PETALING JAYA: Former prime minister Najib Razak has advised the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to find an amicable solution to its current dispute with national shuttler Lee Zii Jia.
Najib also reminded BAM that it is not a commercial company but instead is an organisation entrusted to uplift the quality of badminton in Malaysia.
He said he agreed with former world No 1 Lee Chong Wei’s view that the two sides should resolve their disagreements for the good of the sport and the country.
BAM announced yesterday that it would ban the number one men’s singles player from representing the country for two years. It said this was in response to Zii Jia’s resignation from BAM earlier this week.
Najib called the punishment extreme, considering that an athlete’s career had a short lifespan.
“I understand that among the reasons Zii Jia wanted out from BAM was because he had already found his own sponsor and wanted his own coach,” Najib said in his Facebook account today.
“I also understand BAM is disappointed because they have invested considerably to train Zii Jia since he was 13.
“But BAM is not a commercial company that warrants financial returns on its investment. Its mission is to raise the standard of badminton at the national level.”
Zii Jia is currently ranked No 7 in the world by the Badminton World Federation (BWF).
The 22-year-old Kedah native won the prestigious men’s singles title at the All England Open last year. - FMT
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