IT’S officially Day 5 of the KL Southeast Asian Games (Sea Games) 2017 and Malaysia has succeeded in pulling past the halfway mark of its 111 gold medals target. It stands at 57 gold medals now with another six days to go.

This 29th Sea Games in capital city Kuala Lumpur has been a revelation of sorts for Malaysia’s athletes, who are usually plagued with poor performances and derided for being also-rans.

Credit must go to the various sports associations, the athletes and the infectious optimism and encouragement of the popular Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin. Some call it the KJ Sea Games rather than the KL Sea Games.

The Umno Youth leader is a lot more popular outside his party and among young Malaysians and the continuing success in the KL Sea Games has added to the adulation although he is also the object of scorn and envy among powerful stakeholders in the country, including some in Umno.

At various venues, young fans wait for him and scream his name but as the Sultan of Johor’s challenge for a polo match shows, not everyone is enamoured despite KJ himself taking part in the games in the polo event.

Some felt he overdid the apples polishing bit by taking the KL Sea Games 100m winner Khairul Hafiz Jantan of Malaysia to meet Prime Minister Najib Razak and other VIPs watching the athletics finals.

Perhaps it was the exuberance and excitement of the win but Malaysia has not seen such a gold strike since it last hosted the Sea Games in 2001. There is much to celebrate in just five days of the sporting event.

From Day 1 to now and until the closing ceremonies on August 30, the KL Sea Games must be about Malaysia and Malaysians, not petty jealousies or scorn, challenges or the few unsportsmanlike incidents that have marred the euphoria generated by our athletes and the various sports teams.

The KL Sea Games 2017 is about rising together, be it in Malaysia or within the Asean region that celebrates 50 years as a grouping. It is not about belittling one another, or settling old scores or spawning a backlash that sours a golden moment.

Credit must be given where it is due. Malaysian athletes from a state ruler to a minister to the cream of the crop are doing their best for the country and their fellow Malaysians.

Let’s not take this moment away from them. – August 24, 2017.