©The
Sunday Star (Used by permission)
On The Beat by Wong Chun Wai
Lee Chong Wei and Misbun Sidek are showing how Malaysians can do so much if we
put aside race and religion and focus on commonalities instead of differences.
LEE Chong Wei has to be the true Malaysian hero as the nation prays that he will
deliver the first Olympics gold medal for the country. That would be the best
National Day gift!
At a time when some of our politicians are spewing racist and intolerant
religious views, watching our badminton hero keep the national flag flying is so
refreshing and motivating.
On Friday night, the nation cheered as Lee made history by becoming the first
Malaysian badminton singles player to reach an Olympics final.
The 26–year–old Penangite is now assured of at least a silver medal following
his victory over South Korea’s Lee Hyun–il. The last Olympics medals were a
silver and a bronze, won by badminton players Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in
the men's doubles and Rashid Sidek in the men's singles respectively at the
Atlanta Games in 1996.
But it was the front–page picture yesterday that said it all – a victorious Lee
hugging his coach Misbun Sidek.
There is so much Malaysians can do if we put aside race and religion and focus
on commonalities instead of differences.
We can talk of being a global player only when we can devote our attention to
competitiveness and excellence. The world waits for no one; and on the
international stage no one will have the patience to hear any kind of whining.
Like Rashid, Lee has proven what sheer grit and training can do if we set our
hearts and minds to doing something. They prove that Malaysians, regardless of
their race, can make it at the international stage where the rules are the same.
Lee is now one step away from achieving greater history. Certainly, we all
believe that the gold medal is on Lee's mind, not just the RM1mil incentive.
When he steps into the court today to face Lin Dan – currently the world's no 1
– he knows the whole of Malaysia is behind him.
For a moment at least, no one would bother to listen to the negativity expounded
by some of our politicians.
Lee is our champion – not the self–declared champion of their races, the very
same people who extolled the virtues of our education system in the name of
nationalism and yet packed off their children overseas, even at primary school
level.
Not the ruffians who cannot tolerate a divergence of views and forcibly broke
into the Bar Council forum.
Or the self–proclaimed heroes of our respective communities who talk about
patriotism but whom we suspect of squandering the nation’s wealth.
Then there are the self–appointed moral guardians who decide for us what we can
hear or see from their narrow perspective, and they haven’t even become the
government.
If Malaysians are disgusted by our politicians, they have plenty of good reasons
for being so, and since Aug 8, many have been seeking refuge by following the
Olympics.
From fencing to equestrian, where we have little knowledge of how the scores are
awarded, these sports are making more sense to us than the silly antics of some
politicians and activists.
Together with my family members and friends, we are ready with our Jalur
Gemilang to support Lee and we fervently hope he will beat China’s Lin Dan.
We are Malaysians, and like the rest of ordinary Malaysians, we want him to
bring back the best Merdeka gift for all of us.
Let’s set the mood for National Day by celebrating our diversity as an asset for
unity and achievements.
Chong Wei, thanks for what you have done. Malaysia is proud of you; you are a
true patriot!
Lee is our true Malaysian patriot
19 Aug 2008 12:00 am