Promises made in the light of athletes’ glories must be fulfilled

INCENTIVES, the promise of gifts and the adulation that comes with victory can be very euphoric. But in some instances, it can turn horrifying.

Why? Because waiting for a promised gift or incentive can turn out to be painful.

For our sporting heroes, waiting is not merely an inconvenience. Often, it is humiliation, the quiet erosion of dignity.

For some, their names will be forgotten. Their stories will fade away and their sacrifices dismissed.

So, when one of them demands what is owed, it is not greed. It is not arrogance. It is a demand born of frustration, the pain of realising that their services, their victories, their sweat, may have all been taken for granted.

Silence is not patience when promises are broken – it is suffering.

Some will argue, “national service should not be about rewards.”

Yes, no medal, no cheque or certificate can ever match the pride of standing on the podium, with the flag flying high and singing along to the NegaraKu.

But we must not twist the narrative.

This is not about charity or entitlement. This is about respect – and acknowledgment of all the hard work that has been put in.

Athletes give up careers, family time, health, security, all so that the anthem may play and the Jalur Gemilang raised.

If we, as a nation, celebrate them in victory, we must not abandon them in the aftermath. Promises made in the light of glory must not vanish.

Paralympic badminton champion Cheah Liek Hou is one example. He is not asking for luxury, not demanding excess. He is simply asking for what was pledged, what was publicly announced.

One may debate his tone, but not his right.

A year has passed since Paris. If words spoken in front of cameras cannot hold weight a year later, what trust remains?

Instead of resolution, what was offered? Denial. Threats. Talk of legal action against a Paralympic champion who has done nothing but bring pride to Malaysia.

This is not a matter being mishandled – this is mistreatment. It is disrespectful.

And the problem is bigger than one man. Malaysian footballers are still chasing unpaid wages. Coaches wait endlessly for their dues.

Former athletes pentathlete P. Savithri waited 54 years for her medals and cycling legend Ng Joo Ngan finally received his Sportsman of the Year award money after 55 years. That’s more than half-a-century!

Yes, they eventually received their dues, but it should never have taken that long. Heroes should not be treated as afterthoughts.

This is an issue of governance that demands better. Recently, I came across a simple but strong quote – “accountability is the measure of a leader’s height.”

The younger generation are watching. They are not blind. They are tired of empty speeches, tired of applause without action, of promises that evaporate once the cameras are off.

They want accountability. They want transparency. They want a culture where words mean something, where leaders are held responsible, where athletes are treated with dignity long after the medal ceremony ends.

This is not about entitlement. This is about integrity. A promise made must be a promise kept. It is as simple as that.

What message are we sending to the next generation of athletes, the young ones who dream of one day carrying the Jalur Gemilang to the top of the podium?

The truth is plain – fulfil the promises, honour the commitments, respect the sacrifice.

Do it not because of public pressure, not because of social media backlash, but because it is the right thing to do.

Heroes should not have to beg. They should not be punished for speaking up. Heroes should not be forced to wait in silence while the system turns its back.

If we cannot even stand by our word to those who gave their all for the nation, then the true failure lies with us.