THE Summer Olympics will kick off in Paris today (July 26) with Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh having unveiled the national contingent’s opening ceremony attire in a Facebook (FB) post 24 hours earlier.
Unlike the furore that greeted the Yonex-designed national tracksuits, feedback was considerably more positive to the Rizman Ruzaini-designed formal attire.
Lawyer and social activist Siti Kasim who shared the Segambut MP’s post on her own FB page opined that perhaps the attire – though elegant and beautiful – was “a bit dull” or perhaps lacking the colour and diversity to be more reflective of melting pot Malaysia.
“I would love to see batik, real baju kurung, kebaya, cheongsam, sarees, etc and our Borneo friends’ traditional wear,” she penned in a reaction,
The legal eagle’s sentiments were echoed by many who follow her on FB, agreeing that a splash of multi-culturalism would not have gone amiss.
Some pointed out that the attire was more akin to baju raya or baju kenduri as opposed to one which graces the opening of a major sporting event.
While another said it looked more like an airline’s cabin crew get-up.
One netizen queried why the uniform had a Johor-style collar for the men’s outfit. A few shared that this was the designer’s tribute to the current King, Sultan Ibrahim, who hails from the southern state.
Reflecting the very subjective nature of the topic, a few others thought the official attire was elegant and well-designed.
With one quite rightly saying this was a no-win situation as everyone had differing tastes and opinions.
The fact that this, too, can become a contentious issue is a reflection of the schisms in Malaysian society.
On the one hand, there are those who will ask what is wrong with the official attire to be reflective of Malay-Muslim culture which is the dominant group in the country.
Any dissenting view is quickly seized upon as more examples of unpatriotic behaviour and a rejection of local culture, much like learning the national language.
On the other hand, there are those who will ask when will this cultural whitewashing end whereby the identities and very existence of minorities are air-brushed out of the Malaysian landscape. They argue that such cultural hegemony is unrepresentative of what Malaysia truly is.
Whichever side of the fence one falls into, FocusM would like to urge all Malaysians to get behind their athletes and to enjoy the Olympics.
Lest it be forgotten, the primary aim of the contingent being there is the pursuit of sporting glory, not least that elusive quest for Malaysia’s first Olympic gold medal.
It is sincerely hoped that, as one netizen suggested, the official attire’s bronze hues is NOT an indicator of the type of medals that they will be bringing home. – July 26, 2024
