THIS could be the year of triumph -- a gold medal in the Olympics at long last for Malaysia. It is not a ridiculous prospect by any means, because badminton has the potential to clinch it in Beijing.
This is the best chance of glory for Malaysian badminton, which could only, so far, bring in one silver and two bronze medals in the four Olympic Games the sport had contested since Barcelona 1992.
The brightest hope this time lies in Lee Chong Wei in the men's singles and the men's doubles' pair of Koo Kien Keat and Tan Boon Heong, though dexterous Wong Mew Choo cannot be discounted in the women's singles.
However, the malaise of Malaysian sports, as everyone is familiar with by now, is the inconsistency of performance brought about largely by a glaring lack of mental strength and confidence. And because of this, the "big Malaysian hope" has been known to disappoint painfully in crucial moments far too many times.
So just imagine the exhilaration and joy an Olympic gold could bring to the country. For one, it would provide a soothing break from the intermittent feuds rocking our society from time to time.
A friend, Joachim, who sometimes crystal-gazes using numerology, says bickerings, including those involving racially-biased quarters, would continue to be an irritant in the country in the new year.
He says there would be differences among various groups which would boil over into the open, leading to uncertainties and divisions in political parties.
"But it would be nothing so serious that could threaten national security or anything like that," he adds. "In fact, the economy will hold."
Joachim's predictions, like astrology, should not be seen in the cold sober light of a clairvoyant but rather as just an amusing numbers game.
However, I must admit that about a year ago, some of his "calculations" for 2007 were quite accurate, especially forecasts about debates and squabbles among some sections of society as well as personal things about me.
He also mentioned about accidents and crime and that there would not be a general election in 2007.
I didn't want to believe him then about the general election, and now I have been proven wrong.
He says the election would be held in the latter part of the year and I am inclined to go along with him on that this time around.
The part about bickering Malaysians is quite significant because we are already seeing quite a bit of it now, the dichotomy intensifying on certain fronts and at times showing dangers of developing into serious splits.
Because of this, there was some anxiety following the assassination of former Pakistani prime minister Benazir Bhutto last Thursday.
This shocking turn of events has in a way raised fears -- misplaced or otherwise -- among some Malaysians that such acts might "inspire" certain quarters here to resort to the same means to settle discords.
Now that would be unthinkable.
It is good to know that Malaysians generally deplore violence and killings. Even opposition leaders were quick to condemn such acts.
Pas, for instance, came out with a strong condemnation through its deputy president, Nasharudin Mat Isa, who was quoted in Harakahdaily as saying the party was opposed to "any form of violence which could cause anarchy, including the events happening in Pakistan".
Pas, he said, was against any form of violence as this would cause hardship to the people.
But even if bloodshed and militancy are highly unlikely here, there appears to be more bickering now, which some people attribute to the more open environment on expression.
The opposition parties are said to be at odds with each other over the allocation of seats in their pact for the general election.
And there are internal wrangles as well within the Barisan Nasional, the latest resulting from a "hostile remark" made by a Gerakan Youth leader against Umno and a tirade against the Perlis menteri besar by a colleague.
It is interesting to note that as a consequence of the fallout from the controversy involving Gerakan Youth vice-chief S. Paranjothy, he is now being wooed by opposition Parti Keadilan Rakyat to switch camps.
Not only that, Gerakan, which is seen to be under tremendous pressure, is itself being courted to join the opposition alliance.
That makes for an enthralling prospect.
Not that Gerakan looks to be in any hurry to abandon its BN partners, but it can open up the huge ground of probabilities in the game of politics.
For instance, it could put the delicate formula observed by the BN component parties in Penang under severe test -- before or after the election.
As for the other rhubarb, the outburst by Umno secretary-general Datuk Seri Mohd Radzi Sheikh Ahmad against Perlis Menteri Besar Datuk Seri Shahidan Kassim has caught many, including political observers, by surprise.
It is quite rare for a serving Umno leader to attack another in the open like that, more so when both are from the same state.
A classic quote came from Umno supreme council member Datuk Ahmad Zahid Hamidi on this issue.
In a typical subtle Malay art of sarcasm, the deputy information minister, likening it to a marital dispute, said matters like this should have been settled dalam kelambu (in the mosquito net).
"But instead it blew up in the front yard."
Under the circumstances, dare we hope for an Olympic gold medal for Malaysia as a panacea?
The answer, as I have said, lies in how we plot the success. And the strategies must be carefully laid out from now. The players should be made to peak where and when it matters.
It lies as much in the mental strength of the players as their physical fitness.
The gold would do wonders as a respite from all the flap.
NST
No comments:
Post a Comment