The recent incident, which saw national shuttler S.Kisona being subjected to racist remarks on social media, should never have happened. Sports are beautiful, bringing out the best in every athlete, and even more so if they are competing for their country.
I believe every national representative has the same dedication, commitment and, above all, the perseverance to do their best for Malaysia. I can safely say that those values are stitched not only into the Jalur Gemilang on their sports jerseys, but also in their hearts.
Our Malaysian reps go through plenty of preparation, training and sweat. Their hard work and merit must be respected regardless if they bring home medals or not. There is no need to criticize unnecessarily if things do not turn out well and there is certainly no need to make racist remarks.
Let us truly embrace the spirit of Keluarga Malaysia. Do not let it just be another slogan that gets forgotten as the days and years go by. The values of respect, humility, moderation and kindness must not only be seen to be practised, but be made a Malaysian way of life. Practise respect and equality and believe in the good of others.
The sense of unity is alive and strong within our society. This camaraderie has guided us through thick and thin. I cannot deny that there will be instances where the spirit of unity we have fought so hard to keep will be put to the test. However, do not let your trust, belief and faith in unity be swayed by selfish individuals or isolated cases.
Shifting the focus back to the case of the national shuttler, I know nothing can undo a mistake made. However, let us truly embrace the Malaysian spirit, forgive, and forget.
We are also not clear of danger just yet with regards to the COVID-19 pandemic. Let our unity as one serve as a source of strength and light to guide us out of this stormy weather.
Yeap Ming Liong
Disclaimer: The views and opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official policy or position of Ipoh Echo.
