Two of the biggest sports stories in Malaysia today revolve around two of the nation’s most popular sports – badminton and football.
Ironically, they involve individuals helming the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) and the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM). Both entities are gearing up for elections early next year, with the football body pencilling in Feb 15 as the date of its Congress.
BAM’s acting president, Datuk V. Subramaniam, said he wouldn’t be surprised if the ongoing Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) investigation into BAM was part of a move ahead of its election, scheduled for the first quarter of next year.
“I have been in badminton for a long time, and this could be the reason for the allegations,” he told reporters after a sponsorship signing ceremony this morning.
Subramaniam was named acting president after Tan Sri Norza Zakaria stepped down as president following Malaysia’s failure to win a gold medal at the Paris Olympics four months ago.
Earlier this week, news broke that the MACC visited BAM’s office in Bukit Kiara, Kuala Lumpur. This was confirmed by the national body yesterday.
However, none of the high-ranking officials met during this morning’s event wanted to address the elephant in the room.
The standard reply from Subramaniam when taking questions from the media about the MACC probe was that “the matter was under investigation” and that “it was best to wait for MACC to make the results known”.
Subramaniam added that he didn’t know how much longer the investigation would continue.
“We can’t comment as MACC is investigating the allegations. You (reporters) asked me if it was to force me not to contest in the elections… I wouldn’t be surprised if it was,” he reiterated.
Subramaniam was joined today by several officials and shuttlers at a hotel in Kuala Lumpur to announce that BAM had extended its deal with Yonex until Dec 31, 2028.
Asked about the sponsorship with Yonex, Subramaniam said that the previous deal between the two was supposed to end on March 31, 2026.
However, both parties agreed to extend their partnership until after the Los Angeles Olympics, from July 14-30, 2028.
Asked if there was a tender process involved before the contract with Yonex was extended, Subramaniam said: “It is surprising for me to hear that question; I’ve never heard of that question in the past.”
“Being a sponsor is not easy, but both parties felt it was wise to extend the contract.”
Meanwhile, 19km away from the heart of Kuala Lumpur, Football Association of Malaysia president Tan Sri Hamidin Amin dropped a bombshell – that he would not be seeking re-election for the 2025-2029 term. The announcement was made after FAM’s executive committee meeting in Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya.
Hamidin has been president since July 2018, replacing Johor’s Regent and Crown Prince, Tunku Ismail Ibrahim.
In 2021, Hamidin retained the post unopposed for another four-year term.
Under Hamidin, Malaysia qualified on merit for the 2022 Asian Cup after a 42-year absence and reached No. 130 in the FIFA rankings. It is currently No. 132.
Tunku Ismail recently hit out at Malaysia’s “dysfunctional football industry”.
In a post on X, he said: “But those who vote are affiliates. Teams and associations, too. That’s the problem with Malaysian football; people in the dysfunctional football industry. No vision, commitment, knowledge, and passion.”
In the same tweet, Tunku Ismail praised Indonesian FA president Eric Thohir for his financial acumen, knowledge, international contacts, and passion in improving Indonesia’s football infrastructure, the league, and national team.
