Youth and sports minister, Ahmad Shabery Cheek wants BAM to ensure excellence of badminton
Ahmad Shabery Cheek, the Youth and Sports Minister of Malaysia, wants the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to ensure the consistency and excellence of badminton in the country.
The Minister asked the governing body for the improvement of the sport after the resignations of World Number 24, Mohd Zakry Abdul Latif and World Number 18, Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari from the national squad of Malaysia. He also expressed that this will
not create a good image of BAM and the governing body has to prove its concern regarding the promotion of badminton.
Shabery Cheek is not happy with the resignations of the Men’s Doubles shuttlers and also expressed that this kind of situation exposes the weaknesses of the governing body, BAM.
Mohd Tazari and Mohd Zakry are not the only ones who left the national squad as a few months back, the famous national coach of Singles, Misbun Sidek and elite shuttler, Mohammad Hafiz Hashim also left BAM. Hafiz Hashim is now an independent shuttler and
participates in international events according to his choice.
Shabery said, “BAM had been given the mandate to develop players, and if more players decided to leave, we are worried old wounds will bleed again as in the departures of Muhammad Hafiz Hashim and Misbun (Datuk Misbun Sidek), much to the detriment of all
quarters.”
Both shuttlers, Mohd Tazari and Mohd Zakry have been serving Malaysia for almost 15 years and BAM put no conditions on them while accepting their resignation because of their long services for the country.
However, Shabery Cheek wants National Sports Council (NSC) to probe into the matter and find out the real reason as to why BAM has let them go. He added that if the move becomes a tradition then what will be the use of the governing body which has the supreme
authority in the decision making of the relevant sport.
Now, Mohd Tazari and Mohd Zakry are independent shuttlers and can participate in tournaments without facing any restriction from the governing body.
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