Asian Games: ‘Indonesia is like that, little things they declare war’ – Malaysia fuming over pencak silat ‘walk-off’ incident
Social media users in Malaysia hit out at their rivals after their player walks out of a final bout because he feels the judges were biased
When the Malaysian team walked into a floodlight-dappled Gelora Bung Karno Stadium for the Asian Games opening ceremony on August 18, applause was mixed with boos.
They were the only country jeered by sections of the capacity crowd during the extravaganza to promote peace, but then again it would take more than a light show, spectacular backdrop and feel-good atmosphere to completely remove deep-rooted tensions between the two Southeast Asian neighbours.
It’s inevitable that sporting issues would become entwined and quite appropriate that the traditional martial arts discipline of pencak silat should become the source of ill-feeling at the Asian Games.
On Monday, Malaysia’s 2016 world champion Mohd Al-Jufferi was taking on Indonesia’s Komang Putra in the men’s 65-70kg final when he abruptly stopped and walked off the mat in front of a stunned audience in Jakarta.
