PETALING JAYA: A resolution to the troubles plaguing the Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA) could come as early as this Saturday, when it holds an emergency general meeting, followed by the election of new office-bearers.
The meetings come five months after senior lawyer and sports administrator Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos was appointed by Youth and Sports Minister Dr Mohammed Taufiq Johari to chair the ad hoc committee overseeing the beleaguered association.
Jahaberdeen and his committee members – Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad, Professor Datuk Dr S. Shamala, Associate Professor Dr P. Thinavan, Suhaimi Sun Abdullah and A’Amar Hashim – were given a one-year mandate to resolve MPA’s governance issues.
However, Jahaberdeen had pledged to complete the task within six months, which he has now achieved.
MPA’s governance issues began last year when founding president Farrell Choo stepped down and handed over the 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 should assume the role if the president steps down.
The move prompted deputy president Harmeet Singh to lodge a complaint with the Sports Commissioner’s Office (SCO).
Deputy Sports Commissioner Mohsinar Abdul Malek met MPA officials on Oct 9, 2025, before issuing a notice five days later outlining measures required 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 of 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 had 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, irregularities in the succession of leadership and concerns over previous AGMs that had 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 subsequently 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 Taufiq’s attention, who subsequently appointed Jahaberdeen to head an ad hoc committee to resolve the MPA’s issues.
