PETALING JAYA: A proposed rule imposing up to RM500,000 in compensation or a two-year ban on national shuttlers who walk out of the team may seem harsh to some but former great Rashid Sidek believes it is justified.
Women’s doubles player Go Pei Kee is the latest to leave the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) this year, leaving coach Rosman Razak scrambling to find a new partner for Teoh Mei Xing just ahead of the Uber Cup Finals next month.
However, Pei Kee will not be subjected to any penalty as the rule will only be formalised after the council meeting in May although a breach clause already exists in players’ contracts.
BAM secretary Datuk Kenny Goh said the contracts were designed to be fair to both parties.
Players who leave prematurely could face either a two-year ban from international competitions or be required to pay compensation ranging from RM300,000 to RM500,000, depending on their world ranking at the time of departure.
Rashid said the national body had every right to impose such measures after heavily investing in players.
"It is fair," said the former national No. 1, who was part of Malaysia’s 1992 Thomas Cup-winning team.
"BAM have invested a lot in the players.
"Right now, when a player reaches a certain level, they can choose to leave even when their services are still needed.
"This is where the line needs to be drawn."
Rashid, however, stressed that the rule should be applied on a case-by-case basis.
"Some players may be injured and unable to contribute. In such situations, BAM can thank them for their service and release them even if they have not completed their contract,” he said.
On former national No. 1 Ng Tze Yong, who has not competed for almost a year and still on the process of getting into full-time training, Rashid said BAM had continued to support the player.
"Tze Yong is a different case. He still has potential and the association are giving him full backing, which is good," he added.
The 25-year-old, whose last appearance was at the Malaysian Masters in May last year, is currently ranked No. 211 but continues to receive the same income as the squad’s top players. In fact, he was sent to Doha, Qatar for an anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) surgery to help him get on his feet quickly.
In the 1990s, BAM enforced similar penalties when Roslin Hashim and Ismail Saman left the national set-up under separate arrangements - paying RM67,000 and RM44,000 respectively.
A similar move in 2022 involving Lee Zii Jia and Goh Jin Wei did not materialise following public backlash, prompting BAM to reverse their decision to impose a two-year ban.
Both players are now professionals but have been invited to join the national team’s preparation for the Thomas and Uber Cup Finals in Horsens, Denmark, from April 24 to May 3.
