Sports in Malaysia has shown that despite having distinct ethnic and
cultural diversity, it is indeed possible to create rapport through shared
mutual passion and even opposing rivalry, as it hones character
development and teambuilding.
Sports has shaped Malaysian society even before independence
The country has a long history with sports beginning from the colonial
era when the British introduced it in the 19th century.
This uniting legacy they left behind has grown in importance over the
years, and is now regarded as one of key elements in nation building.
Before the colonial occupation in Malaya, the Malay's sports culture was
mainly influence by animism, which is a belief that a vital force existed in
both human and animate objects.
Indigenous sports – related to culture and lifestyle just for entertainment
or celebrating event
Some examples of the influence of animism in sporting
activities during the era are
Silat a form of self defense which involves
meditation and spiritual powers
Kite flying it was believed that originally kites were
flown as a magical rite in association with the harvesting
of the rice fields
Top-spinning which was practiced by the aborigines who believed
that lightning is the flashing of top cords in heaven and thunder is the
murmuring of the tops as they spin
Cock-fighting involved the shaman specialist who were seen to
recite and blow incantation to the birds for blessing and charmed
water sprinkled over them.
Among the Indians however, the control of the Sri Vijayan Empire in the
Malaya Archipelago led to the influence of Hinduism in sports.
Sporting activities were performed mainly as a display of skill for public
entertainment purposes only especially on special occasions such as
wedding ceremonies.
In short, before the colonial occupation, the sporting activities were
much influenced by Animism and Hinduism.
During the British occupation in Malaya, the Chinese were brought in by
the British to work in tin mines and the Indians to work in rubber
plantation.
They each brought with them their culture and rituals, indirectly
influencing the locals.
However, the establishment of the colonial education by the British has
the most pervasive influence on the development of sports and sports
culture in Malaya and thus on the contemporary elite sports.
Colonial education also altered certain traditional values and also
influenced the mindset of the younger generation to practice western
values.
The introduction to colonial sports such as soccer, cricket, and rugby
spread like a wild fire among the local community.
Under the colonial rule, secular education was created that lead to
certain changed in the culture of the Malay society .
The colonial government’s approach to the education was elit and it lead
to the creation of a new elite group in the Malay society whose work was
associated with the colonial bureaucracy.
Individuals became western orientated in “taste and manners”,
conversant with the westerns administrative – political values and
institutions.
These groups provided political leadership and their existence changed
the social; structure of the Malays from a traditional society to one based
on achievements.
And it was the establishment of the colonial education that had the most
pervasive influence on the development of sports and sports culture in
the Malaya and thus on contemporary sport .
The Chinese and Indians who came with the different believe and
practices did not assimilate much into the Malay society.
Instead they were segregated into their own community with the
Chinese living within the tin mining community and the Indians with their
rubber plantation community.
The mining areas were mainly in town centers while the rubber
plantations were in the rural areas whereas the Malays remain in the
traditional village.
The Chinese were involved in basketball, the Indians in soccer and the
Malays in “sepakraga”.
In the early days, sports was managed by clubs and associations run
voluntarily by sports enthusiasts. Clubs were formed to manage training
and competitions were held between clubs and villages.
Before independence, there was no funding for the development of
sports which was sustained by vernacular and mission schools.
The rest of the population relied heavily on funds contributed by the
community, supporters, patrons and athletes themselves.
Such in the case of the Malayan weightlifters who participated in the
1950 British Empire Games, whereby the athletes had to pay their own
way to Auckland. Following victory including a gold medal, were their
passage reimbursed.
The All-England badminton championships from 1950-57 were
dominated by the likes of Wong Peng Soon and Eddy Choong.
Even before Merdeka, Malaya dominated the Thomas Cup from 1949 to
win three times (1949, 1952, 1955)
Participated in ASIAN Games – 1954 (Manila, Philippines)
Participated in Olympic Games – 1956 (Melbourne, Australia)
1952 – Introduced FAM Cup (“Piala FAM”) and Rahman Cup (“Piala
Rahman”) competitions
1957 – Stadium Merdeka was built, Malaysia’s independence was
declared, Initiated Independence Football Festival (“Pesta bola
Merdeka”)
1951-53 - All England Doubles [Champion (partner:
Datuk David Choong)]
1952 - Thomas Cup [Champion]
1953-54 - All England Singles [Champion]
1955 - Thomas Cup [Champion]
1956-57 - All England Singles [Champion]
1958 - Thomas Cup (Team Captain)
1983 - Veteran All England Doubles [Champion]
“Good things come
in small packages”
– Eddy Chong (The
Pocket Rocket)
1950 – the first Asian to win the All-England
Championships, and won the title again in 1951, 1952,
and 1955, earning him an international reputation as
the "Great Wong“
1952 - Thomas Cup [Champion]
1955 - Thomas Cup (Team Captain)
1950’s- won eight Malaysian Opens and seven Singapore Open
1956 - Wong was made a Member of the Order of the British Empire (MBE) for
services to sports in Malaya
1962 - the first-ever list of National Day honours, Wong was awarded the Sijil
Kemuliaan, the nation’s second-highest award and the highest award ever
bestowed on a sports personality.
1950 - 4 weigh - lifters from Malaya participated in the Empire Games in
Auckland under the Union Jack 2 Gold, 1 Silver and 1 Bronze.
Toh Fook Hung, Koh Eng Tong, Thong Saw Oak, and Tan
Kim Bee at the Auckland Empire Games 1950.
1941 – Federation Weightlifting Championship [Bronze
A Medal]
C
H 1948 – All China Olympic Meet (Shanghai -
I Middleweight) [Gold]
E
V 1950 – British Empire Games (Auckland –
E Featherweight) [Gold]
M
E 1951 – Ranked World’s Top Ten Lifter for Featherweight
N
T 1956 – National Weightlifting Championship [Crowned
S Champion of Champion]
Koh Eng Tong
“One should never be mean or 1956 – Represented Malaya at Olympic Games
cruel if one wants to live happily” (Melbourne – Featherweight) [17th]
1956 Melbourne Olympic Games six athletes, two
swimmers, 18 Hockey players, three Weightlifters and
four shooters (33)
only one female athlete Ms. Annie Choong
(Athletic)
The Hockey team finished 9th out of 12 teams
The Chef de Mission was Mr. Herman Marie de Souza
(Hockey)
The Flag Bearer was Tan Eng Bee (Weightlifting)
Malaya Contingent in 1956 Olympic
Since then the Olympic Council of Malaysia, as it is
Games, Melbourne
known since 1964, has been participating in all the
Olympic Games, except the 1980 Moscow Olympic
Games
Malaya send 8 athletes
Men's 4x400 m relay 5th , Women's relay
4x100 m 4th , Annie Choong 6th in long
jump
Although the athlete did not make any
great impression on these Games but
Back Row: Coach Lim Thye Hee, F.M.A.A.U President E. they introduced Malaya to the
M. McDonald, Federation's Chef de Mission N.M.
Vasagam
Middle Row: M. Harichandra, Balakrishnan, Gomes & international community as a sporting
Michael Parry.
Front Row: Annie Choong, Carmen Koel, Maureen Siebel
& Fay Siebel. nation of promising champion.
Malaysia achieved its independence from the British in 1957. The
segregation of the different races during the colonization period,
resulted in each race practicing its own sporting activity lacking in
integration of any of there races.
Sports in Malaysia after independence, was seen as a means directly to
develop the spirit of nationalism and national integration among the
multi-racial group.
In sports, nationalism formed the natural framework into which people
continued to group themselves and it provided consolidation in the
Malaysia multi racial society.
As such, the Malaysia government, through the National Sports Policy
implemented various projects which have developed the spirit of
nationalism among existing racial groups.
Nationalism and sports appeared to work in the same direction with one
promoting the other.
For example, sports became more closely linked to national symbol such
as the national anthem, national flag and national colors in all sporting
events.
At the same time the concept of national sports in reference to
indigenous sports were given more emphasis in the effort to establish a
national identity.
Sports programs and cultural activities were planned to create deeply
rooted national feeling of unity among multi racial groups that seem to
be an extension of feeling of togetherness and nationality on a large
scale
In most competitive sports, when Malaysians represented their nation,
they were considered to be contributing to nationalism.
In many cases they were sponsored by the government to represent the
country and they compete for national pride
Even with all these efforts, it seemed that they were not enough to
integrate the different races which had with them different practices and
believes, feeling of nationalism associated with their own races and the
like.
When they compete they compete for the pride of their own race instead
of competing for one nation.
Over the period of time this led to racial imbalance that eventually led to
the eruption of the May 13th racial riot incident in 1969.
As a result of the racial friction, the government felt that the different
races needed to integrate so that a more harmonious society can be
created.
Amongst the things in the agenda was the role that could be played by
the National Sports Council of Malaysia to integrate the different races to
compete in a more common sport enjoyed by all races.
Through the National Sports Policy the government was able to
assimilate the different races making them aware of the pluralism of its
society.
A common sports culture may reflect the Malaysian identify should be
implemented and accepted by the different races in line with the values
and norms of this plural society.
Despite constant criticism for not investing much in sport, the country
has been headed by leaders who had great passion and love for this
activity.
The first prime minister Tunku Abdul Rahman was known to display his
love for football.
His devotion to football was evident as president of the Football
Association of Malaysia (FAM) and later as head of the Asian Football
Confederation (AFC).
His deputy Tun Abdul Razak Hussein also showed his passion for sport,
namely golf and hockey. In July 1959, Razak was appointed president of
the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) until his death in 1976. He was
also president of the Malaysian Hockey Federation.
Therefore although the government’s priority following Merdeka was
economic and infrastructure development, it was not surprising that
sport development also flourished under their leadership.
The construction of the Merdeka Stadium was one of the first sports
development programmes initiated by Tengku.
The stadium facilitated the development of sports, especially football,
and has held many celebrated football tournaments on its grounds since.
The official opening of Stadium Merdeka in 1957
The Merdeka Football Tournament that was part of the Merdeka
celebration soon became one of the most prestigious football
tournaments in Asia.
This motivated Malaysia to improve tremendously in football, bringing
the country twice to the Olympic Games and winning the bronze medal
in the 1974 Asian games following the defeat of the powerful North
Korea in the playoffs.
The 1958 Merdeka Tournament Champion
In 1972 the Malaysian football team qualified to the Olympic Games in
Munich, West Germany again qualified for the Moscow Games in 1980,
but boycotted the Games on political grounds.
1966 - fastest man in Asia (Datuk M.Jegathesan) Malaysia qualified in
semi final 100m & 200m in Olympic Game – 1960, 1964, 1968
Malaysia’s 1975 World Cup hockey team the best-ever assembled – 3rd
place
Malaysia won Thomas Cup in 1992
Malaysia host the Commonwealth Game 1998 (the first Asian country to
act as host)
Hosted five SEA Games since 1965
Malaysian badminton won silver medals in Men’s Single event (2008,
2012 & 1996), silver medal and bronze medal in the Men's Doubles event
(1996 & 1992) – Olympic Game
Malaysia is an organiser for the Le tour de Langkawi (cycling
competition), Formula 1, MotoGP in Sepang Circuit, and various sporting
events.
The Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) was established a registered in
1953, as a non-governmental and non-profit multi-sport national
organization under the Societies Act 1966 (Revised 1987).
With the establishment the Sports Development Act 1997, the Council is
now registered with the Commissioner of Sports' office in the Ministry of
Youth and Sports
It is recognised by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and the
International Sport Federations (IFs).
Since 1954, it has been the sole sport organisation in Malaysia with the
exclusive rights to enter athletes to participate in the Olympic Games.
Member of FMOC - 15 April 1958
The FMOC recognition letter by IOC
By virtue of its recognition by the IOC, the OCM is affiliated to the
following international sport organisations:
Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC)
Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)
Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF)
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
International Assembly of National Confederation of Sports
Affiliation to the above international sport organisations makes OCM the
sole sport organisation in Malaysia with the exclusive rights to enter
athletes to participate in the Asian Games, the SEA Games and the
Commonwealth Games.
The members of OCM are the National Sport Associations (NSAs) of
Malaysia, which are recognised by their respective IFs as the sole
governing body of their sport in Malaysia
THE OBJECTIVES OF OCM ARE:
To develop and protect the Olympic Movement and to promote the
fundamental principles of Olympism through sport activity and
education.
To be completely independent and autonomous and to resist all
pressures of any kind, including those of a political, religions or
economic nature.
To act as the co-ordinating body for all sporting organisation in
Malaysia.
To promote and encourage the development of high performance
sport and sport for all
To facilitate exchanges between the OCM and its members with
other National Olympic Committee (NOCs) and IFs.
To select and enter athletes for the Olympic, Asian, SEA and
Commonwealth Games and world or regional multi-sports
competitions.
To organise Olympic, Asian, SEA and Commonwealth Games and
world or regional multi-sports competitions.
ROLE OF THE OCM ARE:
Promote the fundamental principles of the Olympic Movement through
educational programmes.
Collaborate with the NSAs, government agencies, and IOC for the
development and training of athletes, coaches, technical officials and
sports administrators for competitive sports as well as sport for all.
Collaborate with the NSAs in the preparation of athletes and officials to
participate in the Olympic, Asian, SEA and Commonwealth Games.
To raise funds in order to fulfill its objects and role.
Association of National Olympic Committee (ANOC)
Olympic Council of Asia (OCA)
Southeast Asian Games Federation (SEAGF)
Commonwealth Games Federation (CGF)
International Assembly of National Confederation of Sports
