There was good reason for this. Until a few years ago, Malaysia was getting a lot of good press for its rapid advances in the pursuit of democratic ideals and economic development.
Today, however, an increasing number of people around the world are turning away from that reverential attitude, replacing it with disappointment and maybe even disgust.
Numerous scandals are plaguing us, extremist Muslims and Malay supremacists are on the rise and we’re even finding it hard to catch up with neighbouring countries that were way behind us in economic development less than a decade ago.
It seemed like hosting the 2017 SEA Games was a golden opportunity for Malaysia to show the world that regardless of how bad things may look, Malaysians have always been a hospitable people and that the cultural values associated with that quality will ensure we will survive our challenges and won’t go to the dogs.
Indeed, many used to talk or write about how well-mannered Malaysians were compared to others when they watched sporting events. Some said that the manners we displayed at such events showcased our contentment with our multicultural identity.
Some of us were probably hopeful that the SEA Games could take away some of the bad press we have lately been subject to.
However, that opportunity has been crushed by incompetence and the misbehaviour of some hoodlums.
Indonesians were recently up in arms because our officials did not care to make sure that their flag was correctly displayed in a souvenir booklet distributed during the games’ official opening on Saturday. It was printed upside down.
Some social media users are saying the Indonesians were giving an exaggerated reaction to an honest mistake, but those people should try hanging the Malaysian flag upside down this month in celebration of Merdeka and see where that will get them.
Indonesia’s flag has a simple bicolour design with two equal horizontal bands. So it takes a lot of carelessness, if not stupidity, to get it so wrong.
Also in the news recently was a 20-second video that went viral on the internet precisely because it showed a bunch of Malaysians displaying bad manners in a fit of jingoism as they watched last week’s football match between Malaysia and Singapore. Calling themselves Ultras Malaya, they chanted “Singapore anjing (dog)” and one of them stuck out his middle finger to the players on the pitch.
The original purpose of the SEA Games was to strengthen bonds among the countries in Southeast Asia. When it was proposed more than half a century ago by the Thai Olympic Committee vice-president Luang Sukhum Nayaoradit, the rationale given was that a regional sports event would help promote co-operation and understanding.
What would Luang think of Malaysians today?