KUALA LUMPUR – Shuttlers leaving the national badminton squad before their contracts end will now face compensation of between RM300,000 and RM500,000, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) has confirmed.
The move signals a tougher, no-nonsense approach from the governing body, which has previously been lenient in enforcing such clauses.
BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz said the proposal will be tabled at the council members’ meeting in May.
While the compensation clause already exists in contracts, it had rarely been enforced in the past.
“In principle, I have no objection. BAM invests millions of ringgit in developing players from grassroots to professional level.
“It is only fair that players who leave before fulfilling their contractual obligations should compensate the association,” he told reporters after visiting the national team’s training at the Badminton Academy of Malaysia (ABM) in preparation for the Thomas and Uber Cup.
The announcement comes after national badminton legend and BAM performance committee chairman, Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei, suggested that players departing before their contract ends should be liable to pay compensation.
Tengku Zafrul added that while BAM has previously waived claims against players who breached contracts, the association will now adopt a firmer stance.
“We have clauses in place requiring compensation if players break their contracts. Previously, we did not always enforce them consistently, but moving forward, we will be much stricter,” he said.
Players refusing to pay could also face a ban from registering for international tournaments for up to two years.
Former national singles shuttlers Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei were previously suspended for two years after leaving BAM in 2022, although the bans were later lifted following amicable settlements.
Female doubles shuttler Go Pei Kee, who recently decided to leave the national squad, is expected to be the last to leave under the old lenient approach, being allowed to depart without paying compensation. – April 1, 2026