Tang Jie (left) and Ee Wei after winning the mixed doubles final at the BWF World Championships in Paris on Aug 31, 2025. - AFP
WHEN the Jalur Gemilang was slowly raised during the 2025 BWF World Championships podium ceremony in Paris, I could see on the TV screen our triumphant mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie and Toh Ee Wei fighting hard to hold back tears while softly singing "Negaraku, tanah tumpahnya darahku," on the podium.
I was emotionally overwhelmed, feeling excessively elated and proud, as with millions of fellow Malaysians witnessing the historical moment live on their TV or device screens, the gloom over recent controversies surrounding the national flag completely dispelled.
