Stay united across racial, religious divide - Chong Wei

National badminton legend Lee Chong Wei in his National Day message has urged Malaysians to stay united across racial and religious divides.

Taking to Facebook, he recalled how he used to play football with Malay and Indian friends, till dusk, when he was little.

“When the call for Maghrib comes, all of us would stop playing and scramble back home. All of us feared our mothers, regardless of whether we were Chinese, Malay, Indian, or Mat Salleh.

“Malaysia is the strongest when all its races are united. We cheer together for sports and rally against anyone who insults Malaysian food. When we spill blood, they are all the same,” he wrote.

“There is no Chinese, Malay, or Indian blood - just type A, B, AB, or O. One thing is certain, all of us have spilled blood in this country. Happy Merdeka, my beloved Malaysia,” the shuttler added.

No matter what happens, Malaysians have deep-rooted love and loyalty for the country, said Lee.

This, he stressed, is especially evident in how Malaysians miss home, the weather, its food, and its people when travelling overseas.

“So let us celebrate with joy, and embrace the future with hope. Together, we will write the next chapter of Malaysia’s story - a story of progress, of unity, and of boundless potential.”

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