There are moments in life that remind us – not through grand speeches or political slogans, but through pure human emotion – who we really are as Malaysians.
Recently, one such moment came from an unexpected place: a simple sports photograph in our national newspapers.
A single frame. Three people. One powerful story.
It was the picture of Pearly Tan and M Thinaah, our formidable women’s doubles badminton pair, glowing with pride as they lifted the Japan Masters title in Kumamoto. Standing behind them was their coach, the steady, humble, and immensely respected Rosman Razak.
At first glance, it was just a celebration of sporting excellence.
- Sign up for Aliran's free daily email updates or weekly newsletters or both
- Make a one-off donation to Persatuan Aliran Kesedaran Negara (ALIRAN), Maybank a/c 507246118995 or CIMB a/c 8004240948
- Make a pledge or schedule an auto donation to Aliran every month or every quarter
- Become an Aliran member
But when I looked deeper, I felt something stir within me – something I hadn’t felt in a long time. Hope. Pride. And a longing for the Malaysia we all used to believe in.
That photograph wasn’t just about badminton. It was a living image of unity – real unity, not the kind politicians talk about during elections. An ethnic Malay coach. An ethnic Chinese player. An ethnic Indian player. Three hearts beating in one rhythm, one mission, one dream.
This is Malaysia. This is who we are. This is who we must never forget to be.
A victory of shared soul
In 54 minutes, Pearly and Thinaah fought past Japan’s Rin Iwanaga and Kie Nakanishi in a nail-biting 22-20, 21-19 match.
But beyond the scoreline, their victory carried a bigger truth – the undeniable strength of our diversity.
The national women’s doubles head coach Rosman Razak, a Malaysian through and through, did what many thought was difficult: he nurtured two strong, spirited, brilliant women from different backgrounds and moulded them into a world-class force.
His leadership was built not on ego, but on humility. Not on fear, but on trust. Not on division, but on harmony.
He proved that when we focus on potential instead of prejudice, when we celebrate differences instead of fearing them, greatness happens.
This trio is the best of Malaysia. The Malaysia we love.
The Malaysia we fear we are slowly losing.
Where are we headed?
While these three Malaysians rise together on foreign soil, back home we are fighting battles we never asked for.
Suddenly, we are being told what concerts we can attend. What drinks we can or cannot enjoy. What clothing adults should wear in their private lives. What events should be allowed or banned. Every other week, there is a new list of prohibitions, warnings, moral policing, and emotional threats disguised as ‘guidance’.
And many of us quietly ask ourselves: Is this truly the Malaysia we want? Are we allowing small-minded voices to dictate the lives of a peaceful majority? Are we sliding down a path where fear replaces freedom, suspicion replaces trust, and division replaces unity?
Unity is not built by force. Morality is not enforced through policing. Harmony is not created through fearmongering.
Real unity is built the way Rosman built his team – through respect, patience, understanding and heart.
Malaysia deserves better
Let’s be honest: Malaysia’s biggest enemy has never been ethnicity or religion.
Our biggest enemy has always been those who profit from dividing us – those who play race cards like cheap poker, who inflame fear for votes, who thrive on keeping communities suspicious of one another.
These are not leaders, thinkers or visionaries. These are small-minded individuals who cannot see beyond their own political survival.
While they shout about differences, people in Malaysians are busy living side by side, working together, eating together, doing business together and winning together – as Rosman, Pearly and Thinaah did.
Ordinary people in Malaysia never needed saving from each other. We needed saving from those who use us as pawns.
And that is why this picture – this innocent badminton victory – hit me so deeply.
The Malaysia worth fighting for
When I saw that photograph, I didn’t see ethnicity, labels or political narratives forced upon us.
I saw three Malaysians standing as one. I saw what we could achieve if we stopped fighting imaginary enemies created by insecure leaders. I saw what our children could become if we gave them a country free from unnecessary suspicion and moral policing.
I saw the Malaysia we must protect from extremism, overreach and those who want to turn this country into a hardline state foreign to its own history.
This land was built on warmth, hospitality, friendship and mutual respect. Not fear. Not suspicion. Not force.
We were never meant to live under constant reminders of what we ‘cannot’ do. We were meant to grow, to dream, to excel – together.
Rosman, Pearly and Thinaah – our national compass
If Malaysia wants to rise, the path is already shown to us: trust over suspicion; unity over division; freedom over fear; respect over policing; heart over politics.
Look at how they move on court. Look at how they lean on each other. Look at how they never blame, never point fingers, never turn against one another.
Imagine if Malaysia were governed that way.
Imagine if every child saw themselves in that trio and believed, “I belong here. I matter. I can rise.”
Imagine if every ministry, every association, every leader embraced our diversity the way Rosman embraces his players.
Malaysia would soar.
A final plea
To coach Rosman, Pearly Tan and M Thinaah – thank you. You have given us more than a title. You have given us a reminder of the Malaysia we once knew and the Malaysia we still have a chance to become.
To those in power – stop dividing us. Stop playing with race. Stop feeding insecurities for short-term glory. Lead with courage, not fear. Protect unity, not extremism.
To ordinary people in Malaysia – hold the line. Hold the hope. Hold each other. We do not need to become another country. Our strength has always been our differences coming together – not tearing each other apart.
If a Malay coach, a Chinese player and an Indian player can conquer the world arm-in-arm, then surely we can build a Malaysia that refuses to be broken by small minds and loud voices.
Malaysia boleh (can do it) – but only if Malaysia works as one.
Amarjeet Singh
Aliran newsletter
23 November 2025
Translation by: Zikri Rahman
AGENDA RAKYAT - Lima perkara utama
- Tegakkan maruah serta kualiti kehidupan rakyat
- Galakkan pembangunan saksama, lestari serta tangani krisis alam sekitar
- Raikan kerencaman dan keterangkuman
- Selamatkan demokrasi dan angkatkan keluhuran undang-undang
- Lawan rasuah dan kronisme
Let unity and common sense prevail. We’re free to do anything as long as it is within the frame of our own religions, beliefs and rights . As a Chinese I don’t want my rights to be curbed as well as the Malays, Indians and the natives too . That’s the making of a unique society
I always feel that Malaysian, if left to their own, would create a harmony and united nation. Probably the most unique, if not the only one, truly multicultural country in the world. Malaysia today, has been ruin by politicians who only know how to play the race and religion cards.
Well ICERD waiting to be ratify since Malaysia is a nation of ethnic marginalisation and discrimination taking into account that one single ethnic … needed handouts and all kinds of intervention to hold them from falling… without elimination of racial intimidation and discrimination , no chance for true unity eternally…
Artikel yg bagus. Tetapi membandingkan dengan budaya dan agama itu kurang tepat. Misalnya takkanlah orang Muslim perlu minum arak?atau orang Hindu kena makan lembu. Kan itu dilarang oleh agama mereka. Jadi wajarlah jika ada pihak se-agama yg menegur saudara mereka.
Kudos Amarjeet.
Perhaps we should ban race based political parties and associations as a start.
The voice that objects is the one that will use racial card on every thing.
Let’s see who will object.
Latif
Awesome writing.
A picture really speaks a thousand words! This is d Malaysia we want for our future generations. A Malayaia we grew up in untainted by d greed and divisiveness we see today. A Malaysia our first Prime Minister envisioned. A Malaysia we can all be proud of. Malayis Boleh indeed!