KUCHING: As Malaysians observe Merdeka Day today, retired national professional badminton player Datuk Lee Chong Wei has called on Malaysians to strengthen their unity despite differences in race and religion.
Lee penned a beautiful and strong message on his Facebook page, urging Malaysians not to let petty things tear them apart.
“We Malaysians lepak sekali, mamak sekali and look after one another despite our race,” he said in his Facebook post yesterday.
He urged the country to not let issues like Dong Zong or khat tear Malaysia apart and to not let others spread racial hate. Lee also urged Malaysians to not let insensitive people pull them out of their sanity and not let the anasir jahat defeat the country and its people.
“We cheer for our country. Are we going to stop all these because of one random voice?” he asked, adding that Malaysians can do better than focusing on petty issues.
“Show that we are much better than all this nonsense. Spread love and not hate,” he pointed out.
He said he was unhappy when he saw a content that was posted on social media.
“Friends and fans are shooting vulgarities at each other, all due to small issues. This is not the Malaysia I fought for,” he said.
He recalled during the 2006 Malaysian Open final with China badminton player Lin Dan when his fans of all races had prayed for him to win.
“I was tired and dejected. I looked up to the crowd. Their vociferous support never wavered. Then I saw a Malay girl, maybe around eight years old putting both her hands together with her eyes closed. She was praying for me.
“On the other side of the stadium I saw an Indian girl crying. I don’t know if she was crying for me but I assumed she was. Then at another corner, my friend’s son, a 10-year-old Chinese boy, was shouting my name so loud.
“I knew I couldn’t give up. A Malaysia consisting of kawan, ah ne, and Heng Dai. A colourful Malaysia. A Malaysia where I eat roti canai for breakfast, nasi lemak for lunch and char koey tiao for dinner,” he said.
He then said he wants his sons and grandchildren to have multi-racial friends.
“I want them to feel safe in Malaysia. I want to them to fight for the flag, like how I did for you all in the last decade.”
