PETALING JAYA: With his 100th day as president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) just around the corner, Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abd Aziz is set to present his vision and mission for the sport at the council meeting on Friday (Aug 15).
While expectations under Tengku Zafrul’s leadership are for Malaysia to capture the Thomas Cup and an Olympic gold medal in Los Angeles, the badminton fraternity is keen to know the blueprint he has set for the sport since taking over as president on May 10.
For deputy president Datuk V. Subramaniam, who is also Selangor Badminton Association president, Tengku Zafrul is a leader with vision, and he believes whatever steps are taken will be in BAM’s best interests.
“I’m happy working with him. The way he leads BAM and the approaches he has taken have been very good for the national body, and I can say he has his own clear vision,” said Subramaniam.
Meanwhile, Perlis Badminton Association (PsBA) president and BAM council member A’amar Hashim is also eager to hear Tengku Zafrul’s presentation, as he feels it is important for all council members to have a shared goal and direction.
“Right now, we council members are still wondering and waiting to know the new direction Tengku Zafrul wants to take, and of course, we are hoping for something better for Malaysian badminton,” said A’amar when contacted.
He also believes that while it will be a challenge for Tengku Zafrul to surpass the contributions of former president Tan Sri Norza Zakaria, such comparisons should not be made.
The reality, he said, is that Tengku Zafrul has the opportunity to build his own legacy, and Norza’s work has paved the way for him to take BAM to greater heights.
“Tan Sri Norza’s contributions were immense. You can see how hard he worked to establish the impressive academy in Bukit Kiara, as well as to attract sponsors to support BAM, along with other efforts that have become the foundation of the national team’s current success.
“Now, Tengku Zafrul must ensure that success continues while at the same time bringing in fresh ideas, as he comes to BAM with a complete package,” he added.
In the past three months, Tengku Zafrul has already taken proactive steps, including resolving the women’s doubles contract dispute involving Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah, before they competed in the Japan and China Opens in July.
He has also sought to engage more closely with fans by producing short videos and posts on the national badminton squad, such as explaining the world ranking points system, which some supporters may not have fully understood before.
