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He said BAM deputy president V Subramaniam would serve as the acting president until the annual general meeting at the end of the current term next year, when the election of new office-bearers will take place.
Norza, who has led BAM since 2017, previously announced that he wanted to relinquish his post in December 2023, and had even named investment, trade and industry minister Tengku Zafrul Aziz as his successor.
However, after being persuaded by youth and sports minister Hannah Yeoh, he agreed to stay on until the Paris Olympic Games, which runs from July 26 to Aug 11.
“I am leaving before my term ends in 2025.
“I meant what I said before, that I have fulfilled whatever promises I made. I am not bigger than the institution. I have done enough to build BAM to what it is now,” he said after the BAM council meeting at Axiata Arena in Bukit Jalil here today.
Norza will remain as the Olympic Council of Malaysia president until the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.
Asked about Tengku Zafrul’s candidacy as BAM’s next president, he said it was up to the council members to decide.
Subramaniam said he was ready to take up the responsibilities left by Norza and continue his good work and efforts to further strengthen the national badminton governing body.
“Whether I want to contest (for the presidency) in the next election or not, we will discuss later. What is more important is that I want to continue whatever work and plans left behind by the president for BAM
“The management team and I, together with Tan Sri (Norza) and secretary-general (Kenny Goh), all this while have been working with sponsors like Petronas and Yonex. I don’t think there will be an issue, they will continue to support us,” he said.
Subramaniam has been involved with the Selangor Badminton Association since 1988, before serving with BAM as its vice-president in 2007.
On March 2022, BAM signed its biggest sponsorship deal with Petronas for a three-year period, on top of a five-year sponsorship deal with Yonex worth RM55 million in April 2021.
The BAM council also agreed to implement performance-based incentives for affiliates, or state associations, and a club accreditation system similar to that done by some European countries.
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