BANGKOK — The dark chapter of the 2023 SEA Games in Cambodia, widely regarded as one of Malaysia’s poorest outings at the biennial Games, was firmly put to rest as the 2025 edition in Thailand drew to a close here last night.

Despite logistical hurdles, most notably the late relocation of all events from Songkhla to Bangkok due to flooding, as well as competition venues scattered far from the city centre, the Malaysian contingent rose to the occasion and delivered a far more convincing campaign.

Not only did Malaysia surpass their haul of 34 gold, 45 silver and 97 bronze medals from Cambodia, they also closed the Thailand SEA Games with an improved tally of 57 gold, 57 silver and 117 bronze medals, bringing the overall count to 231.

The total comfortably exceeded the pre-Games target of 200 medals and marked Malaysia’s best overall medal haul at a SEA Games held outside Kuala Lumpur, eclipsing the previous record of 216 medals set at the 2007 edition in Korat, Thailand.

The 57 gold medals collected on Thai soil also represented Malaysia’s best gold medal return in six years, surpassing the 55 gold won at the 2019 SEA Games in the Philippines.

Malaysia’s improved showing saw them climb three places from seventh in the previous edition to fourth overall in the medal standings, behind hosts Thailand, who dominated the Games with 233 gold, 154 silver and 112 bronze medals.

It was, therefore, little surprise to see smiles all around as Chef de Mission Nurul Huda Abdullah addressed the media during the post-Games performance review on Saturday, having successfully led a contingent of 1,138 athletes to a campaign that rewrote several chapters of Malaysian sporting history.