SEA Games: Unity driving force behind Malaysia's success - chef de mission

 

Unity, shared purpose and collective belief were the defining forces behind Malaysia’s historic medal haul at the SEA Games Thailand 2025, according to its chef de mission Nurul Huda Abdullah.

Malaysia concluded the SEA Games Thailand 2025 with a total medal haul of 231 medals, comprising 57 gold, 57 silver and 117 bronze medals, the highest ever total of medals outside of Kuala Lumpur.

Nurul Huda said Malaysia’s success, which also moved them to a fourth-place finish overall, was not achieved by chance, but earned through consistent teamwork and coordinated effort across every level of the contingent.

“This is a position that has been earned through unity, consistency, teamwork, lots of preparation and planning, and unwavering effort from every sport, every athlete, every official, every stakeholder, and all of us who have worn the Jalur Gemilang with pride,” she told a press conference on the summary of the national contingent’s performance at the Games in Bangkok today.

The former national swimming great said unity had been instilled as a core principle even before the 33rd edition of the biennial games began, with the contingent arriving in Thailand with a clear sense of purpose and responsibility to represent the nation with honour.

Chef de mission Nurul Huda Abdullah

Nurul Huda said the past two weeks had proven what could be achieved when athletes and officials moved forward together with a shared objective.

She also said that the success in Thailand belonged not just to those on the ground, but to everyone who contributed behind the scenes and supported the contingent throughout the campaign.

“This success doesn’t just belong to us here. This success belongs to the teams, to the athletes, to the sports, to the management and to the national sports associations.

“This success also belongs to all Malaysians out there, not only here but also at home, who have also supported us,” she said.

The 57 gold medals collected at the games were also the highest in six years after the 2019 edition in the Philippines, with 55 golds.

The closing ceremony of the SEA Games Thailand 2025 will be held in the Rajamangala National Stadium at 7pm local time today.

- Bernama