Hearing ‘Negaraku’ Moves Me Every Single Time, Admits Dharma Raj

KUALA LUMPUR, Dec 29 (Bernama) -- Former national women’s hockey head coach Muhammad Dharma Raj Abdullah once again emerged as the stumbling block to Malaysia’s quest for gold in the men’s indoor hockey event at the 2025 SEA Games in Bangkok recently.

Now serving as Technical Director of the Indonesian national hockey team and head coach of their men’s indoor squad, Muhammad Dharma guided Indonesia to successfully defend their gold medal after edging Malaysia 2-0 in a penalty shootout in the final at the Bangkok Youth Centre.

It marked the second time Dharma Raj, as he is more popularly known, dashed Malaysia’s hopes, after the national side also fell short in the 2023 SEA Games final in Cambodia, losing 1-2 to the same opponents following a 3-3 draw in regulation time.

Despite playing a central role in Indonesia’s success, the 55-year-old Malaysian admitted that his love for his homeland has never faded and resurfaces whenever the national anthem, Negaraku, is played at international tournaments.

He conceded that emotions still run deep, especially when leading Indonesia against the country of his birth.

“Every time I stand and hear Negaraku being played while I’m on the other side (with Indonesia), my emotions are unsettled. My lips want to sing along, but I hold back because I’m worried the cameras might catch it.

“I love my country, I’m patriotic. I was an athlete and coach for Malaysia, but I had no choice. I’ve been in Indonesia for six years and I’ve built my career there. Still, every time Negaraku is played, it affects me,” he said when met in Bangkok recently.

In Bangkok, Malaysia were denied gold after losing 0-2 in the penalty shootout following a thrilling 4-4 draw in regulation time.

Reflecting on the key to Indonesia’s success this time, Dharma Raj said his squad underwent meticulous preparations, including about four months of intensive training in Germany and Spain, specifically to gear up for a showdown against Malaysia.

“Our preparations were thorough and solid. I had been waiting for this match (the final against Malaysia) for 15 months. From the first day of training, I already knew my team would face Malaysia in the SEA Games final.

“This gold was extremely important for us. We pursued it very seriously because winning gold ensures continued attention and support,” said Dharma Raj, who was shortlisted as a candidate for the national men’s hockey head coach position in February last year.

Dharma Raj was appointed Technical Director of the Indonesian national hockey team in March 2021 on a contract running until December 2025, after serving 10 months as technical director for the West Java hockey programme.

Indonesian hockey has shown significant improvement since his arrival, with the second consecutive SEA Games gold further cementing his reputation in the region.

 Indonesia’s men’s and women’s indoor hockey teams finished fourth and runners-up respectively at the 2022 Asia Cup, while the country’s men’s and women’s outdoor hockey teams also qualified for the 2022 Asian Games.

With Malaysia, among Dharma Raj’s notable achievements with the Malaysian Tigress are winning gold at the Kuala Lumpur 2017 SEA Games, finishing runners-up in the second round of the Women’s World Hockey League, and securing fifth place at the 2018 Asian Games in Jakarta-Palembang.

He also guided the national men’s junior hockey team to a fourth-place finish at the 2013 Junior World Cup in New Delhi, India.

-- BERNAMA