KUALA LUMPUR: For the longest time, the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) found it difficult to part ways with shuttlers within its stable.
In the 1990s, much was said about Datuk Rashid Sidek’s departure from BAM to the Nusa Mahsuri club. In 2022, Lee Zii Jia grabbed headlines after announcing his decision to leave BAM, an episode that even required then prime minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob to play peacemaker.
The eagerness to hold on to players boils down to the heavy investments made by state badminton associations. It is also about bragging rights and the ability to attract sponsors.
Fast forward to last week’s BAM council meeting, the national body now believes that allowing elite shuttlers to go independent may be the best way forward to remain financially sustainable. From an economic standpoint, it makes sense.
BAM president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz said during a press conference after the meeting that more than half of BAM’s expenditure is allocated to elite players and their coaches’ salaries, tournament participation costs, as well as travel and logistics.
For the record, players also receive bonuses based on world rankings and victories at selected tournaments. BAM also allows them to keep all their prize money.
Hosting tournaments such as the Malaysia Open and Malaysia Masters is another major expense, although these events do generate income in return.
Having served in a financial institution and most recently as the Investment, Trade and Industry Minister, Tengku Zafrul is keenly focused on the bottom line and return on investment.
“BAM’s current financial model is not sustainable. We spent RM54 million from January to November 2025. Last month’s accounts have yet to be finalised,” he said.
“We need to reduce our expenditure. The national body’s total income is about RM50 million, including RM5 million in government funding and sponsorship revenue.”
Tengku Zafrul also indicated that players’ and coaches’ contracts, salaries and compensation could be made public in the future, a move aimed at strengthening integrity, governance and consistency.
If implemented, such transparency could compel other sports associations to follow suit, especially those heavily reliant on government funding while leaving taxpayers in the dark over how funds are spent.
One way to improve BAM’s finances, according to Tengku Zafrul, is to increase income by 20 per cent by attracting more sponsors.
At the same time, BAM plans to take grassroots development more seriously. From the second quarter of the year, allowances for the 68 junior players under its care will be increased to RM1,000, up from RM400 to RM600 currently.
Even so, BAM is expected to spend under RM1 million annually on these 68 juniors.
If less is spent on elite players, more funds could be channelled towards development, potentially allowing BAM to train more than 300 future prospects.
However, any structural shift can only take effect after the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, when the current crop of players’ contracts expire.
Tengku Zafrul’s proposal to reduce the number of tournaments entered by elite players has also been welcomed.
Currently, elite players are required to compete in at least 12 tournaments annually – four Super 1000 events, six Super 750 tournaments and two Super 500 competitions – in addition to the World Tour Finals and World Championships.
There are also continental championships and team events such as the Sudirman Cup, Thomas Cup and Uber Cup. The Olympic Games, held once every four years, replace the World Championships in Olympic years.
This means players could play up to 25 tournaments a year, which can affect their health.
Tengku Zafrul’s message is clear: sentiment alone cannot sustain Malaysian badminton. Without recalibrating spending, prioritising development and proving value to sponsors, the numbers simply will not add up.
If done right, BAM could once again become a benchmark for other national sports associations in Malaysia in governance, athlete development and international success.
Main image: Badminton Association of Malaysia