At a time when Malaysian politics feels increasingly divided, it is often difficult to find common ground.

Yet on the night of August 31, one force reminded us that unity is still possible—sports.

The National Day celebration this year was marred by the so-called “upside-down flag” controversy. Instead of celebrating, many Malaysians felt discouraged from even hanging the Jalur Gemilang.

Opportunistic politicians like Dr Akmal Saleh capitalized the issue for political gain.

Worse still, they painted themselves as patriots while vilifying ordinary citizens for what were often innocent mistakes.

Malaysians, however, responded in their own ways.

On August 31, people of all races celebrated together—flags were waved, the national anthem was sung with pride, and a shared sense of identity on full display.

Even more powerful was the performance of our shuttlers.

Their grit, determination, and fighting spirit on the international stage expressed true patriotism far better than any politician’s rhetoric could.

That evening, Dr Akmal and his entourage basked in their earlier “theatrics” at a Penang hardware store. Would they be shameful of themselves if they watched the live telecast of the badminton tournament?

That night, if Dr Akmal and the followers who basked in their earlier “theatrics” at the Penang hardware store happened to be watching the live telecast of the badminton match, one wonders whether they would feel shame.

As youth leaders, they should be guiding the young, channeling their energy on positive platforms, showcasing the potential and creativity of the younger generation.

Yet, they rarely have positive calls to action nor they make good use of the vitality and drive of young people.

On the contrary, when it comes to teenagers becoming addicted to vaping, riding modified bicycles, or engaging in reckless motorcycle racing, they choose to turn a blind eye, allowing these problems to spread unchecked.

Such behaviors do not only endanger the physical and mental health of young people but also steadily erode the social resources and development potential of this country.

Without effective guidance and timely intervention, the nation will face a crisis of talent gaps and social stagnation in the future.

As a youth leader with influence among young people, Dr Akmal should be taking up the responsibility of providing positive guidance. He should be taking the initiative to organize more positive activities and personally participate in them.

Youths are the hope of the country—if leaders fail in their responsibilities and let hope turn into hidden dangers, the entire society will ultimately suffer.

It is indicated in the recent trend that young people are no longer interested in sports but choose to indulge themselves in playing games and watching short videos on smart phones. They spend time in virtual world after school hours.

As a youth leader with influence among young people, Dr Akmal should be taking up the responsibility of providing positive guidance.

He should be taking the initiative to organize more positive activities and personally participate in them—such as playing football or exercising together with the youth—building genuine connections and, through concrete actions, conveying positive values.

What society needs is not more inflammatory slogans or divisive rhetoric, but leaders who can lead by example and bring people together.

The unifying power of sports lies in its unique ability to transcend language, race, religion, and political stance.

Moreover, the spirit of perseverance, fair play and teamwork demonstrated in sport helps bridge social divides, enhance cohesion, and forge a deeper sense of unity.

That is why sports are often regarded as an important bond for national unity.

At the national day celebration held in Putrajaya, we applauded the vibrant youth dancers performing at the square. We also paid tribute to the military, police, firefighters, and civil defense personnel—not admiring their “muscles” on display, but their sacrifices and contributions in daily life.

At night, we cheered together for our national shuttlers competing in Paris.

On the court were Chinese and Indian players, guided by Malay coaches—a true reflection of seamless cooperation among our diverse communities.

We have always competed not as separate races, but as Malaysians, contributing our strengths and experience to create new records as world champions and runners-up.

This is the spirit of “Malaysia Boleh.”

As Jalur Gemilang was raised with national anthem in Paris, we saluted the rising flag, sang the anthem in Malaysia to honor our athletes.

That night, they gave Merdeka an extraordinary meaning—taking it back from the hands of politicians and returning it to the people.

Once again, they united the nation and proudly showcased the strength of Malaysia to the world.

That moment in time must be crafted on this land as our collective memory and a mirror to politicians.

The decision by Ministry of National Unity to appoint shuttlers Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah, winning silver in the women’s doubles at the World Badminton Championships, along with six other national athletes, as “Unity Icons 2025” is indeed a wise move.

They do not only bring honor to the country on the international stage but also serve as role models for the younger generation, reflecting the values of perseverance, grit, determination, and teamwork.

It is hoped that the Ministry of National Unity will go beyond symbolic appointments and draft concrete programs to bring these athletes into schools and communities, allowing them to engage directly with young people, inspire active participation in sports, promote healthy lifestyles and strengthen inter-ethnic understanding.

Let sports become the common language of all Malaysians. Let the spirit of our national teams become the driving force of unity.

Only then can the vision of a truly “Madani Malaysia” come alive in practice.

(Anthony Chong Lip Teck is Sin Chew Daily Leader Writer.)