Sarawak Sukma XXI celebrates unity in diversity, says Archbishop Simon Poh

KUCHING (Sept 12): The recent Malaysia Games (Sukma) XXI in Sarawak has been hailed as a symbol of Malaysia’s unity in diversity, said Catholic Bishops Conference of Malaysia (CBCM) president and Kuching Roman Catholic Archbishop, Simon Poh.

He said the sporting event showcased Malaysia’s ability to unite in harmony, despite its rich tapestry of cultural and ethnic differences.

Apart from that, he also commended the Sukma XXI opening and closing ceremonies for reflecting the spirit of national unity, in contrast to the controversial opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics in which he expressed disappointment with the portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” during the Paris event, calling it disrespectful and offensive to religious sensibilities.

He also commended the opening and closing ceremonies of Sukma XXI for embodying the spirit of national unity, which was in contrast with the controversial portrayal of Leonardo da Vinci’s “Last Supper” during the opening ceremony of the Paris Olympics, which he found disrespectful and offensive to religious sentiments.

“Malaysia held our Sukma XXI a few weeks ago, and the ceremonies celebrated the unity in diversity of our nation.

“The various cultures and ethnicities came together in sports, and through RTM’s live broadcast, which utilised 5G-Advanced digital technology, the whole nation could witness and celebrate the talents of our young generation,” Poh said in his Malaysia Day message today.

Commenting further, he said the Sukma XXI ceremonies had captured the essence of what it means to be Malaysian, with spectators and netizens praising Sarawak’s efforts.

He said comments such as “Hebat Sarawak… Sukma opening ceremony lebih hebat daripada Olimpik Paris” and “Paris should learn from this” had reflected national pride.

In contrast, Poh criticized the Paris Olympics ceremony for straying from the Olympic spirit, which seeks to foster global unity through sport, culture, and education.

He stressed that Malaysia’s Sukma ceremonies honored the country’s diverse cultural traditions and gave proper respect to all participants, embodying the true spirit of unity and friendship.

“This is the true spirit of being Malaysian – from Sabah, Sarawak, and Semenanjung. As we approach Malaysia Day on 16th September, we must embody the theme ‘Malaysia Madani: Jiwa Merdeka,’ symbolising the integration of our different cultures and ethnicities,” he said.

Poh also reiterated the importance of the Madani core values – sustainability (keMampanan), prosperity (kesejahteraan), innovation (Daya cipta), respect (hormat), trust (keyakinan), and compassion (ihsan).

Reflecting on the recent celebrations of self-governance and independence in Sarawak, Sabah, and Peninsular Malaysia, Poh called on Malaysians to work toward nation-building beyond slogans.

He thus urged Malaysian citizens to join hands in celebrating unity and diversity with mutual respect for all races, cultures, and religions.

The archbishop concluded his message with a prayer for peace and unity, quoting 1 Timothy 2:1-2: “May petitions, prayers, intercession, and thanksgiving be made for all people—for kings and all those in authority, that we may live peaceful and quiet lives in all godliness and holiness.”

He concluded by wishing all Malaysians a Happy 61st Malaysia Day, reminding them to continue fostering harmony and respect in the spirit of the nation’s founding values.