Coach Beh Lee Wei believes the national men's team's fine run to the Sea Games final on Sunday in Hanoi bodes well for the sport's future in Malaysia.
Lee Wei's men went down 3-1 to favourites Thailand in the gold medal tie but it was nevertheless a proud achievement for the country.
It was the first time Malaysia reached the men's team final since 1993 in Singapore. Malaysia have only won the team gold once — in 1975 in Bangkok.
On Wednesday, the men's squad defeated Vietnam 3-1 in the semi-finals while the women's squad went down 3-0 to Thailand in the last four and settled for the bronze.
In Sunday's team final, Leong Chee Feng had contributed Malaysia's sole point with a 3-1 win over Thailand's Phakpoom Sanguansin in the opening match.
Padasak Tanviriyavechakul, however, put Thailand level by outplaying Qi Shen Wong 3-0. Sarayut Tancharoen then put the Thais 2-1 ahead with a 3-0 win over Javen Choong.
Chee Feng put up a strong fight against Padasak in the fourth singles but went down 3-2, allowing Thailand to secure the gold.
With the next Sea Games in Cambodia only a year away, Lee Wei wants the team to continue building on their progress.
"This (reaching the final) is a bit of history for us as Malaysia have not been in the men's team final for over 20 years," said Lee Wei.
"I can say that the men's team have definitely outperformed themselves.
"Our target here is to win two bronze medals but we now have one silver and one bronze.
"This is a new (men's) team — we didn't have Leong Chee Feng at the 2019 Manila Games, and I think we can still improve this team for the next Sea Games."
Lee Wei added that any further medals won by Malaysia in the individual singles and doubles events, which begin today is considered a bonus.
In the women's team, Thailand defeated Singapore 3-0 in the final for the gold, while losing semi-finallists Malaysia and Vietnam were awarded the bronze.
The defeat marks the end of the era of Singapore's dominance in the women's team. They were unbeaten since the 1999 Brunei edition before the downfall in Hanoi on Sunday.