WHERE politicians failed miserably, sportsmen succeeded remarkably! These 10 days, there were two large gatherings in the capital – one against ICERD (some say it was an expression of thanksgiving) and the other to support the Malaysian football team at the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup finals.

Though they were starkly different, they do say about the gulf between politicians and sportsmen, both who have the potential to unite a divided nation… one choosing to divide while the other unites.

On December 8, many politicians, elected or non-elected, from the previous government and those aligned to that government, chose to divide Malaysians.

They were not sensitive to the feelings of ordinary Malaysians and acted in a way to rile their supporters to act against other Malaysians. They focused on our differences and how we could never be Malaysians on a par with each other. These are supposedly community leaders – what a shambolic bunch!

However, three days later, the Malaysian football team hosted the first leg of the AFF Suzuki Cup final at Bukit Jalil Stadium and what an atmosphere.

Eleven men on the field were able to unite, not only 85,000 Malaysians at the stadium, but all over the country. Irrespective of religion, race or ethnicity, Malaysians were united by 11 men who did not have to rile the supporters to act against the others, but with no words uttered, united a nation. What a sight.

There untiring young men, who may not be fully schooled to understand the politics of governance, put most politicians to shame. These select group of people seem interested only to secure votes and taking care of their “own”, while these men were proud to wear the striped jerseys because it united all Malaysians to have just one voice – the voice for victory.

Did Malaysia lose at the AFF Suzuki Cup finals? Yes and no… we lost on the field but won elsewhere. We lost a match but won a nation.

There is more than just a football lesson that we can take home from this defeat. Despite the desperate attempts to regain power or even stay in power where politicians and religious leaders even “manipulated” religion in a way that would justify causing harm to another person, Malaysians showed that we can rise above such bigotry and that we are capable of uniting ourselves when it matters.

I am sure the Malaysian players and coaching staff are disappointed at the loss which is only natural but I would like to say to them, terima kasih and be proud of what you achieved beyond the football field.

Thank you for uniting us and making us see that we can come together, sit and stand side by side, high five one another, and be blind to our differences. You have made us feel truly Malaysians, unlike those politicians who tell other Malaysians that they are not welcomed here. You truly deserve to be Malaysian heroes.

Those politicians at the ICERD “gathering” certainly do not have the interest of Malaysians in their heart other than stroking racial hatred against each other.

When power is no longer on their side, they will instinctively use the “race card” to put fear in people even when fear neither exists nor justified. The moment they see us united, they want to disrupt it. In the words of John Quinton, “Politicians are people who, when they see light at the end of the tunnel, go out and buy some more tunnel”.

To all sportsmen and women out there, you are our hope and we look to you to remind us from time to time, both in victory and in defeat, that Malaysia is our country and we are proud to be Malaysians… negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku! – December 17, 2018.

* Dr Clarence Devadass is a Catholic priest and director of the Catholic Research Centre in Kuala Lumpur. Moral education is an issue close to his heart. He focuses on paving resourceful ways to promote virtues for living in a multireligious society, for a significant life together.

* This is the opinion of the writer or publication and does not necessarily represent the views of The Malaysian Insight. Article may be edited for brevity and clarity.