The #KL2017 SEA Games saw Malaysia emerging as overall champion!
Kuala Lumpur, 30 August 2017 – The 29th edition of the South-East Asian (SEA) Games which was held at the National Stadium at Bukit Jalil, Kuala Lumpur from 19 – 30 August bore witness to the dominance of the Malaysian contingent with a record-breaking medal haul of 146 gold, 92 silver and 86 bronze – bringing a final medal tally to 323 medals, eclipsing its nearest competitor as Thailand managed to obtain a total of 246 medals with 72 gold, 86 silver & 88 bronze. Vietnam came in third place with 168 medals (58 gold, 50 silver & 60 bronze). Neighbouring Singapore garnered a modest 188 medals (57 gold, 58 silver & 73 bronze), whilst Indonesia took home a respectable 191 medals (38 gold, 63 silver & 90 bronze).
Despite an earlier debacle with respect to several flag orientation mishaps with respect to Indonesia, Malaysia barely survived the psychological aftermath and constant onslaught instigated by Indonesian netizens on social media and also the foreign press. Both incidences which involved the Indonesian flag being displayed upside down as well as flag logo mix-up on RTM’s network TV coverage of the Games were finally resolved when Malaysia’s Youth & Sports Minister YB Khairy Jamaluddin issued a formal apology to his sports counterpart after calling for an emergency press conference at his new ministerial office at Bukit Jalil City.
Meanwhile, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak was so impressed with Malaysia’s spectacular outing and outstanding performance at this year’s edition of the biennial SEA Games that he officially declared Monday, 4 September 2017 as a national public holiday. This is due to overwhelming support from fans and spectators alike, and also to justify paying tribute to all the Malaysian athletes for their selfless and tremendous performances during the duration of the Games. Incidentally, the biennial Games also coincided with the host nation’s National Day (Hari Kemerdekaan) celebrations on 31 August bringing festive cheers and tears of joy as Malaysia not only successfully hosted the 2017 SEA Games, but also commemorated its 60th anniversary in gaining national independence since 1957. Also witnessing the closing ceremony were Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) President Tunku Imran Tuanku Jaafar who co-organized the esteemed event together with the Ministry
As Chairman of the 29th SEA Games Organizing Committee, Khairy also received a special award from the International Olympic Committee (IOC). KL2017 was the sixth time SEA Games had been hosted by Malaysia after 1965, 1971, 1977, 1989 and 2001. Malaysia also handed over the SEA Games Flag to Philippines led by Mr. Alan Peter Cayetano, Chairman of the 30th SEA Games Organizing Committee. Over 7,000 athletes and officials were involved in 404 events across 38 sports in KL2017. As the flames of KL2017 simmers, the Games official theme song ‘Rising Together’ (“Bangkit Bersama”) popularized by local songbird diva Dayang Nurfaizah took centrestage. The next SEA Games will be held in Manila in 2019.
