"If you run alone you run fast,
"If you run with others
"You run far."
THE Olympic Games set world standards for individual athletes.
But the above quotation also explains its penchant for the relay, as we just witnessed in Malaysia when Tunku "Pete" Imran lit the traditional flame and carried the torch on the first leg of the run in the country.
This was not only a heart-warming spectacle. It was a great privilege for Malaysia.
The Olympic Games were probably the greatest legacy from the early classical civilisation. The first Olympiad was held in Greece in 771 BC.
It was one of four sacred festivals in honour of the Greek god Zeus and the Roman god Jove.
The Olympics were revived in 1896. Beijing is to have the honour of hosting the 29th edition in August. The flame symbolises the handing on of this great tradition from generation to generation, and country to country.
We staged the precursor here last week without any Tibetans venting their anger on China, just as we had a peaceful conduct and outcome of the recent general election.
It is time the world took note that this diverse community of ours, which might suggest endemic conflict, is a gracious, well-mannered society.
We do not take to the streets, or if we do, we get wet, not dead.
Malaysia can always be relied on to provide a unique twist to a well-worn custom like the Olympic relay.
On this occasion, there were 32 runners but two stood out, respectively signalling the start and finish of the relay.
This newspaper featured them alongside each other, one a prince of Negri Sembilan and the other Sultan Azlan Shah of Perak, also in his day, an excellent sportsman.
This was symbolic of our legacy of royalty, of which we have more than any other single country (nine plus from among them, the king).
Nor, as we witnessed last week, are they merely ceremonial. Each has earned his place for his personal prowess in sport.
Malaysia's royalty have a number of outstanding sportsmen, consonant with their desire to take part and contribute to the Malaysian experience and quality of life.
And, by virtue of their standing, this confers an added dignity. Tunku Imran's father, Tuanku Ja'afar, the Yang di-Pertuan Besar of Negri Sembilan, was a champion badminton player at Nottingham University in Britain.
He still plays a good hand in tennis and golf.
His brother ruler, Sultan Azlan Shah, was a hockey star at Nottingham. Successive rulers of Pahang have excelled in polo.
What I know best about Tunku Imran is his skill in cricket and squash, which earned him the title of "Sportsman of the Year".
Today, he is president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia.
Royalty here can often inspire their subjects.
Apart from their responsibilities in their state, many of them are highly educated, professional and have had distinguished careers.
Tuanku Ja'afar was a diplomat. He was on his way to take up a new posting in Japan when the ruling chieftains, the Undangs of Negri Sembilan, elected him the ruler of the state.
His first son, Tunku Naquiyuddin, was also a diplomat in his time. And probably the most outstanding careerist was Sultan Azlan Shah, an eminent lawyer who rose to be Chief justice and lord president.
He has continued to show support for the rule of law with his annual memorial law lecture series.
As for the Olympics, I wonder how many of you know that we have, and have had in Malaysia for the best part of 25 years, a former Olympic runner from Britain.
I am referring to Dr Paul Temporal, who you probably think of as the renowned brand authority that he is. But his sporting career remains a light under a bushel.
Paul won his first race at the age of 3 in his Sunday school games. He became the Yorkshire champion in the 200 and 400 metres at 15.
It was not long before he was in the Olympics squad and rubbed shoulders, or should I say heels, with people like Sebastian Coe.
In Temporal’s case, it was not a torch that he handed on but a genetic talent. His delightful and talented daughter, Maria, of whom I am proud to be godmother, literally follows in her father’s footsteps. Her events are the 800 and 1,500 metres.
I recall an incident which may surprise the reader. I was at the time twice the not inconsiderable size that I am now.
“What was it? The 100 metres?” This from Temporal.
I was amazed because a long time ago — too long to contemplate — I was a sprinter for my school. How did you know, I asked him.
“Simple,” said Temporal. “Sprinters have to have small feet (size 4), a high instep and a particular type of calf .”
I did not rebuke him for looking at my legs because he was right.
The other person who fits the description is Datin Seri Jean Abdullah, also a sprinter. And, not surprisingly, for she is the daughter of Mathew Danker, one of our best all-round sportsmen.
I began with Tunku Imran, who has been so much in the news of late. And, in my usual anecdotal routine, have two stories, both of which illustrate Tunku Imran’s irrepressible wit.
The first concerns the time when he went to Japan to represent Malaysia in an international squash match. He was, at that time, our squash champion.
Immigration here assured him he did not need a visa. However, when he reached Tokyo the Japanese begged to differ and grilled him.
“Why have you no visa? Are you in the Foreign Service?”
“No, I was told I didn’t need one.” “Why not?” they asked.
Tunku Imran had to abandon his avoidance of pangkat and admit that he was “royal”.
More questions followed. “How do we know that you are royal? Can you prove it?”
Time was running out. The match would be soon and Tunku Imran was getting desperate. Then he had a brainwave. He produced a RM10 note, pointed to the face on it that is all too familiar to us, and compared it with his own.
“That is my grandfather,” he said of the first king of Malaysia. It worked.
Recently, Tunku Imran turned 60 and sent out invitations to his party, which he called “The 60th Test”.
It would be held “in the Pavilion” beginning at 6.30pm in “the Long Bar”.
It would “go on till the last man is out”. Ladies were invited “to show a fine leg”.
I could only hope Paul Temporal would not be there.
Comments