Sunday, August 03, 2025

Muafakat Games 2025 — A Quiet Reflection Before Leaving Brisbane

Here I am again, sitting at the airport. The same familiar pause before boarding: tired legs, full heart and a mind that’s still playing catch-up with everything that just happened.

Muafakat Games 2025 has just wrapped up in Brisbane. This was my first time joining and facilitating the event and truthfully, I didn’t know exactly what to expect. I have attended many student programmes before but this one had a different kind of energy; one that felt a lot more personal.

From the moment I arrived, it was clear that this wasn’t just another sports carnival. It was a full-blown student-led movement with structure, heart and momentum. Malaysian students from all over Australia came together with a shared purpose: to play, to lead, to support and to connect. And they did all that and more.

I had the privilege of witnessing it all up close, the preparation, the stress, the early mornings and late nights and that feeling of “eh kita boleh buat ni sebenarnya” that quietly spread among the team.

I have to say, credit goes where credit’s due.

Dr Fahmi, Director of Education Malaysia Australia, gave space for this event to breathe. His trust in the students and his understanding of how important leadership opportunities are for their growth, really shaped how the whole thing unfolded. That kind of trust isn’t always easy to give but it makes a difference when it’s there.

To Hawa, thank you for being the quiet engine behind so much of what got done. You were dependable, thoughtful and always ready to pick up the slack without ever needing the spotlight. People like you keep things moving forward, even when it’s tough. And to Kak Dayang,  your warmth and presence made a real difference. You brought heart into every interaction and your care didn’t go unnoticed. Sometimes just knowing someone like you is in the room makes everything feel a bit more grounded.

To Mr Razin, the student advisor. Calm, efficient and quietly in control. I think a lot of people don’t realise how important that kind of steady presence is — but I saw it and I appreciated it. He did the job and he did it well.

As for me, I helped where I could. But honestly, I learnt more than I gave. I was reminded again that sometimes our role isn’t to lead every moment, but to listen, to support and to make sure others have the room to shine. I saw students stepping up in ways they probably didn’t expect from themselves. I saw mistakes turn into lessons. I saw growth in real time.

It reminded me of my early teaching days when my Year 6 students were about to sit for UPSR and I couldn’t bring myself to tell them I was leaving for the UK. I just wanted them to focus, to finish well. Sometimes, the best support is quiet. The best leadership is invisible.

To all the students who made Muafakat Games 2025 happen:

I hope you remember this week not just for the games or the medals, but for how it made you feel. The pride. The exhaustion. The small wins and the hard decisions. That’s where the growth is. That’s what stays.



I leave Brisbane with tired shoulders, a bit of a sore throat and a heart that’s quietly full.

I’m heading back to Perth soon. Meetings are already waiting, emails piling up as usual. But I’ll carry this one with me for a while.

p/s: Brisbane is amazing city!

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