KUALA LUMPUR — A contractual safeguard that once led to Lee Zii Jia’s suspension, it is learnt, was also at the heart of a seven-month delay in Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah signing new deals with the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
BAM deputy president II Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos said the clause — designed to protect the body’s long-term investment in its athletes — is crucial to ensuring the sustainability of Malaysian badminton.
Speaking on the Sport Check podcast recently, he explained that national players receive far more than a salary.
“It’s world-class coaching, facilities, international exposure, and financial backing from a young age,” he said. “It’s not about punishing the player, but protecting the future of the sport.”
He contrasted this with independent shuttlers, who must manage their own careers as businesses — securing sponsors, planning tournaments and absorbing financial risks.
The safeguarding clause means BAM can act if a player leaves after years of support, as in the 2022 case of Zii Jia, then the reigning All England champion, who was handed an initial two-year ban before a planned appeal reduced it.
Pearly and Thinaah’s protracted talks earlier this year involved negotiating terms covering sponsorship rights to performance targets, Jahaberdeen confirmed.
BAM has taken a firm stance on such matters for decades. In the mid-2000s, Tan Chun Seang was suspended for seeking to quit abruptly and join a professional club.
However, the association’s structured approach has also helped turn Malaysia’s top shuttlers into some of the country’s highest-paid athletes, with earnings from prize money and endorsements.
“The ultimate goal is to produce world-class players for Malaysia,” Jahaberdeen said. “By safeguarding the national body’s investment, we ensure there are funds and a system to develop the next generation.”
Watch the full interview with Jahaberdeen on Sport Check, available now on all major PODaBOOM platforms. — August 15, 2025