Actually, they're based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That's a...

Actually, they're based in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. That's a different country - not Singapore.

Unless there is any empirical reason why non-aussies are not as capable as aussies at running a company, that comment sounds like nothing more than baseless national pride.

That said, if they were based in Singapore, I'd have even more faith in their management. Singapore has one of the worlds strictest meritocratic societies. Singapore's corporate workforce is comprised of the world's best. They don't have any government incentives to "protect local job opportunities". The attitude of the Singapore Govt is "if foreigners are outclassing local job candidates, then we want the better foreigners working here, and the locals to up their game. Either that or they can go find work elsewhere."

Malaysia's work culture is largely a hit and miss. There is this culture of laziness that's rather prevalent here, particularly for the more privileged ethnic groups. With those who are not from those ethnic groups, they tend to overcompensate because they need excel to have a chance at just getting by. Government doesn't offer as much of a helping hand. All the big, successful private companies in Malaysia, such as Flexiroam, Air Asia, Maxis, Foreign Banks, are run and managed by such people.