MICE sector in Malaysia.

Y.B. Datuk Seri Mohamed Khaled bin Nordin is the Minister of Higher Education of Malaysia. He spoke with The Prospect Group about Government commitment and investment in higher education, the National Higher Education Strategic Plan, and improving the quality of higher education.