KUALA LUMPUR: The BA of Malaysia (BAM) are in shambles and in need for a total shake up, beginning with their coaching and training (C&T) committee.
The poor outing in the ongoing Indonesian Asian Games is certainly the latest slap in the face for the national body as Malaysia, for the first time since the 1986 Seou edition, failed to win a medal.
It was their fourth failure this year after the Gold Coast Commonwealth Games (in April), Thomas Cup in Bangkok (in May) and last month’s World Championships in Nanjing.
The only medal achieved at the world meet was a bronze through independent player Liew Daren.
On Sunday, BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria took a swipe at the C&T committee, led by honorary secretary Datuk Ng Chin Chai.
Several other parties, including coaches, have also voiced their grouses, demanding for the C&T to be taken to task over the string of failures.
"The C&T must be held accountable, what have they done all these while?
"There's just too much politics and this is not healthy. The committee cannot practice favouritism. This has been going on for too long, and it must be stopped now. We need a total revamp," said a source close to BAM.
According to the source, leaders with personal interest must leave as those leading must lead with example and transparency.
"I know these people are playing a very dangerous game of politics, which involve certain coaches and top players. We have got no place for them.
"What is the point of bringing in foreign coaches and paying them as much as RM30,000 a month, when there are no results? Why send players for tournaments, which cost us so much, when they cannot deliver?
"There must be a system put in place. Players must first prove themselves to earn them the right to go out and compete. Players with attitude, who cant' work with each other, should just quit.
"Right now there is no accountability.
"Something must be done immediately. Perhaps we may not be able to see any favourable result in the next one year, but that is okay. If we want to come good at the 2020 Olympics, we have to act now. Sports must be free from politics," said the source, who feels there should be a new development set up at the Bukit Jalil Sports School (BJSS).
In the absence of the ill Lee Chong Wei, who is currently undergoing treatment overseas, Malaysia suffered one of their worst humiliations in Jakarta when the men's team failed to reach the quarter-finals for the first time in the history of the Asian Games following a 3-0 defeat to Japan.
And in the individual event, Malaysia's best finishers were men's doubles Goh V Shem-Tan Wee Kiong and Ong Yew Sin-Teo Ee Yi who crashed out in the quarter-finals.
BAM had initially set a modest target of two bronze medals which in the end still went up in smoke.