General

马来西亚曾经是新冠抗疫的模范生，去年五月结束MCO1.0以后，确诊病例控制得宜，经济在6、7、8月也迅速回弹，显见行动限制如果及早执行，阻断传播效果就会显著，但得付出沉重的经济代价，国内生产总值于3个月内损失600亿令吉。

然而，自去年9月沙巴州大选以后，整个疫情的局面就彻底改变了。从今年年初到8月10号为止，确诊人数从11万3千人暴增到1百32万人，增幅高达10倍；确诊死亡人数从471人激增到1万1千1百62人，增幅高达23倍，死亡率也从当时的每1千宗确诊病例就有4人去世的情况恶化到每1千宗病例便有8人撒手人寰。

国行上周公布的第二季经济表现也表明经济复苏来到6月份就放缓了下来，经济复苏会在这几个月跌至谷底，唯有冀望在全国疫苗接种顺利达标和国内医疗体系能够撑得住的情况下，经济可在最后的三个月回弹。

这几个月以来的防疫到底哪里出了差错？除了冀望疫苗接种，我们不能够再做些什么了吗？更何况现在困扰着我们的不仅是公共卫生危机、经济复苏无力，还有那令人厌恶的政治动荡！抗疫和复苏之路会否走得更坎坷？

这一期节目，我们有民主行动党全国政治教育主任兼柔佛州主席刘镇东 来和我们聊一聊。

On the Breakfast Grille today, we ask Dr. Bridget Welsh, Honorary Research Associate, Nottingham University Malaysia and Jahabar Sadiq, Editor-in-Chief, The Malaysian Insight to share their thoughts. What does this mean for the country moving forward? Who will take over and how will this change the Malaysian political landscape in the years to come?

Is this Anwar's race to lose? And are there only two choices: collab or collapse?

Image credit: shutterstock.com

Last week, the outgoing Perikatan Nasional government announced the launching of ‘Perkukuh’, a three-year programme that targets to reform and future-proof six GLICs (PNB, Khazanah, EPF, LTAT, LTH and KWAP). We ask economist, Dr Nungsari Ahmad Radhi on the urgency and purpose of this programme, and what will happen now with the collapsed PN government.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

We turn to James Dorsey to get his perspective on the recent United States withdrawal from Afghanistan resulting in the Taliban seizing Kabul paving the way for them to take control of the country after 20 years in exile.

Image credit: Shutterstock.com

Tony Nash shares the implication on markets as a result of the double whammy of weakening consumption sentiment in both US and China. He also explains how intrinsically linked the US and China's economies are despite the ongoing tensions on the surface.

从一瓶洗发精到一套个护品，「绿色永续」的理念，其实才是欧莱德商品目录上的王牌。奉行「环境、社会暨企业治管（Environmental, Social, and Corporate Governance）」理念，让欧莱德不仅仅是一家屡获奖项的优秀商业个体；更成为一家反思市场定位、实践可持续发展的绿色企业。实际上，这也正是环球商界万不可漠视的关键议题。富可敌国也好；初出茅庐也罢——取之社会的盈利商业户，又该如何用之社会呢？面对同业的质疑，在商言商，欧莱德也提供了自证产品天然用料的最佳示范。那么，在公关危机这根稻草足以压垮骆驼的网络时代，企业能以何种科学手段化危机为转机？本期节目，台企欧莱德总经理 Yvone 蔡怡颖，作客分享绿色时代的营商之道。

With our eyes set on unearthing the freshest flavours from unexpected places, we widen our scope with hand-picked musical gems from all across Asia. The 0108 SLATAN crew joins us for a chat to give some updates on the collective's first ever Slatan Energy Jersey merch, their plans to establish an online marketplace, the importance of creating a community, and more. 

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0:56 - Offgrid - Selalu Ada

3:37 - S.A.C. - Call Kaki

6:26 - ChronicalZ - TAK SLATT.

10:01 - Gard - OVERDOO

12:57 - 0108 SLATAN Interview

30:59 - NOBI - DEMIYU

34:55 - CLUMSYGANG, Ichu, Yung Sylvester, OmarKENOBI - LIFE

37:56 - Exactesy - WTF

41:06 - Astral Angels, lurkboy, NUZZi, Manska - idontneedu!

44:03 - F.Rider - Same Clouds

48:46 - Gard Wuzgut - Wonderland

Phrases like “KO” and “Here Comes A New Challenger” have reverberated in arcades worldwide for years as gamers spent their time and hard-earned money mastering and challenging others at Street Fighter, King of Fighters, Tekken and many other fighting games. These games then took a temporary dip in popularity as other genres became popular, but the resurgence in competitive gaming, as well as certain franchises, brought the genre back to life. In this episode, we’re going to look at how fighting games started, what made them so popular, and how they have survived all these years.

IMAGE SOURCE: SHACKNEWS

Arsenal lose to Brentford on Friday. Paul Pogba & Bruno Fernandes turn it on for the fans at Old Trafford. Chelsea live up to their pre season favourites tag. Leicester are still reliant on Jamie Vardy. Will we see more fight from Brighton this season? Will Rafa be loved? How much is David Moyes loved? And Spurs show that they can survive without Harry Kane. A lookback at an evenful opening weekend of the EPL.

Two different artists with different styles come together in Between Spaces to reflect on their experiences and emotions during the Covid-19 pandemic. Caryn Koh’s paintings display a pervasive sense of loneliness by using the figure of a woman in soft, pastel tones, while Wong Ming Hao uses his face and figure with acrylic paint-skins to depict an isolated world where people often present a version of themselves. We review the exhibition, and discuss how art has been representing the pandemic.

Everyone's A Critic is jointly presented with CENDANA. For updates on Malaysian arts and culture, visit BASKL.

Image Source: Between Spaces by Caryn Koh and Wong Ming Hao