PETALING JAYA: For over a fortnight, Sim Leoi Leoi, a fresh-faced cadet with no journalism experience, took a bus from Section 13 in Petaling Jaya to Masjid Jamek.
There, she would board the spanking new Ampang LRT to ride to Bukit Jalil, the venue of the 1998 Commonwealth Games, probably the biggest sporting event the country has ever hosted.
No expense was spared. Condominiums were built to house athletes, new stadiums and an aquatic centre sprouted.
Bukit Jalil Estate, a huge area of rubber trees and agricultural land in southern Kuala Lumpur was transformed into the Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex, and then into KL Sports City.
But the crown jewel was undoubtedly the LRT line, the first such rail transit in the country.
Nearly three decades on, Sim is now The Star’s deputy executive editor but the Games remains vividly etched in her memories.
“I really had fun with my colleagues, thinking up and working on different angles and leads for our stories,” said Sim. That experience proved useful years later when she became an editor.
She also recalled covering the official opening and closing ceremonies.
“We knew the entire programme and could prepare our coverage days in advance.”
She also watched the nightly rehearsals almost every evening.
The Games were held amid a strong “Malaysia Boleh” spirit, with Sim recalling how Malaysians were confident the country could host the massive event despite doubts from critics.
“The only worry we had leading up to the Games was the haze, which ironically, is back,” she said.
Covering the Games also meant navigating unfamiliar territory, particularly for a young female reporter at a time when many sports reporters were men.
Sim said some interviewees could be condescending. One encounter, however, remains particularly vivid.
While waiting for transport after a late rehearsal, Sim and her colleague caught the eye of Prince Edward as he walked out of the National Stadium towards his car.
“He smiled at us – perhaps, he thought we were his groupies! – and we smiled back,” she recalled.
For Sim, the Games represented Malaysia’s emergence on a bigger international stage and gave The Star an opportunity to document the people behind the spectacle.
“I hope our coverage – our interviews of people and children organising, training or merely turning up – show that when needed, we could all answer our nation’s call with a dedication of our own,” she said.
The 1998 Games may have lasted only 11 days, but the stories, photographs and friendships forged during the hectic period have lasted far longer.
Reporter Rajes Paul, now the sports editor, said the Games were defined by the excitement of watching Malaysian athletes compete on home soil.
“The stadiums were packed and the atmosphere was incredibly lively,” she said, adding that the newly-built Bukit Jalil venues added to the occasion.
One of her biggest memories was covering gymnastics, where Malaysia produced an unexpected gold in the rhythmic gymnastics team event.
Thye Chee Kiat, Carolyn Au Yong, El Regina Tajuddin and S. Sarina pipped Canada for the gold, leaving Rajes with goosebumps when the national anthem played during the medal ceremony.
“Being there to witness and report on an unexpected Malaysian gold was very special,” she said.
But there was little time to savour the moment.
Rajes and her colleagues were based at Mint Hotel, the media hotel, and had to rush between venues throughout the day before rushing back to write their stories and meet deadlines.
“It was hectic and exhausting, but also great fun,” she said.
Rajes believes the Games became a turning point for Malaysian sport. The Jaya ’98 programme marked the first time Malaysia had a dedicated plan to help athletes excel. And they did.
Malaysia won 10 gold medals, its best performance until then. The better facilities, full-time training and quality coaching helped reinforce sport as a possible career path.
Malaysia went on to win 12 gold medals in Delhi 2010 and eight in Glasgow this year, with a smaller contingent.
Rajes said the Games also demonstrated how sport could unite Malaysians.
For photographers, the scale of the event meant teamwork was just as important as getting the perfect shot.
Former The Star photographer Mohd Sahar Misni, now 59, vividly recalled the opening ceremony, although he viewed it through the practical eyes of a professional who had covered numerous sporting events.
“It was just normal,” he said, explaining that the scale of the event did not change the fundamentals of his job.
Photographers were assigned specific areas, with some covering the athletes, others the crowds and another team positioned outside the stadium for moments such as fireworks.
With bulky equipment, there was little point running around the huge stadium.
“You just focus on the area you are assigned to,” Sahar said.
Former photographer Uu Ban Leong also remembers that photographing the opening and closing ceremonies was far from easy.
Photographers had to arrive early, long before the event started, and stay until well after it ended. The large number of photographers also meant they had to react quickly to get the shot that mattered – and to “scoop” the rivals.
“Once I spot the potential good moment, my movements and reaction must be faster than others,” he said.
For Uu, the pressure was not only to capture the action but also to challenge himself to produce good photographs each day.
The team also prioritised events where Malaysian athletes had the strongest medal prospects, reflecting The Star’s focus as a local newspaper.
The crowds, meanwhile, made the work worthwhile.
“The crowd was superb when our athletes were on the field.” Uu also made sure to arrive early, knowing that Kuala Lumpur would be congested during the Games.
Being early was not simply about avoiding traffic.
“It was also to get a good spot and stand by for whatever possibilities that could happen in the venue,” he said.
