Success of Malaysian SEA Games contingent sets the tone for National Day

PETALING JAYA: It is a march of victory and pride for high-spirited Malaysians to Dataran Merdeka today to celebrate National Day. National fervour is at an all-time high a day after Malaysia concluded its most successful 29th SEA Games today
What sets this year's celebration apart from the past is the exuberance and strong sense of patriotism sparked by the successful Malaysian contingent at the regional Games, which drew to a conclusion just a day before Merdeka Day.
Malaysia topped the medal tally, besting 11 nations by bagging 145 gold medals and leaving Thailand a distant second by more than 70 medals.
What made the games even more memorable was that the glorious triumph was achieved on home ground, with 844 national athletes hauling more than the targeted 111 gold medals.
The sporting event was without doubt a show of unity for Malaysians of various backgrounds and beliefs as they rallied together in support of national heroes such as Khairul Hafiz Jantan, N. Thanabalan and Goh Jin Wei.
Malaysian football legend Datuk Santokh Singh has always regarded sports as the best catalyst in boosting unity among Malaysians of diverse backgrounds.
"Sports has always been the medium to unite people, and the SEA Games has been successful in doing that," he said.
"Many people from different races and backgrounds have given their support to the nation first before thinking about anything else," Santokh told theSun.
"Malaysia has reached its 111 gold medal target, and we have obtained 145 gold medals. It is our best performance in the SEA Games, and the tremendous achievement has helped a lot in hyping up the Merdeka Day celebrations."
Santokh suggested that Malaysia continue to bid for other international sporting events to reinforce the nationalism spirit.
"Events such as this should be continued because when we have something to cheer. This is the time when your nationalism spirit is heightened. This is also the time we can see people from different races sitting side by side in cheering for their nation," he said.
Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Tan Sri Joseph Kurup agreed that the SEA Games had created "moments of unity" for National Day. He called for the momentum to be maintained.
Kurup, who is in charge of national unity, added that fractions or disunity would not occur among Malaysians if they held true to the principles embedded in the Rukun Negara.
Highlighting sports as an important mechanism of unity, he said such games could eliminate the domination of one particular ethnic group, as well as contributing to the "one nation, one vision" spirit.
"Such instances can be seen during the semifinal football match between Malaysia and Indonesia. I can see youths of various races drinking together in a mamak restaurant to give their support to the national team," he said.
"What's even more pleasant was scenes of our younger generation hugging each other at the victory of Malaysian team."
Kurup said such sporting event should be maintained, especially at the district and state level as it could inculcate interaction among the various races.
Gerakan vice-president Datuk Dr Asharuddin Ahmad said the triumphant sports serving as a run-up to the National Day had indeed created the "feel good factor" in fostering the national unity.
Asharuddin, who is also the party's national unity bureau chairman, added that the SEA Games had brought Malaysians closer before the National Day celebrations.
"This is the time for us to continue with the euphoria by saying no to racism, especially with the visibly heightened patriotism spirit among Malaysians after the games," he said.
"Today will be a very good for everybody," he stated.