Norza Announces Resignation After Olympics
KUALA LUMPUR: Tan Sri Mohamad Norza Zakaria today announced that he will resign as the President of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) during the upcoming Council Meeting expected on August 24, just two weeks after the Paris 2024 Olympics scheduled from July 26 to August 11.
He said BAM Deputy President Datuk V. Subramaniam would serve as acting President until the Annual General Meeting (AGM) in the current term, expected from April to June next year, to elect a new office bearer.
Mohamad Norza, who has been leading BAM since 2017, previously announced his intention to step down in December 2023, with Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Tengku Abdul Aziz named as his successor. However, after being persuaded by Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh, he agreed to stay until Paris 2024.
“I still remember when I said I wanted to resign; frankly speaking, there’s a lot of political activity within the association. I will leave earlier, before the term ends in 2025. To maintain stability and strengthen what we have now, everyone agrees that an internal candidate should be selected as acting president.
“I have to fulfill what I said; I have fulfilled any promises I made because I am not bigger than the institution. I have done enough to build BAM to its current level; now it’s time for the Council to think about the future new leaders because I also have other things to do,” he said after the BAM Council Meeting at the Axiata Arena here today.
He will remain as the President of the Olympic Council of Malaysia (MOM) until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Asked about Tengku Zafrul’s nomination as the next president, he said it was up to the council members to decide.
Meanwhile, Subramaniam is prepared to take on the significant responsibility left by Mohamad Norza in continuing his efforts to further strengthen the national badminton body.
“Whether I want to contest (for the presidency) or not in the upcoming election, we will discuss later. What’s more important is that I want to continue any work and plans left by the president for BAM.
“I, the management team with Tan Sri and the Secretary-General (Datuk Kenny Goh), have worked with sponsors like Petronas and Yonex all this while; we know each other. I don’t think there will be any issues; they will continue to support us,” he said.
Subramaniam has been involved with the Selangor Badminton Association since 1988 before serving as BAM Deputy President in 2007.
In March 2022, BAM signed its largest sponsorship agreement with Petronas for a three-year period, in addition to a five-year sponsorship deal with the renowned international badminton brand Yonex worth RM55 million in April 2021.
Regarding other developments, the BAM Council also agreed to implement performance-based incentives for affiliated members (state associations) and club accreditation systems like those in European countries.
-Agency
