Malaysia "BOLEH"

On Friday night, the nation cheered as Lee made history by becoming the first Malaysian badminton singles player to reach an Olympics final.

The 26-year-old Penangite is now assured of at least a silver medal following his victory over South Korea’s Lee Hyun-il. The last Olympics medals were a silver and a bronze, won by badminton players Cheah Soon Kit and Yap Kim Hock in the men's doubles and Rashid Sidek in the men's singles respectively at the Atlanta Games in 1996.

But it was the front-page picture yesterday that said it all – a victorious Lee hugging his coach Misbun Sidek.

There is so much Malaysians can do if we put aside race and religion and focus on commonalities instead of differences.

We can talk of being a global player only when we can devote our attention to competitiveness and excellence. The world waits for no one; and on the international stage no one will have the patience to hear any kind of whining.

Like Rashid, Lee has proven what sheer grit and training can do if we set our hearts and minds to doing something. They prove that Malaysians, regardless of their race, can make it at the international stage where the rules are the same.

When he steps into the court today to face Lin Dan - currently the world's no 1 - he knows the whole of Malaysia is behind him.

For a moment at least, no one would bother to listen to the negativity expounded by some of our politicians.

Lee is our champion - not the self-declared champion of their races, the very same people who extolled the virtues of our education system in the name of nationalism and yet packed off their children overseas, even at primary school level.

Together with my friends and Malaysia, we want him to bring back the best Merdeka gift for all of us.

But however, even though he had lost the match tonight to Lin Dan (from China), Chong Wei, that's more than enough. You didn't dissappointed me at least, THANKS for what you have done. Malaysia is proud of you; you are a true patriot!