KUALA LUMPUR – Former Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria believes the appointment of Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz as the new president is a timely move that will help strengthen governance and narrow existing gaps within the national body.
Norza, who now serves as BAM’s honorary life president, said the transition in leadership reflected the association’s maturity and openness to new ideas, noting that stability has long been a hallmark of BAM.
“Firstly, I want to congratulate the new leadership. Whatever happens in BAM is always stable and smooth. Stability and unity exist because BAM is open to leadership that brings in values, and Tengku Zafrul embodies that,” he said.
Norza added that the re-election of other key office bearers, such as Datuk V. Subramaniam and Datuk Seri Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos as deputy presidents, also showed that BAM was united in supporting a new era.
“When I first came in, it was all about Datuk Lee Chong Wei. Now BAM has become an institution that continues to produce players, not just one extraordinary talent.”
He credited BAM’s existing structure and long-term approach for building a stronger pipeline of players.
“I’ve always said: trust the process. If you look at our elite players now, most of them are in the world’s top 10. Of course, there’s room for improvement – and that’s where we inject new leadership.”
Norza said he stepped aside at the right time after the 2024 Paris Olympics, firmly believing that “no one is bigger than the institution”.
“If I thought I was bigger than the institution, I would have stayed forever. I’ve done my national service. Now it’s Tengku Zafrul’s turn. His appointment augurs well for the sport as a whole.”
On why Tengku Zafrul was handpicked for the job, Norza said: “We needed someone young, with a background in the corporate sector, and who is now part of the Madani Government. He fits the criteria. Most of our sponsors are no strangers to Tengku Zafrul.”
Norza said he had been consistent in proposing the Investment, Trade and Industry minister as his successor after identifying specific gaps in the system that needed urgent attention.
“I told Tengku Zafrul his job will be made easier if he studies the Pemandu report. Before I left, we got professionals to review BAM’s operations independently. That report clearly outlines where we are, where we want to be, and the gaps we need to address.”
One key area for Tengku Zafrul, according to Norza, is improving the association’s governance framework.
“There’s already a clear separation between BAM as the governing body and Akademi Badminton Malaysia (ABM) as the high-performance centre.
“What Tengku Zafrul needs to do now is strengthen the blueprint, the business model, and how we deliver on our processes leading up to Los Angeles 2028,” said Norza.
Norza added that although Malaysia has achieved world titles under his tenure, the next step must be to go beyond that.
“We’re currently ranked fifth or sixth in the world. Moving forward, we must aim for the top three. The gap is clear and obvious. The only way forward is through new leadership and fresh ideas – supported by a strong team and council.” — May 10, 2025