With record profits driven by strong CPO prices and surging industrial development returns, how is SD Guthrie balancing its legacy plantation core with the race for high-value land monetisation? Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SD Guthrie, joins The Breakfast Grille to discuss the strategic evolution of the 200-year-old palm oil giant.

Haris outlines efforts to break through stagnant national yields through high-performing seed varieties, labor estate rehabilitation, and mechanisation. He also addresses the structural limits of land expansion, the ideal "sweet spot" for CPO pricing to prevent global demand destruction, and how the company plans to monetise strategic land banks for business parks and data centers without losing its plantation identity.

With record profits driven by strong CPO prices and surging industrial development returns, how is SD Guthrie balancing its legacy plantation core with the race for high-value land monetisation? Mohd Haris Mohd Arshad, President and Group Chief Executive Officer of SD Guthrie, joins The Breakfast Grille to discuss the strategic evolution of the 200-year-old palm oil giant.Haris outlines efforts to break through stagnant national yields through high-performing seed varieties, labor estate rehabilitation, and mechanisation. He also addresses the structural limits of land expansion, the ideal "sweet spot" for CPO pricing to prevent global demand destruction, and how the company plans to monetise strategic land banks for business parks and data centers without losing its plantation identity.

Sharper and stronger than a double espresso. The Morning Run stretches your mind and braces you for the business day. It's your fast track into work where you can hit the ground running. From 6am to 10am weekdays, the Morning Run brings you the biggest stories and must-listen-to interviews. Stay enlightened, make educated business and investment decisions.

The Breakfast Grille

Featuring the cream-of-the-crop as well as the controversial, the Breakfast Grille is the flagship show of BFM. Expect no-holds-barred interviews to get to the truth and into the minds of business leaders, policymakers and changemakers.

SD Guthrie: Can Land & CPO Keep Record Profits Going?

Nine years after Formula 1 last roared through Sepang, the pinnacle of motorsports makes a surprise return to Malaysia, not as the Malaysian Grand Prix, but as the Bahrain Grand Prix. Azhan Shafriman Hanif, CEO of the Sepang International Circuit, joins The Breakfast Grille to discuss what it could take to justify a RM300 million bill for a permanent slot on the F1 calendar.

With ticket demand surging past 95,000 thanks to F1's booming global popularity, Shafriman takes us behind the scenes of Sepang’s unique commercial arrangement with the Bahrain International Circuit and the logistics behind pulling this off on a compressed two-month timeline.

Plus, he tackles the ultimate question: does a single-weekend economic boost justify spending RM300 million annually on a regular spot on the F1 calendar?

Nine years after Formula 1 last roared through Sepang, the pinnacle of motorsports makes a surprise return to Malaysia, not as the Malaysian Grand Prix, but as the Bahrain Grand Prix. Azhan Shafriman Hanif, CEO of the Sepang International Circuit, joins The Breakfast Grille to discuss what it could take to justify a RM300 million bill for a permanent slot on the F1 calendar.With ticket demand surging past 95,000 thanks to F1's booming global popularity, Shafriman takes us behind the scenes of Sepang’s unique commercial arrangement with the Bahrain International Circuit and the logistics behind pulling this off on a compressed two-month timeline.Plus, he tackles the ultimate question: does a single-weekend economic boost justify spending RM300 million annually on a regular spot on the F1 calendar?

Is F1 Worth RM300 Million a Year? Sepang CEO Responds

As Chinese automakers aggressively expand and compete abroad, legacy automotive distributors face unprecedented market disruption. Dato' Seri Francis Lee, Group CEO of Bermaz Auto Berhad, joins The Breakfast Grille to discuss why they prioritise niche, sustainable sales volumes over aggressive price wars.

This comes as revenue has fallen from RM3.9 billion in FY2024 to RM2.3 billion in FY2026, while net profit has fallen from around RM350 million to RM106 million.   

Francis outlines Mazda’s shift toward premium positioning and hybrids, details the strategic boundaries set for Chinese EV partner Xpeng, and explains how conservative balance sheet management supports the company’s dividend record.   

Can Bermaz Auto’s commitment to sustainable volumes & protecting brand value hold up as Chinese marques reshape the automotive landscape?

As Chinese automakers aggressively expand and compete abroad, legacy automotive distributors face unprecedented market disruption. Dato' Seri Francis Lee, Group CEO of Bermaz Auto Berhad, joins The Breakfast Grille to discuss why they prioritise niche, sustainable sales volumes over aggressive price wars.This comes as revenue has fallen from RM3.9 billion in FY2024 to RM2.3 billion in FY2026, while net profit has fallen from around RM350 million to RM106 million.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Francis outlines Mazda’s shift toward premium positioning and hybrids, details the strategic boundaries set for Chinese EV partner Xpeng, and explains how conservative balance sheet management supports the company’s dividend record.&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Can Bermaz Auto’s commitment to sustainable volumes &amp; protecting brand value hold up as Chinese marques reshape the automotive landscape?

Why Bermaz Rejects Price Wars for Mazda & Xpeng

In 2023, Pita Limjaroenrat, a Thai politician grabbed headlines when his party won the largest share of Parliamentary seats in the 2023 General Elections. With almost 4 million more votes than their nearest rivals, he and his party were seen as the face of a Thailand hungry for reform. Yet, he and his party were prevented from taking office in a series of legal manoeuvres that have come to define Thailand’s democratic deficit. With a ten year ban to wait out, the telegenic businessman turned politician splits his time between Bangkok and Boston, where he is Senior Fellow at Harvard University. He has just launched the English edition of his memoir, “The Almost Prime Minister”.



Image Credit: Shutterstock

In 2023, Pita Limjaroenrat, a Thai politician grabbed headlines when his party won the largest share of Parliamentary seats in the 2023 General Elections. With almost 4 million more votes than their nearest rivals, he and his party were seen as the face of a Thailand hungry for reform. Yet, he and his party were prevented from taking office in a series of legal manoeuvres that have come to define Thailand’s democratic deficit. With a ten year ban to wait out, the telegenic businessman turned politician splits his time between Bangkok and Boston, where he is Senior Fellow at Harvard University. He has just launched the English edition of his memoir, “The Almost Prime Minister”.Image Credit: Shutterstock

SD Guthrie: Can Land & CPO Keep Record Profits Going?

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