About Us
02-Sep-08 16:13
BFM’s Positioning
BFM debuted in September 2008, an independent radio station focused on business news and current affairs. The station also strives to meet the lifestyle needs of its listeners - including health, fashion, the arts and sports. BFM provides listeners with a classic music experience.
BFM has a positive bias towards supporting start-ups, new technology, ethical business practices and equal opportunities. We target business executives, business owners, investors and people who aspire to personal and professional success.
BFM also offers business education programmes spanning marketing, finance, technology and business productivity to raise the management proficiency of Malaysian professionals. BFM can be heard on frequency 89.9 in Wilayah Persekutuan, Selangor, Negeri Sembilan and parts of Melaka.
The BFM Team
The BFM team is made up of cells of producer and presenter groups who make programming and content decisions based on the positioning of their cells. The cells are as follows:
The Morning Run (6 am-10 am)
The Morning Run is the signature programme of BFM. It features a mix of lively banter and signature interviews with opinion leaders and market movers. The show's team is comprised of: David Chew; Khoo Hsu Chuang; Nadia S. Hassan; Melisa Idris; Khoo Hsien Chun; Adeline Choong; and Noelle Lim. Azura Rahman presents the personal finance show Ringgit and Sense.
The Morning Run interviews big names in business, government and politics. They include: CIMB's Nazir Razak, YTL's Francis Yeoh, EPF's Azlan Zainol, Bank Negara's Governor Tan Sri Zeti, WPP's Martin Sorrell, Templeton Emerging Markets' Mark Mobius and Nobel Prize-winning economist Joseph Stiglitz. All enquiries should be directed to morningrun@bfm.my.
Enterprise (10 am to 2 pm)
Enterprise, presented by seasoned TV and radio presenter Freda Liu, aims to equip business owners and entrepreneurs with the tools to succeed in business. Top guests have included: Isaac Tigrett (Founder of Hard Rock Cafe) and Tony Buzan (Mindmap Guru).
The minds behind Enterprise also offer hands-on and interactive seminars called Enterprise Breakaway, where listeners can meet industry experts to get practical ideas on how to take their business to the next level. Interviews or contribution offers can be directed to enterprise@bfm.my.
The Bigger Picture (2 pm-5 pm)
The Bigger Picture relishes its role as the heart and soul of the station. Presenter Meera Sivasothy, together with producers Lee Chwi Lynn, Natalie Sia and Juliet Jacobs, have made it their business to tackle topics related to the human condition. Eclectic, energetic and sometimes a little eccentric, the Bigger Picture cell can be contacted at biggerpicture@bfm.my.
The Evening Edition (5 pm to 9 pm)
Don’t touch that dial. The Evening Edition with Caroline Oh, Ezra Zaid, and Umapagan Ampikaipakan is where you want to be. This is drive time the way it should be done: entertaining and enlightening, current and critical. From pop music to politics, from the noteworthy to the newsworthy, through thought provoking interviews, stimulating investigative pieces, and red-hot call in sessions, Caroline, Ezra, and Uma bring you everything that’s trending and everything that should be.
For enquiries on programming or interview opportunities on The Evening Edition, please email eveningedition@bfm.my
The News Team
Our general, business, markets and sports news bulletins air half-hourly during peak driving hours (6 am to 10 am, 5 pm to 8 pm) and hourly (10 am to 4 pm). We strive to tell you everything you need to know about what is happening in Malaysia and the world, presented in a fair and balanced way. Our newscasts are produced, written and presented by our tireless news team, consisting of Audrey Raj, Keith Kam, Nadiah Abdul Aziz, Melissa Chi, Jason Tan and Melani Delilkan. We use the combined resources, among others, of Bernama, Reuters and Bloomberg. Press releases, feedback, press invitations (and leaks) can be sent to: editor@bfm.my.
Weekend
'The Weekend' is the place where you go to take a break from Mondays. It's a place where you can kick off your shoes and relax and still learn something new. There are shows on culture, music, the media, heritage, food, fashion - and pretty much everything else to keep you entertained and informed. For a full rundown on what 'The Weekend' has to offer, check out the programming schedule for full listings. We can be reached at weekend@bfm.my.
Our Team
In addition to the programming cells, the following also work across cells as well as performing other functional roles.
Malek Ali
Malek is the founder of BFM, where he brings his passion for leading new media products to market. He was a key member of the pioneer team of JobStreet Corporation Bhd, which brought online recruitment to Malaysia and other regional markets. His track record of bringing new products to market continued with Maxis and Yahoo! as head of mobile content and head of mobile operations for South-East Asia respectively.
Malek previously worked as a management consultant with The Boston Consulting Group and as a corporate lawyer with Allen & Overy. He is an MBA graduate of the Harvard Business School and a law graduate of Bristol University.
Diana Blackburn
Among many hats that Diana puts on at BFM, the one she is most known for is the one as music director. BFM's bold and unique playlist is due to her strong music convictions, which is consistent with BFM's independent positioning. Diana also leads the training of presenters at BFM, and is the custodian of the overall station format.
Other Cells
The BFM team is also supported by other cells working behind the scenes.The tech ops team for example ensures that the programming goes on air without a hitch, the production team ensures client radio ads are created with a dose of creativity, and the account management team manages BFM client relationships to ensure their marketing objectives are met. BFM's podcast and online operations are led by Jon Yap.
How It All Began
The year was 1983 and a young Malaysian arrived in London to pursue his legal studies. That was where he first found great radio. Capital Radio 95.8, London's most popular contemporary hit station, and LBC, UK's leading talk radio station, were leaders in their respective niches and provided rich inspiration.
Malek Ali kept track of the Malaysian radio scene ever since. Many mature listeners wish for the return of quality conversation and discerning music. This is where BFM steps in.
