KUALA LUMPUR: Prominent lawyer and sports administrator Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos (image), has been appointed by Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari to chair the ad hoc committee overseeing the Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA).
Jahaberdeen received his appointment letter yesterday and will serve alongside Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad, Professor Datuk Dr S. Shamala, Associate Professor Dr P. Thinavan, Suhaimi Sun Abdullah and A’Amar Hashim.
The six-member committee has been given a one-year mandate to resolve MPA’s governance issues, although Jahaberdeen hopes to complete the task within six months.
“Firstly, I would like to express my gratitude to Dr Mohammed Taufiq for this appointment. It is indeed a great honour,” said Jahaberdeen, who is also Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association president and deputy president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia.
“I’m pleased with the composition of the ad hoc committee. They are all experienced and well-versed in sports administration. We will hold our first meeting early next month.
“Although we have been given a year to manage MPA, my target is to resolve the governance issues within six months.”
Once the committee completes its task, it will submit a report to the Youth and Sports Ministry before fresh elections are held. Officers from the Sports Commissioner’s Office (SCO) will oversee proceedings to ensure compliance with regulations.
MPA’s governance issues began last year when founding president Farrell Choo stepped down and handed over leadership to the association’s treasurer, Delima Ibrahim, who became acting president on July 1, 2025.
However, MPA’s constitution states that the deputy president assumes the role if the president steps down.
The move prompted deputy president Harmeet Singh to file a complaint with the SCO.
Deputy Sports Commissioner Mohsinar Abdul Malek met MPA officials on Oct 9, 2025, before issuing a notice five days later outlining measures needed to address the association’s governance issues.
These included instructions to convene an annual general meeting within 90 days, conduct elections for a new main committee, and submit the relevant information report (MYKB) to the Commissioner within 30 days after the AGM.
MPA subsequently held an AGM on Jan 13 involving five recognised affiliates – Sarawak, Negeri Sembilan, Penang, Sabah and Putrajaya.
However, after reviewing the MYKB, the SCO concluded that the association had failed to rectify several issues previously highlighted, including a lack of transparency in validating affiliate membership applications.
The SCO also found that MPA fixed the AGM date without approval from the main committee, contrary to Sports Commissioner’s Circular No. 2 of 2021.
It further found that the Dec 22, 2025, main committee meeting breached Clauses 19.1 and 19.2 of the MPA constitution as it was chaired by the secretary.
The SCO issued MPA a show-cause letter on Feb 4 before suspending the national body on Feb 27 under the Sports Development Act 1997.
The suspension cited multiple breaches, including alleged constitutional violations, irregular leadership succession and concerns over previous AGMs that failed to meet quorum requirements.
MPA was given 30 days to explain why it should not be deregistered.
However, the process became complicated after the suspension letter was reportedly held at a post office in Miri, delaying its receipt by MPA. The SCO later granted the association more time to respond.No reason was given for the delay.
MPA subsequently appealed the suspension, and the matter was brought to Dr Mohammed Taufiq’s attention.
