WITH the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) slapping a two-year ban on badminton star Lee Zii Jia following the latter’s resignation, Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Faizal Azumu took to social media calling for both parties to resolve the matter amicably.
“Jika kepentingan negara diutamakan, sudah tentu ada jalan penyelesaiannya. Pada hemat saya isu diantara BAM dan Lee Zii Jia bukanlah perkara yang rakyat dan para pendokong serta penyokong sukan badminton inginkan ketika ini.
“BAM dan Lee Zii Jia mesti mencuba bersungguh-sungguh mencari jalan penyelesaian untuk isu ini. Saya akan bertemu dengan kedua belah pihak dalam masa terdekat. Kita tidak seharusnya mempertaruhkan masa depan pemain dan kedudukan Malaysia di pentas Badminton antarabangsa,” he was reported saying.
(If we take into account national interest, there is always a solution to this. In my view, the issue plaguing Lee and BAM is not what the people need right now, particularly among badminton fans. Both parties must try to resolve this amicably and I will meet both parties soon. We should not jeopardise both our players and Malaysia’s standing in the international badminton arena).
However, it took very little time for netizens to tear apart the minister’s diplomatic answer, calling him to act decisively instead of commenting on social media.
“Cakap kat sini buat apa..buatla sesuatu,” said user Mohd Hafiz.
(What is the point chatting here? Do something)
User @moisticks echoed Hafiz’s sentiments adding:
(Please save one of our brightest players so that he can succeed. Be a minister the people need, not one who only talks the talk. Use your authority)
Netizen Shahnaz Z was less diplomatic to Ahmad Faizal, who retorted:
(This has become chaotic and only now he opens his mouth. I think the people are more willing to see Lee to play for Indonesia, Singapore and Denmark now. Best if we wait for another person to take over the Youth and Sports Ministry. Perhaps, that will motivate Lee to return to Malaysia)
On Jan 19, former Malaysian badminton legend Datuk Rashid Sidek urged BAM to impose “stern punishment” on anyone who tried to leave the body following Lee’s resignation.
He added that BAM should not give face to Lee, as it would motivate others to do same despite the national badminton body spending time and money training them for years.
“BAM has the power to act. If you need to suspend them from future tournaments, then please do so. If you leave this out, others will follow suit.
“If BAM refuses to crack the whip, then the people will no longer have any respect for the former,” he was reported saying by Harian Metro.
However, BAM’s punishment against Lee did not augur well among badminton fans, with even his foreign counterparts rallying behind their colleague to offer support.
“Imagine yourself being in a position where you don’t feel happy in your current workplace and you want something to change. You go express your thoughts to your boss and tell her/him you want to quit and find another place to work.
“However, your boss is not happy about your decision and since they have the power to ban you from applying to jobs in your field, they might go ahead and do so. You just have to wait and see.
“Just listen how crazy this is. This is the year 2022. Is this what we want for our sport?” said Danish Viktor Axelsen who is also the world’s number one badminton singles player.
Closing the stable after horses have bolted
On that note, user Sky Ngo Hui Qian called Ahmad Faizal an imbecile for only making a statement after the BAM had penalised Lee.
(Dimwit! This guy always makes statements after it is too late. By right, a meeting should have been before BAM slapped the suspension)
Netizen Juri Portelli remarked:
(The bigger problem is I think the Sports Commissioner Act needs an amendment. Currently, our sports bodies wield too much power that you can’t question their decisions). – Jan 22, 2022
