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'Bangkit bersama', meaning 'Rising together', has been Malaysia's war cry in occasion for the country's hosting of the 29th Southeast Asian Games in 2017, in which they were at the capital Kuala Lumpur for a record sixth time in history. Held from 19 to 30 August, Malaysia bears a meaning in staging these Games, given that 2017 marked 60 years after the country gained independence from Britain in 1957.
Malaysia's duties in hosting the SEA Games were confirmed in July 2012, during a SEA Games Federation meeting held in Myanmar. 2017 was to be Brunei's turn at first but, it still expressed its interest to host the 2019 Games - just before the country ultimately backed out in 2015 due to financial and logistical issues.
Competitions during the SEA Games were organized across several states in Malaysia. All the existing venues and facilities in the Bukit Jalil National Sports Complex would have to be upgraded in time, while a new RM80-million velodrome was built in Nilai, Negeri Sembilan to host track cycling events. Initially, Sabah and Sarawak were considered for a number of events contested. But Zolkples Embong, CEO of the games' organizing committee, decided not to involve the East Malaysian states, citing higher costs as the main reason.
Around more than 4,500 athletes across the region took part at the Kuala Lumpur 2017 (stylized as KL2017) Games, which featured 404 medal events in 38 sports. Notably, for a multi-sport competition that's consisted of largely tropical countries, among the two debuting sports that made the cut for the official programme were winter sports - ice hockey and ice skating (comprised of figure skating and short track).
No wonder the Games itself ended with an all-night celebratory concert that lasts until exactly midnight, as the closing ceremony falls on the eve of Malaysia's national day - Hari Merdeka. Topping it all, Malaysia led the final standings with 145 golds and 323 medals in total, finishing themselves way ahead of Thailand (72), Vietnam (59), Singapore (57) and Indonesia (38) in the top five.
Though, the event was itself deeply marred with a series of Games-time errors and controversies, ranging from transportation and security to logistical and doping issues, yet these Games were seen by Malaysia's organizers as generally successful with its effective management of hosting cost spent, games promotion, and their commitment in environment conservation.
