BAM CHIEF TO ‘CHANGE COURTS’
Norza aims to challenge for top post at Asia level
IN Malaysian sports, there are two top posts much coveted — the presidency of the Football Association of Malaysia and the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM).
In fact, badminton is even held in higher esteem than football locally, which is mainly due to our national shuttlers’ respectable status at world level. After all, Malaysia won three silver in badminton at the last Olympic Games.
On Wednesday, BAM president Datuk Seri Norza Zakaria invited media personnel for a Buka Puasa event at Tropicana Golf and Country Club, and word had
it that he was going to make a major announcement.
As the 52-year-old Norza held court, he hinted that he will give up the top position in BAM after the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Norza’s revelation yesterday came two years after he succeeded Tengku Mahaleel Tengku Ariff as BAM president in what was called a “gentlemen’s agreement” to avoid a fight for the hot seat.
Why would he give up? Norza’s answer is that he wants to focus on his role as the Olympic Council of Malaysia (OCM) president.
“At some point in time, there will be a change of leadership at BAM because I am already the OCM president,” he said.
“I have thought about this and I will likely vacate the BAM president post after the Olympics.
“I believe since I took over as president, we have been able to produce a string of young players and the new academy (Academy Badminton Malaysia) is also up and running.
“It's time for me to focus more on OCM,” said Norza.
Even as he intends to relinquish his BAM post, Norza, a chartered accountant by profession, has figured that he is ready for bigger roles at international level.
Norza declared on Wednesday he will challenge incumbent, Anton Subowo of Indonesia for the p r e s i d e n t ’ s p o s t a t t h e B a dminton Asia elections on May 25 in Nanning, China.
“As OCM president, I believe it's time for me to see how I can contribute at the international level,” he said.
“And since Badminton Asia is headquartered here in KL, I see it as an opportunity to broaden the sport to various parts of the region.
“At BAM, we already have state of the art facilities, and it is my vision to see us opening up to other players from different Asian countries, especially those from West Asia and the Middle East.
“I have also received support from other Asian badminton leaders who want me to helm the Asian body. In total there are 43 countries,” added Norza.
Some critics have raised the issue that Norza is going for too many posts, and this may affect his work in OCM and BAM.
When asked if it was too much for him to be wearing too many hats, Norza said: “Well, I am already OCM president and I must say that at most Badminton Asia will only take up about 10 per cent of my time.”
Norza also feels that he is well equipped to lead in the sports world having previously served as Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association president, FAM treasurer and National Sports Institute chairman.
“I want to see how BAM can work closely with Badminton Asia because we are both based here.
“Right now we have 18 training courts with two for research and development,” he said.
In the past, several Malaysians (former prime minister, Tunku Abdul Rahman Putra Al-Haj, Tan Sri Elyas Omar and Tan Sri Nadzmi Salleh), who were also BAM presidents, had led the Asian body.