BAM need to prove they are still relevant, says minister
Top News 10:27 AM
KEMAMAN: The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) have to prove that they are still a relevant body to ensure continuing excellence in national badminton, said Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek.
He said if more players decided to follow the footsteps of Zakry Abdul Latif and Mohd Fairuzizuan Mohd Tazari (pic), who left the national elite squad, it could be construed that the association was no longer relevant.
Expressing his shock over the departure of the duo, Ahmad Shabery said the development would tarnish BAM’s integrity as it was not able to retain players under its ambit.
“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,” he said before presenting aid to the needy from the Ayer Puteh state constituency here yesterday.
BAM president Datuk Seri Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh told a news conference on Saturday that BAM had accepted the resignation of Zakry and Fairuzizuan after 15 years of service without any conditions.
Ahmad Shabery said the National Sports Council (NSC) would get to the bottom of the matter as the ministry was concern on the backlash if more players decided to leave BAM or whether the incident was merely an isolated case.
Zakry, 29, and Fairuzizuan, 28, sent their resignation letters to BAM on Aug 17 stating their intention to become independent players.
They were former second-ranked pair before coach Rexy Mainaky decided to split them and pair them up with Hoon Thien How and Ong Soon Hock respectively. – Bernama
Posted by Lucas Liau
on 10:27 AM.
Filed under
