‘Ola Bola’ has taken Malaysia by storm. Everyone’s talking about it. I certainly was surprised at myself and the emotions that swelled up as I sat through the movie. I think the other moviegoers in the cinema were swept away as well as everyone broke out into applause at the end, revealing a pleasant approval.

The movie was inspirational on many levels. It took us back to an era when Malaysian football was at its peak. We were teenagers then and our heroes were Soh Chin Aun, R Arumugam, Santokh Singh, Mokhtar Dahari and the entire Harimau Malaya team. So the movie resurrected deep emotions of patriotism as we were carried back to the glory days of Malaysian football.

On another level, the movie reminded us of how truly unique Malaysia is. We hear it said in so many voices, “Malaysia, truly Asia” for example but the movie was like an out-of-body experience looking into the screen, at ourselves, and seeing the beauty and uniqueness in our diversity. She truly is special.

It occurred to me then, that somehow along the way, I had resigned myself to the fact that the current rhetoric is an acceptable way of life in Malaysia. That the undercurrents of racism that could explode at any time with the help of politicians like what happened at Low Yat Plaza some months back is acceptable. The oft distasteful comments made by ministers and politicians that seek to deepen the ethnic divide among Malaysians is okay.

It has become so commonplace that we have grown to accept that this is Malaysia.

The spirit of ‘Ola Bola’ says this is not Malaysia. This is not the Malaysia that our founding fathers sought to build. ‘Ola Bola’ brought us back to a Malaysia that celebrated our differences and sought a higher goal of national glory. Deep inside all of us long for those days where Malaysians walked together and “kalau menang, menang sama sama; kalau kalah, kita kalah sama sama.” (If we win, we win together, if we lose, we lose together).

We need to reclaim Malaysia from politicians and ministers who have hijacked the Malaysian agenda. We need to celebrate our differences and seek for national glory together. Bring back the #spiritofOlaBola