THE Youth and Sports Ministry does not have the authority to interfere in the administration or direction of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), said the deputy minister today.

Ti Lian Ker said the sports body should be the one to direct these issues to the ministry.

Questions about badminton players turning professional must be directed to BAM, he added.

“BAM has found a solution for athletes who want to turn professional such as to release them and allow them to compete in international tournaments,” he told the Dewan Rakyat today.

“The ministry hopes that sports associations refine the status between athletes, sponsors and other parties to ensure the importance and continuity of national sports is given priority.”

He was responding to William Leong, who asked why BAM is obstructing players who turn professional, including banning them from international tournaments.

The Selayang MP also wanted to know the measures taken to remedy the situation.

On January 21, BAM announced that it will not register national men’s singles shuttler Lee Zii Jia for any tournament for two years from January 18 after the world number seven shuttler tendered his resignation on January 11.

On January 25, BAM president Mohamad Norza Zakaria gave Lee the green light to turn professional after accepting his appeal and holding discussions with the athlete.

Ti said players who want to go professional will affect the goals of a particular sports and its national governing body.

“This, in turn, will have a big impact on the National Sports Association (NSA) and create conflict with other sports associations and their sponsors.

“The affected association may also initiate legal action based on the lack of commitment.”

The ministry and BAM have a long-term plan to groom athletes and produce world-class players, he added.

“This investment shows the government’s commitment to NSA to ensure athletes’ development from the grassroots level to the international level can be achieved.”

Leong questioned whether BAM is more focused on profits than sponsorships, and held a monopoly over badminton in the country.

The sports body appears willing to destroy the career of a player who wants to turn professional instead of fulfilling its aim of grooming athletes to become world-class players.

“What is wrong with BAM working with professional players as done in other countries such as Denmark?

“Why are professional players having issues with BAM? Why can’t we work together?” – March 2, 2022.