Call to new BAM leadership to produce world-beaters

Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has expressed his hope that the new Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) leadership would find an effective formula to produce world-beaters. Assuring the BAM of the ministry's cooperation in achieving the goal, Khairy said he was ready to meet the new leadership to hear its development programme in the quest to produce the likes of national ace Datuk Lee Chong Wei. The development programme should include unearthing new talents at the grassroots level nationwide, he told reporters after breaking his fast with Negeri Sembilan Graduates Organisation (Manis) members in Semerbok here last night. Congratulating the new BAM leadership led by former Proton Holdings Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tengku Ariff, Khairy hoped the new leadership could relive the glory years of Malaysian badminton. On Sunday, Tengku Mahaleel was elected unopposed as president as BAM affiliates kept to tradition by not having a contest. Incumbent Datuk Al Amin Majid and newcomer Datuk Mohamad Norza Zakaria are the deputy presidents.