PLEDGE AGAINST MATCH-FIXING

National shuttlers to sign ‘corruption-free’ declaration

AFTER two Malaysian players were accused of match-fixing, the country’s national shuttlers and coaches will be asked by BAM to sign a “corruption-free” pledge.

This is part of BAM’s efforts to fight the scourge of match-fixing.

BAM president Datuk Seri Mohamad Norza Zakaria said yesterday this is among the precautionary measures taken.

He said BAM want to raise their shuttlers’ awareness of the menace of matchfixing.

“We’re not going to only act after the decisions (by World Badminton Federation, BWF) on the two players but we start from now, in stages to educate the players.

“So, we will have the signing of the pledge (by players and coaches) on April 28 and we will be working together with the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission

“We will explain to the players, as well as coaches, on the process and the need to fight match-fixing. We want to educate them against such activities.”

Meanwhile, Norza declined to speculate on why BWF are taking such a long time to deliver verdicts on the two players (after a hearing was held on Feb 26-27).

“First of all, they are not our players, so, we cannot speculate. If they are innocent, then it’s good.

“We can’t penalise them before an official sentence is issued (by BWF).

“We don’t want to just focus on the two players but to help BAM players steer clear of these unhealthy activities.”

BWF called up two Malaysian professional players to attend a hearing in Singapore in February on six counts of match-fixing in six different tournaments between 2013 and 2016.

The world governing body have yet to reveal the identities of the two players implicated in the allegations.

Former world junior champion Zulfadli Zulkiffli and ex-Thomas Cupper Tan Chun Seang were seen attending the BWF hearing.