Voice of Australia | Muafakat Games

Muafakat is a Malay word closely associated with unity and consensus. It is most commonly linked to the proverb muafakat membawa berkat, which means that unity brings prosperity. This principle has helped build the foundation of Malaysia’s ability to maintain harmony despite being a highly multiracial country.

By Nurul Alicia

Muafakat was first introduced in Sydney in 2024 under the guidance of Education Malaysia Australia and Wan Haikal, the former MASCA National Chairperson. Fresh off the Malaysia Airlines flight and hungry for social connection, I signed up as the goalkeeper for the netball team despite knowing nothing about the game. Our team consisted primarily of first-year students, and we had less than a month to practise. Along the way, we learned together and gradually grew closer. I travelled to Sydney by train with several other first-year students, where we were warmly welcomed by fellow Malaysian students in Sydney. It was nerve-racking to play my first-ever netball game while barely understanding the rules. Nevertheless, we proudly dressed in yellow, with cute pink bows pinned on our hijabs or looped through the braids of our hair.

Hilariously, I knew so little about the game that the referees and opposing players had to correct and teach me while we were playing. They were also kind enough to guide me during the breaks, which was a true testament to the spirit of Muafakat. The Victorian team learned as we played, while participants from other states celebrated with us as we became better and more confident throughout the game. Unfortunately, we lost, but the experience demonstrated a sense of sisterhood unlike anything I had seen before.

Muafakat 2025 was held in Queensland and headed by Amin. Apparently, I had not learned my lesson, as I decided to try volleyball and fill an empty spot despite once again having no knowledge of the game or its rules. My teammates were kind enough to teach me the ropes. Despite being bruised and embarrassingly taking a ball to the face, we managed to finish third. This would not have been possible without the spirit of Muafakat shared by our team, supporters and, most importantly, our team manager, Amirah, who prioritised our wellbeing over winning. Muafakat 2025 taught me about unity not only among Malaysians from different states, but also within my own Victorian team. Perhaps this strong sense of unity was why Victoria won so many gold medals that year. When Victoria was announced as the overall winner, the excitement was unforgettable, especially as we had placed in the bottom two the previous year.

Muafakat 2026 was held in Victoria and headed by Raja. This time, I experienced the event as a volunteer rather than a player. Through the organising committee, I witnessed Muafakat from an entirely different perspective. The team was gracious enough to allow me to become Rimau just one day before the opening ceremony. Despite the short notice, they guided me smoothly through the rehearsal, which was a testament to their strong planning and coordination. For the first time, I was able to see what happened behind the scenes, whereas in the previous two years, I had only experienced the event as a participant. I also volunteered as a VIP usher during the closing ceremony, which gave me the opportunity to observe the spirit of Muafakat among VIPs from Victoria, Sydney and Queensland. It reminded me that regardless of age, social status or state, we are all Malaysians. We are always searching for community, and we will always find something that connects us.

That is Muafakat: a reflection of Malaysian kinship, unity and spirit.