PETALING JAYA: Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei has called on senior national shuttlers to set the right example for their younger teammates as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) continue to deal with disciplinary problems in the squad.
The BAM performance committee chairman said senior players have an important role to play in shaping the attitude of the younger generation, especially when it comes to discipline.
Chong Wei raised the issue again after receiving fresh complaints from the coaching team, admitting that the level of discipline in the national set-up is still not where he wants it to be.
He said efforts to improve the situation would be difficult if senior players themselves failed to show the right example.
“It’s like the coronavirus, you know? It spreads from one person to another.
“That’s why I say the senior players are very important. They are our icons.
“If the seniors do the right thing, the younger players and the juniors will follow.
“But if the seniors don’t do things properly, the juniors will say, ‘Why can the seniors do it but I can’t?’
“That’s why the coaches also need to work together with me. I’m only one person and I can’t look after everything,” said Chong Wei.
Chong Wei had previously received similar complaints and took a firm stand after several unmarried players were found to have ignored rules requiring them to stay at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) hostel in Bukit Kiara.
Although that issue has since been resolved, he said there are still several other disciplinary problems that need attention.
He wants the coaches to be stricter with players who break the rules and warned that sterner punishment could also be imposed.
“I met all the coaches yesterday (Monday) and spoke to them about the discipline in the squad. I can say there are still quite a lot of problems.
“We need to find a way to improve the players’ discipline again. If we have good discipline, I believe we can see better and better results.
“But as I said, this is not something we can change in one, two or three months. You have to give me some time,” he added.
Chong Wei is expected to raise the matter again at BAM’s next council meeting.
