KUALA LUMPUR – The negotiations between independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) pertaining to image-rights compensation should not have been made known to the media, according to sports analyst Mohd Sadek Mustafa.
Speaking to Scoop, he said that the precedent of professional athletes demanding image-rights compensation had always been there.
“We have local professional football players and hockey players who play abroad, and they all have image-rights clauses in their contracts.
“Maybe this has not been made public all this while because it was handled well by the management of the associations.
“In my opinion, Lee Zii Jia’s management and BAM should not have revealed the terms and conditions of the agreement to the media,” said the Universiti Teknologi Mara sports science lecturer.
BAM’s head of administration Michelle Chai had posted on her X account that fans should not criticise the national body for revealing the negotiations.
“The reveal is not to badmouth Zii Jia, and it is a fact that both parties should not feel ashamed to let people know.
“This is what professional athletes do all the time,” said Michelle.
However, Sadek disagreed and said there was no need for transparency in the matter.
“It is like your salary… your employer cannot reveal it to anyone, and only human resources should know what you earn.
“There is no need to reveal the details of the negotiations as it is regarded as a secret between both parties,” he added.
Yesterday, BAM announced that Zii Jia would play in the Thomas Cup after doubts emerged about his participation in the premier men’s team competition.
It was then reported that he would receive compensation to don the national colours in Chengdu, China, where the tournament will be played from April 28 until May 5.
This became a heated topic among fans, with BAM and Zii Jia both receiving flak.
Supporters of the player criticised the national body for leaking details of the negotiations, while others panned the Kedahan for demanding payment to represent the country. – April 13, 2024