Paying tribute to all Malaysians for his success today, badminton veteran Lee Chong Wei recalled a poignant moment in his badminton history in Sarawak which he says is still etched in his mind.
In a Facebook post celebrating Malaysia Day, Chong Wei said one of his most memorable games was the final match at the Malaysia Open in 2006 played in Kuching, Sarawak.
“I faced Lin Dan. The battle on the court was fierce, but what truly gave me strength was not my racket nor my skills.
“It was the voices of Malays, Chinese, Indians, Kadazan, Dusun, Iban, Bidayuh, Orang Ulu, Melanau and others, all shouting as one: ‘Malaysia Boleh!’
“Those shouts gave me the belief to make a comeback from being down 13-20 (in the rubber game),” he said, making the case for true Malaysian unity.
Chong Wei won the championship after taking nine straight points to win the final game 22-20, sending the whole nation into a frenzy of joy.
According to reports, many had assumed that Lin Dan had taken an unassailable lead and some people had also started to leave the stadium.
Chong Wei said, however, that moment of unity still echoed in his heart.
“Different races, different states, different cultures. But at that moment, there were no differences. Only one identity: Malaysian. That was the real victory that night. A victory that proved Malaysians can be one,” he said.
Chong Wei said his prayer, on a day that means a lot to Malaysians, is that they will hold on to this spirit of unity tightly.
“Never let politics divide us. Never let selfishness tear apart the unity our forefathers fought to build.
“To all Malaysians, from the peninsula to Sabah and Sarawak, I wish you a heartfelt Selamat Hari Malaysia,” he said.
