KUALA LUMPUR – The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) is set to take a bold step towards greater transparency by disclosing the contract details of its top players and revealing the full annual expenditure on national teams and coaches.
The move will be among several major decisions to be tabled at BAM’s council meeting tomorrow.
“I want to be transparent so that people know, even if it puts pressure on the players. Worldwide, it is common practice to disclose contract details,” BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz told reporters today during his visit to the Malaysia Open media centre at Axiata Arena.
“At the council meeting, I will show exactly how much we invest per player. This includes not just salaries and bonuses, but also coaching costs, tournament expenses and more.
“People often don’t know what players actually receive. Going forward, we want to be open. Any contract issues will be fully disclosed, including the total cost of each player. Sponsors should also be aware — it’s better for everyone.”
BAM had previously been embroiled in a contract dispute with world number two women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah, who delayed signing a new deal after their previous contract expired in December 2024.
Zafrul confirmed that nearly all other top players, including world number two men’s doubles pair Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik, world number five Man Wei Chong–Tee Kai Wun, and world number four mixed doubles pair Chen Tang Jie–Toh Ee Wei — have signed contracts extending until the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.
The BAM president also signalled a potential shift in funding priorities.
“One of our main sponsors has suggested that more money should be channelled into player development rather than focusing solely on elite athletes. I will raise this at the council meeting,” he said.
“Tomorrow, we will present the allocation percentages for development versus elite players.”
Meanwhile, Zafrul proposed that national shuttlers adopt a more selective approach when choosing tournaments.
He pointed out that Malaysia’s packed competition schedule had not translated into top-tier results, noting that the country failed to secure a Super 1000 title last year despite participating in numerous events.
“If they enter every tournament and lose them all, that is not acceptable,” he said.
“Even during the era of Datuk Lee Chong Wei and Lin Dan, they did not compete in every single tournament. We need to be strategic in our participation.”
Malaysia’s best Super 1000 performances last season were runners-up finishes by Aaron Chia–Soh Wooi Yik at the China Open and Pearly Tan–M. Thinaah at the Indonesia Open. — January 9, 2026