Hari Raya Aidilfitri, football and Team Malaysia

Three things never fail to bring Malaysians together: tragedies, festivals and sports (particularly football).

We are seeing the solidarity now in the wake of the downing of Malaysia Airlines Flight MH17. People are united in their shock and grief over the tragic death of 298 people in the plane crash of July 17.

The open houses that have become part of Malaysian culture also speak of Malaysians coming together. Although the official open house events for Hari Raya Aidilfitri this year have been cancelled as a mark of respect for those who died in the MH17 tragedy, Muslims will continue the tradition of open houses where relatives and friends visit and share in the joy.

Sport has the ability to bring people together to share in the experience. Whenever the Malaysian football team plays, Malaysians are united in their support of the team. Football can unite people, as it did in the recent FIFA World Cup.

Malaysians love talking about football and they also love talking about local politics. This is so, I think, because there are some things that both football and politics share.

To do well, both a football team and a nation have to follow certain guidelines or paths. The main criteria for success include having a goal, commitment, skills, strategy, and hard work.

Let’s see how these contributed to the German team’s victory in the FIFA World Cup 2014 and the link with nation-building.

Germany has played in the World Cup 18 times. This is the fourth time it has lifted the cup, one behind Brazil. It has been runner-up four times and it has been in third place in four World Cup tournaments.

The Germans are consistent: they consistently produce strong teams and they consistently play well, even if they do not become number one always. German teams do not rely on one or two great players but on every player in the team. The Germans are focused. Most importantly, they have team spirit.

Are Malaysians focused on building a united and prosperous nation? Are Malaysian leaders focused on this or are they simply spouting empty words?

For focus, a common goal is needed. If there is no proper focus, nothing substantial can be achieved. We do have a national goal – Vision 2020. But are we focused on that today?

The Oxford dictionary defines team spirit as “Feelings of camaraderie among the members of a group, enabling them to cooperate and work well together”.

Is there a team spirit among Malaysians?

For team spirit to develop or be strong, every member of the team must participate fully in the team’s activities. For this to take place, individuals must not only understand their place in the team, they must also be made to feel that they are valuable members of the team.

No individual must be made to think he is inferior or superior to another in the team. Every team member should be rewarded equally or according to his or her contribution or ability.

Do all Malaysians feel equal or are some more equal than others? Do Malaysians feel part of the team or do some citizens feel they have been unfairly excluded from Team Malaysia?

Has the government endeavoured to make all Malaysians inculcate the team spirit through its policies and actions?

There must be trust among team members. The German forwards trust the defenders to do their part; the midfielders pass the ball forward, trusting that their forwards will make an effort to score.

Do Malaysians trust each other?

In a nation, people must be able to not only trust each other, they must be able to trust institutions such as the police and the judiciary. Everywhere I go, I hear people say they are losing hope in the various institutions in the country.

When people lose hope in institutions such as the judiciary and the police, for instance, then there is no way that a team spirit can prevail. It may turn into a situation of every man for himself, and that is not good for any team or nation.

Leaders play an important role in any team. Leaders must be passionate about the common cause. Are our leaders working passionately towards a united Malaysia where everyone feels he or she is part of the team?

Leaders must have the same message for all team members; they should not say different things to different groups of citizens just to stay in power or to please some group or other. Do we have such leaders?

Do we have Team Malaysia?

We should ponder over this as we celebrate Hari Raya Aidilfitri.

Very importantly, let us do something else too: Since Hari Raya Aidilfitri is a time to forgive and forget past quarrels, let us forgive everyone and start anew with friendship in our hearts. Let the beautiful meaning of the words “maaf zahir dan batin” (I seek physical and spiritual forgiveness) ring true.

In the past year or so we have seen an increase in unpleasantries among Malaysians. Let us leave that behind. Let us forgive and forget. Let us move forward in unity and build a great Team Malaysia.

I wish all Muslim readers and their families and friends peace, prosperity and the best that life can offer. Selamat Hari Raya Aidilfitri. Maaf zahir dan batin.