Some of the highlights from a "comprehensive five-year plan" unveiled at a council meeting Saturday by Badminton Association of Malaysia President Tengku Tan Sri Mahaleel Tengku Ariff are a "new structure, a five-year strategic plan, and the return of former internationals Tan Aik Mong and Razif Sidek," according to Rajes Paul of THE STAR. The suggestions were "endorsed by all his members -- unanimously." Mahaleel said that he had "trimmed the previous BAM’s elaborate structure to only two main groups -- the Talent Management Group (TMG) and the Service Support Group (SSG)." He has done away with the exec and "all seven sub-committees, including the all-powerful coaching and training committee (CNT)." The TMG director will be former int'l and "coach Tan Aik Mong" while the SSG will be headed by General Manager Kenny Goh. Aik Mong will "be the supremo as far as coaching and training, development and tournament plans at all levels are concerned, while Kenny will ensure the administration and all support services are run professionally." Both Aik Mong and Kenny will be "monitored and managed by the steering committee headed by Tengku Mahaleel." Also on the steering committee is Ng Chin Chai, who has "been retained as the association’s secretary" (THE STAR, 9/9). In a separate piece, Paul reported former men's doubles player Razef Sidek is back in the BAM fold "after 16 years and he is eager to contribute to the sport in the country." Razif "has been invited to assist" Mong. He "will be heading the independent assessors' unit, which will evaluate the players and coaches at all levels" (THE STAR, 9/9).
