Olympics & Permatang Pauh

I got this newpaper clipping from a local chinese daily...and find it quite interesting to share it here in my blog.

There are only two things Malaysians are concerned about this month:
Olympics and the Permatang Pauh by-election.
These two events are never related to each other, except the timing.

Last Sunday (17/08/08) was the golden weekend for the election campaign, politicians were seen busily running around in Permatang Pauh to woo the voters.

That very evening, Lee Chong Wei met China's Lin Dan in badminton final.

The election had to take a back seat, as voters locked themselves at home watching the final.

The two candidates were well aware of the situation, so one politician squeezed himself in front of the TV set in the dining hall, cheering with everyone else for Chong Wei.

On the other hand, the other, made a refreshment stop at a local coffee shop to cheer for the national badminton hero.

That was perhaps the only common thing both candidates were doing at the same time,
a common goal that was accepted by both.

Chong Wei eventually failed to bring back the gold medal, but his popularity was least affected, especially in Permatang Pauh.

Both political parties have wanted to bring the silver-painted baby to their camps.
Moreover, Chong Wei hails from Bukit Mertajam, which is close to Permatang Pauh, like KL to PJ.

The distance between the two towns is so short that even locals could get confused where they actually are.

Even though that was only a silver medal, it is nevertheless a national honour, and the pride of Chong Wei's hometown.

Politicians are highly sensitive people; they wouldn't have given this opportunity a miss!

Chong Wei is a professional sportsman, and we have never heard of him getting enthusiastically involved in politics, or being familiar with politics.
But then, politics go after him, and there is no way he could escape.

One party wants him. So does the other party.
He couldn't have possibly pleased both camps.
This is perhaps another bewilderment he has to go through after his defeat to Lin Dan.

The government instantly disburses the RM300,000 reward to him, plus monthly allowances of RM3,000 for his entire lifetime.

Well, Chong Wei indeed deserves his reward, but without he realising it, he has also become a consumer item in the election campaign.
To consume Lee Chong Wei, is to garner some goodwill and recognition, even to trade for some gratitude.

The speculative tactics in politics, to some extent, reflect the emptiness in the country's sports.

That silver medal looks like the only gain Malaysia could harvest in Beijing.

Malaysia can only count on its badminton games, especially Lee Chong Wei.

Not unlike all the hopes and expectations of China being staked on Liu Xiang.

Chong Wei is a talented player that is hard to come by. It is not easy for him to get the precious silver medal.

(By TAY TIAN YAN/Translated by DOMINIC LOH/Sin Chew Daily)