PETALING JAYA: Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) president Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz has called on all parties to put a halt to threatening and abusive behaviour directed at the country’s shuttlers.
This comes after several such incidents as of late, including the most recent, where independent men’s doubles player Ong Yew Sin was sent threats after he and partner Teo Ee Yi lost in the Indonesian Masters first round on Tuesday (Jan 20).
Mixed doubles player Toh Ee Wei was also the target of online abuse, with irresponsible netizens insulting her family and upbringing after her first-round loss at the Indian Open.
These incidents are not new, as men’s doubles player Aaron Chia also received death threats last year after losing a match with Soh Wooi Yik.
Directly addressing the matter on social media, Zafrul questioned such parties, asking: “Are you truly badminton fans? What kind of fans behave this way?
“Do you think the players purposely want to lose? Do you think that if you threaten them until they are affected mentally, their form can improve?”
In the same video, he urged fans to keep in mind that athletes are human beings who face pressure and have emotions.
“If you are not satisfied with their (the athletes’) performance, you can criticise them, but threatening or insulting them is excessive and not what fans should do. This is considered bullying.
“We all want our players to perform, but we need to make sure our actions don’t affect them mentally. How do you expect them to focus and make a comeback when they are attacked, threatened or insulted?
“Support badminton not just passion, but also responsibly. Constructive criticism is fine, but don’t insult and threaten,” added Zafrul.
Zafrul also urged netizens to report to the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) or the police if they come across such instances of bullying.
“If we love this sport, we have to take care of our players and not put them down.
“If you come across cyberbullying, please report it to the MCMC. If you witness physical bullying, report it to the police. Don’t keep quiet and normalise these behaviours,” he said.
Sayang badminton? Jaga pemain, bukan jatuhkan mereka.#TZA #BAM #BadmintonMalaysia #GemilangkanLagi #DemiMalaysia #Tangkis2030 pic.twitter.com/AzWqzgvEx4— Tengku Zafrul(@tzafrul_aziz) January 25, 2026
