Recognising diverse contributions

THE Rio Olympics are our most successful to date. At the time of writing, divers Pandelela Rinong and Cheong Jun Hoong have won silver in the women’s synchronised 10-metre platform, cyclist Azizulhasni Awang has won bronze in the men’s keirin, shuttlers Chan Peng Soon and Goh Liu Ying have won silver in the mixed doubles and Lee Chong Wei could be en route to silver ( playing today’s semifinal). Amidst the samba, compatriots may have overlooked Ng Eain Yow winning the Squash World Junior Championship in Poland last week: if squash was an Olympic sport (it isn’t partly because the influential countries who largely determine which games get chosen are unlikely to win medals), we might have obtained a gold in Rio already (and of course in previous Olympics courtesy of Datuk Nicol David).

With these successes, the Malaysia Boleh spirit is palpable at mamaks, in shops, even in lifts. Seeing athletes of different backgrounds dedicating their achievements to the country naturally amplifies our own patriotism. But still there are those wishing to contaminate these precious happy moments much needed in our country at this time. On a celebrity’s Instagram post wishing good luck to Lee Chong Wei, one commenter lamented that our top athletes were not Malay; thankfully other commenters criticised that individual – not insultingly, but firmly, appealing to reason and our country’s multiracial reality.

A more contested argument was triggered by an army veteran taking issue with the lifelong pensions of RM3,000 awarded to our divers for achieving the silver medal, especially when compared to the sacrifices of servicemen.

Sporting achievements in the name of the nation are indeed difficult to remunerate. While many sports competitions give cash prizes to champions (Andy Murray received £ 2,000,000 for winning the men’s singles at Wimbledon this year), many countries do not reward their gold medal winners (he received £ 0 for winning the men’s singles tennis at Rio).

What is the value of bringing glory to the country? Of lifting the moods of millions of people wishing for Malaysia to be seen in a good light internationally? Certainly many gold medallists will go on to secure lucrative sponsorship deals in the private sector, but how much public money should our national athletes get (especially when you bear in mind that the training of our athletes is itself often funded by the taxpayer)? And should all sports be treated equally, given some involve costlier training, or attract a bigger crowd than others? And how do you divvy up rewards to teams – and of coaches? As we achieve greater sporting prowess, citizens will continue asking these questions, and it is important that the answers are transparent – as in any scenario in which public money is spent.

A serviceman of a different kind provided an excellent service this week when the air conditioning unit in my office broke down. Mr San said there was a fault with the compressor located outside, but the only way to access it (with the equipment readily available) was to use a long ladder to descend to a lower roof, and then redeploy the same ladder to climb back up to the unit, perch precariously against a windowsill, unscrew the casing and do the actual repair before hauling up a gas canister to recharge the refrigerant.

When he described this procedure to me, I asked whether it was safe.

He was bewildered by the question – insulted, almost – saying that he does this all the time and there was nothing to worry about. Sure enough, in about 15 minutes Mr San had restored my ability to work in sub-20 degree temperatures, and then we started talking about Lee Chong Wei’s chances.

Up and down the country are people who work in similar situations every day. With little regard for health and safety procedures (and no thought of the possibility of an accident) such workmen help keep our offices – and indeed, our economy – going. Their monetary rewards are determined predominantly by market forces (modified by regulations like minimum wages and compulsory insurance), but though I thought the invoice was fair ( plus a tip for efficiency) – Mr San could also argue that he risks life and limb every day.

Indeed, services to the nation are often considered in a different light than services in the private sector: even seen to be more of a “sacrifice” – and though debates can be had about whether military or sporting contributions are “worth more”, their earnings are still usually miniscule compared to those of public officials who sacrifice their principles for personal financial gain.

The MACC’s recent raids are promising, but until we address the scourge of grand corruption, we devalue not just our athletes and veterans, but honest air conditioner repairmen too.

Tunku Zain Al-Abidin founding president of Ideas. is