KUALA LUMPUR – Despite facing recent alleged cyberbullying and online attacks on his family, Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria has urged the new leadership at the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) to remain open to scrutiny.
Norza, who stepped down as BAM president today after a seven-year tenure, said that much of the work and decision-making behind the scenes often goes unnoticed.
He acknowledged having to make several unpopular decisions in the past, which ultimately led to the rise of independent shuttlers like Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei.
“If you look at sports at the Olympic level, badminton has almost always delivered. So, is it fair to be criticised when you’re consistently producing results?
“We’re not claiming to be faultless, but there’s a process behind everything. I’ve often told my council members that they must be receptive to public scrutiny,” Norza said after chairing his final council meeting as president.
Norza also shared his involvement with the shuttlers – men’s singles Lee Zii Jia and women’s singles Goh Jin Wei – from the beginning of their careers, expressing his concern for them.
“When I personally brought in Datuk Misbun (Sidek), it was to mentor Zii Jia and elevate him to the next level. There was a period when he wasn’t performing well in eight or nine consecutive events.
“At that time, the management decided not to send Zii Jia to the All England, but I was the only one who overruled that decision and ensured he went. It turned out to be the right call because he won (in 2021),” he added.
Norza, also president of the Olympic Council of Malaysia, admitted that being the head of an association requires making tough decisions, which naturally invites criticism.
“When Zii Jia decided to leave BAM (in 2022), I told my team we must be sensitive to public opinion.
“However, once the council decides, as president, I have to manage that decision.
“This is why I called in Zii Jia’s family and gave my blessings after thorough discussions.”
He also discussed the challenges he faced during the recent Olympics.
“During the Olympics, I was already briefed by Datuk Hamidin (Mohd Amin) that the accreditations had been granted (to Zii Jia’s physiotherapist and sparring partner).
“I also knew from Datuk Kenny (Goh) and Rexy (Mainaky) that Jin Wei’s coach (Nova Armada) had decided not to go.
“I told them: ‘Come on, you need to address this, otherwise it will reflect poorly on me’. And indeed, it did come back to me unnecessarily,” added Norza.
Nonetheless, Norza recognised that it is impossible to prevent people from forming their own opinions and said that he has no regrets about his tenure as president.
Under his leadership, Malaysia secured several major titles, including a world junior title (Jin Wei in 2018) and the country’s first World Championships gold in badminton, achieved by two-time Olympic bronze medallists Aaron Chia and Soh Wooi Yik. – August 24, 2024