Malaysia’s premier sports event nurtures national pride, harmony

KUCHING (Aug 17): The highly-anticipated 21st Malaysia Games (Sukma XXI), hailed as the largest edition ever in its history, officially kicked off with a spectacular opening ceremony here tonight.

Held at the newly-refurbished Sarawak Stadium in Petra Jaya, the event was a dazzling representation of sportsmanship, culture and unity celebrated, under the theme of ‘Semangat Perpaduan Membara’ (The Burning Spirit of Unity).

Thousands of spectators filled the stands.

Coming as the guests-of-honour were the Yang di-Pertua Sarawak Tun Pehin Sri Dr Wan Junaidi Tuanku Jaafar and his wife Toh Puan Fauziah Mohd Sanusi.

The evening commenced with a cultural performance that paid homage to Sarawak’s diverse ethnic groups, featuring traditional dances, music and a stunning light show.

The mass performing troupe, overall, comprised 1,800 participants including members of various associations, students from public and private institutions of higher education, as well as school students.

The highlight of the ceremony, which was broadcast live by Radio Televisyen Malaysia (RTM), TVS, and the Sarawak Public Communication Unit (Ukas) via their respective platforms, was the parade of 15 contingents representing 14 states and Federal Territories, as well as Brunei, with the participants proudly waving their respective flags.

Each passing delegation was met with enthusiastic applause, reflecting the strong support and camaraderie – in line with the spirit of Sukma.

The host, Sarawak, concluded the parade in style, with all 817 athletes being led by Deputy Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development Sarawak Dato Gerald Rentap Jabu, also serving as Sarawak Sukma XXI chef de mission.

The Sarawakians were accompanied by the official mascots, a pair of hornbills named ‘Satria’ and ‘Satrina’.

Jonah Chang Rigan, a 21-year-old national shot put champion from Sarikei, was given the honour of carrying the Sarawak flag, ‘Ibu Pertiwi’, for the contingent.

The parade concluded with a spirited shout of ‘Agi Idup Agi Ngelaban’ and procession of volunteers.

In her welcoming speech, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh emphasised the role of sports in bringing people together and building a stronger nation.

“Sarawak is the perfect place to realise the spirit of unity. I know that among the young athletes standing before me, some may be visiting Sarawak for the first time and perhaps interacting with peers from other states for the first time.

“As I look around the stadium tonight, I feel that this spirit of unity truly represents what Malaysia is all about.

“I want to emphasise the importance of sportsmanship. Regardless of the outcome, whether during or after the competition, be kind and respectful to one another. We celebrate fighters and not just the winners.

“When we enter the arena, we fight with all our might and never give up. This is my dream for every young athlete at Sukma. As the Iban proverb we all know goes ‘Agi Idup, Agi Ngelaban’,” she said.

Meanwhile, Premier Datuk Patinggi Abang Johari Tun Openg expressed pride in Sarawak’s role in hosting the biennial event.

“This year, Sukma is being held in Sarawak, and we are deeply honoured to host this meaningful event.

“One of the key aspects of Sukma is its significance as a major national event, where thousands of our young people gather, building cooperation and friendships. It also offers our youth the opportunity to be exposed to diverse traditions and cultures, particularly those unique to Sarawak.

“Sukma nurtures patriotism and national pride by bringing together participants from various states and ethnicities on a single platform, helping to strengthen the bonds among Malaysians from different backgrounds,” he said.

The ceremony continued with a symbolic opening by Wan Junaidi, which triggered a drone formation in the sky, spelling out key elements of Sukma XXI.

Following this, the Sukma flag was hoisted, serving as a powerful symbol of the unity and competitive spirit promoted by the Games, along with the Sukma XXI oath-taking ceremony.
Top Malaysian musical talents including Faizal Tahir, Jaclyn Victor and Marsha Milan then rocked the stage with their performances.

The memorable ceremony concluded with a torch relay led by Sarawakian boxer Daeloniel McDelong Bong, affectionately known as ‘Kilat Boy’.

A particularly poignant moment was the lighting of the Sukma torch by national diving queen Dato Pandelela Rinong, who ignited the flame symbolising the start of the Games.

This year’s Sukma features over 12,000 athletes and officials from across Malaysia and Brunei, participating in 488 events across 37 sports.

The scale of the event is reflected in its budget, with organisers investing around RM300 million to ensure an unforgettable experience for participants and spectators.

As the ceremony drew to a close, excitement for the days ahead was palpable.

Sukma, first introduced in 1986, was hosted in Sarawak twice: in 1990 and 2016.

Sarawak emerged the overall champion in the 1990 edition, and in 2016, it was just two gold medals short of defending the title.