KUALA LUMPUR — Food for thought: if the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) gives in to the demands of a select few, what funds will be left to invest in development?
Former world number one Datuk Lee Chong Wei, widely regarded as Malaysia’s top badminton player in recent times, expressed his concerns when speaking to Scoop regarding the potential independence of the women’s doubles pair Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah.
He acknowledges that the landscape of sports has evolved and become more commercialised.
However, the three-time Olympic silver medalist emphasised that athletes today should evaluate their own worth before making significant demands, particularly from associations that have a wide range of responsibilities.
“As a former player, I understand and acknowledge that an athlete’s career is short, and we all want to make as much money as we can during that window. However, we must also be realistic.
“The association is not there just to serve individual needs. In this case, BAM cannot simply bow to the demands of a select few,” said Chong Wei, who retired in 2019 after battling nose cancer.
Drawing on his own experience with BAM, he added: “Let me give you an example — back when I was still in BAM, Yonex came in as a sponsor with a certain figure. BAM managed to negotiate a higher amount because I was performing and was at my peak. The deal was done.
“But I didn’t pocket the extra money entirely. We negotiated, and I understood that BAM’s role was to ensure sustainability and development.
“Simply put, I am who I am today because of BAM. I didn’t just hit my peak overnight. BAM invested in me and supported me since I was 18. When I was injured, they stood by me.
“So I find it quite wrong when netizens claim that ‘independent players don’t rely on BAM or taxpayers’ money.’ Perhaps not now — but let’s not forget their junior days and all the support they received before they made it. That was all BAM and taxpayer-funded.”
While no figures have been officially disclosed, it is understood that Pearly and Thinaah have yet to sign a contract with BAM.
They are reportedly asking for a package on par with other top earners — said to be around RM2 million per year.
“Again, I want to stress that it’s not wrong to ask for a raise — but it must be reasonable. If BAM ends up spending, say, RM10 million a year on just four to six players, what’s left for development?” asked Chong Wei, who currently sits on the National Sports Council (NSC) board and also serves as a mentor under the Road to Gold (RTG) programme.
For context, BAM’s total operating cost is around RM45 million a year.
“Athletes today are chasing fleeting success. The real question is: can they sustain themselves at the highest level for a long time? Sponsors will come to you when you’re at your peak — but they won’t want to invest when your form dips.
“Pearly and Thinaah are currently ranked world number five. Aside from a few World Tour titles, they’ve yet to win any major championships, let alone reach the podium. If you ask me, I’d say prove yourselves first — get to world number one, stay there, and then start making demands,” said Chong Wei.
Chong Wei, during his playing days, not only reached three Olympic and three World Championship finals but also holds the record for the longest reign as world number one — a total of 349 weeks. – April 11, 2025