Memorable and eventful days

From sports to diplomacy and National Day, it’s a celebration of winning matches and meeting new acquaintances.

THE National Day parade in Seremban was spirited as usual, complete with resplendent march pasts and various invocations of “Madani” – but no tanks!

My schedule was laden with squash on both sides. It was an honour to be able to present the Negri Sembilan squash team with their Sukma gold medals in Kuching on Aug 23, after they beat home favourites Sarawak to win the mixed team event, following Ameeshenraj Chandaran’s silver medal in the men’s individual event – a healthy performance comparable to 2016 when a gold and three bronzes were delivered.

Upon the players’ return at the airport, there was a fabulous welcome party befitting the most significant win of their careers thus far for some of the players.

Back in Seremban 2, I watched the finals of the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy, part of the PSA Challenger Tour where “future world champions and world number ones compete for glory”.

The women’s title went to the 2022 winner Aira Azman, with another Kedahan winning last year – Sivasangari Subramaniam, who is now world No. 9.

That same evening, the Negri Sembilan Squash Association celebrated its 25th anniversary.

As the current president, it was heartwarming to see former presidents and committee members come together not only to rekindle old friendships but to reflect on the journey towards success.

My predecessor, Nik Razeen Daud, highlighted milestones along the way, from the inauguration of the Junior League, which, despite much scepticism, has turned out to be an important vehicle in generating champions, and the construction of the new courts, which has made Seremban 2 the home of the best squash facility in the country.

In my speech, I also reiterated the enormous amount of effort and time it takes to successfully run a sports organisation, before launching our official song Squash the Beef, which has been released on Spotify.

I reflected too on the greater bonds being forged between players and officials across the region with more tournaments being organised in Seremban.

This includes Indonesian players practising on our doubles courts and New Zealand referees overseeing the matches at the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy.

I mentioned this Kiwi presence to New Zealand Prime Minister, Christopher Luxon the following day, which he was delighted to hear about after his own remarks on strengthening educational, business and defence ties.

On my part, I was thrilled that he reported a good briefing with the chief executive officer of the Institute for Democracy and Economic Affairs (Ideas) Dr Tricia Yeoh, who will soon be leaving us to become Associate Professor of Practice in the School of Politics and International Relations at the University of Nottingham Malaysia.

By the time of my next article, Ideas will have a new CEO, Aira Azhari, who has been working at Ideas since 2016, joining as an executive and rising to be senior manager. I hope readers will wish her well in her new role.

There have been other departures of late.

The European Union Ambassador Michalis Rokas is moving on to North Macedonia after his four-year stint in Malaysia, which saw much progress on the palm oil issue.

Before his departure, we managed to fulfil a long-held ambition to perform together: me on the piano and him on the drums.

Ailsa Terry, the British High Commissioner to Malaysia who had been serving for just a year, has gone back to London to serve as the British Prime Minister’s Private Secretary for Foreign Affairs – a much coveted position.

I suggested that her glowing reviews of Malaysia might persuade Sir Keir Starmer to become the first Labour Prime Minister to visit Malaysia while in tenure.

At her leaving reception, I was pleased to congratulate the incoming Mayor of Kuala Lumpur, Datuk Seri Maimunah Mohd Sharif.

Yes, I have written before that having elected mayors would be a good thing.

But judging by her track record, she is eminently suitable, having been the executive director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme, the first Asian woman (and from Kuala Pilah) in that position.

Sadly, the beginning of her tenure saw the tragedy of the sinkhole that formed on Jalan Masjid India, swallowing an Indian tourist who has yet to be found. I pray the new mayor will quickly be able to reassure the public.

The Indian High Commissioner visited the site of the incident, understandably anguished.

But I hope he found a small amount happiness in the text I sent him telling him that an Indian, Abhay Singh, once again won the Tuanku Muhriz Trophy.

Tunku Zain Al-‘Abidin is president of the Negri Sembilan Squash Association. The views expressed here are the writer’s own.