KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia (BAM) will come down hard on those with unprofessional behaviour.
The national association issued warning letters to elite shuttlers Goh V Shem and Goh Soon Huat today for their Instagram postings during the recent Commonwealth Games in Gold Coast.
It is learnt that V Shem and Soon Huat had claimed there was no support from top Malaysian officials or VIPs during the mixed doubles bronze medal match between Chan Peng Soon-Goh Liu Ying and India's Satwiksairaj Rankireddy-Ashwini Ponnappa.
BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria, after chairing their Annual General Meeting, said: "We are super serious about this. When we talk about producing high performance players, we want to produce complete players. Meaning they need to adhere to strict discipline and behaviour.
"What they posted on their Instagram does not reflect a player with a good attitude. Endorsed by the council, we have issued them the letters. It doesn't matter if they are seniors or juniors.
"They must understand the limit. When you sign a contract, you become an employee. You have to behave accordingly."
Norza stressed that BAM will not condone players who take to social media with no feeling of remorse, especially after losing.
"That is another behaviour we do not condone. Especially after losing, you see these players happily posing, and at the beach and what not.
"I know some may say that these are all old school of thought, but I think players need to behave accordingly.
Norza said these are measures taken by the BAM rules and disciplinary committee, who have been urged to beef up their policies and plans, which cover match-fixing, training and players' behaviour.