SEA Games stage for patriotism
> Malaysians demonstrated love for the country during the biennial event: Zahid
KUALA LUMPUR: All Malaysians clearly expressed their patriotism and love for the country during the 29th SEA Games that concluded yesterday, said Datuk Seri Dr Ahmad Zahid Hamidi.
The deputy prime minister said the expression was all the more prominent when Malaysian athletes achieved success and won medals at the biennial games.
“Gold medal victories saw the national flag raised. The national anthem reverberated. All Malaysians enthusiastically gave their total support to our national teams.
“For all the athletes, I feel this is a translation of the love for the country,” he said in a video clip containing his National Day 2017 speech that was uploaded onto Twitter yesterday.
Ahmad Zahid said he felt proud the undivided support from Malaysians for the national athletes did not have any prejudice against any community.
He said this clearly demonstrated the true value of Malaysian unity.
“We have to maintain this spirit for the sake of the country,” he said and wished everyone a Happy National Day.
The video clip, which runs for four minutes 51 seconds, starts off showing an interview of the Father of Independence Tunku Abdul Rahman who relates his struggle to secure independence for Malaya.
The first prime minister said that after seeing the failing British efforts against the communist terrorists, he felt the only way to overcome the communists was to gain independence.
“This is the only country in the world that fought the communist terrorists and won,” said Tunku. “Being so fortunate, it is left to the people to safeguard and preserve our country for our descendants to live in a sovereign and an independent nation.”
The video clip also portrayed Malaysia in modern times and showed the faces of several Malaysians who had brought fame to the country in various fields. – Bernama