BFM 89.9

HIGHLIGHTS 
Podcast  >  Morning Run  >  Morning Brief  >  Labour Shortage Weighing Down SMEs

Labour Shortage Weighing Down SMEs

Datuk William Ng, Chairman, Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA)

10-Jun-22 07:15

Labour Shortage Weighing Down SMEs

After two years of pandemic restrictions, Malaysia officially reopened most sectors of the economy on April 1st this year. However, do the twin headwinds of inflation and rising interest rates stifle recovery for SMEs? For a channel check on the state of the economy from the perspective of SMEs, we speak to Datuk William Ng, Chairman of the Small and Medium Enterprises Association (SAMENTA) on the current challenges and outlook for SMEs.

Image Credit: PradeepGaurs/Shutterstock.com

Produced by: Shazana Mokhtar

Presented by: Shazana Mokhtar, Philip See, Wong Shou Ning


This and more than 60,000 other podcasts in your hand. Download the all new BFM mobile app.

Categories:  economySMEgovernment

Tags:  economic recoverysmesdigitalisationlabour shortageinflationrising costs





Play / Pause

Listen now : Open For Business : Two years ago, TTRacing was already a fast-growing...

Today’s Shows



6:00 AM

The 6AM Stretch

Thought-provoking discussions on ideas, people and events shaping our lives.

7:00 AM

World Market Watch

Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

7:15 AM

Morning Brief

We recap global and local headlines from today's papers and portals.

7:30 AM

Morning Brief

r. Yang Zi, Research Fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies, on the China's top general military purge.

7:45 AM

Morning Brief

Wan Amirah Wan Usamah, Research Associate, Khazanah Research Institute, unpacks the significance of the BNPL take-up.

8:00 AM

The Breakfast Grille

Dato' Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi discusses the Ministry of Works’ road projects, national infrastructure, and Sarawak’s political direction, MA63, and the Sarawak Formula.

8:30 AM

Morning Brief

We break down the day’s top news with expert insights.

8:45 AM

Morning Brief

(REPEAT) We dive into the local and international news that matters to you.

9:00 AM

Opening Bell

(REPEAT) Tony Nash, CEO, Complete Intelligence tells us where international markets are heading.

9:15 AM

Opening Bell

Imran Yusof, Head of Research, MBSB Research discusses the outlook for Malaysia's oil & gas sector.

9:35 AM

Ringgit & Sense

Linnet Lee, licensed financial planner at Resolute Planning Sdn Bhd talks about personal finance aspects of Valentine's Day and being in a relationship in general.

10:05 AM

Open For Business

Two years ago, TTRacing was already a fast-growing gaming chair brand making its mark across Southeast Asia. Today, they’ve not only expanded their presence in various markets across SEA, but also have pivoted into creating ergonomic lifestyles. We catch up with Founder and CEO Henry Ting to unpack how TTRacing has grown since 2024.

11:00 AM

Tech Talk

Meta’s recent $2 billion acquisition of the Singapore-based Manus AI has signaled a major shift: APAC is now outpacing the West in the race for autonomous agents. As geopolitical tensions rise over tech transfers, Europe is left questioning if its "safety-first" regulations are leaving it behind. We speak with AI expert Clemens Wasner to unpack the fallout of the Meta-Manus deal and what it means for global tech sovereignty. Drawing on his decade of experience in Japan and China, Clemens explores the friction between EU governance and APAC speed, the surprising overlap in robotics and chips, and how localised "Sovereign AI" is reshaping the 2026 economic map.

12:00 PM

Enterprise Explores

Malaysia is riding a record-breaking wave of RM144 billion in data centre investments, yet the "job density" remains surprisingly low. We examine the stark reality of building a digital empire when the nation faces a 90% gap in engineering talent and the looming "brain drain" to Singapore. Carlos Garcia Rodriguez joins the show to deconstruct the execution risks of this surge, from the massive strain on power and water grids to the rising costs of "project overheating." We explore whether Malaysia is destined to be a "digital landlord" for global giants or if we can truly move up the value chain by 2026.

1:00 PM

The Breakfast Grille Repeat

Dato' Seri Alexander Nanta Linggi discusses the Ministry of Works’ road projects, national infrastructure, and Sarawak’s political direction, MA63, and the Sarawak Formula.

2:05 PM

Discovery Hour

An eclectic selection of BBC shows, curated with variety in mind.

3:05 PM

Beyond the Ballot Box

4:05 PM

Health & Living

Are medical graduates entering the healthcare profession with unrealistic expectations? We look at why career regrets develop among young healthcare workers.

5:00 PM

Top 5 at 5

A countdown of the 5 biggest stories of the day, to catch you up on all you need to know!

6:00 PM

Talkback Thursday