Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) remains confident that its offer to women’s doubles stars Pearly Tan and M. Thinaah is “fair and attractive,” despite the players reportedly seeking more favourable terms in ongoing contract negotiations.
BAM Deputy President Datuk V. Subramaniam emphasized today that the national body has been providing competitive salaries, substantial world ranking bonuses, and full prize money retention for its shuttlers—benefits not commonly found in other leading badminton nations.
“Our top players, including those in the top 10, are rewarded with salaries and ranking bonuses that are far better than before,” said Subramaniam.
“Importantly, BAM allows players to keep 100 per cent of their tournament prize money. In most countries, national associations take a percentage of winnings, but we don’t deduct a single sen.”
Subramaniam highlighted that BAM’s current remuneration structure surpasses previous schemes, including a past policy where top-two ranked players or pairs received RM45,000 quarterly allowances. He claimed that today’s ranking bonuses are significantly higher, with added benefits such as state-of-the-art training facilities, sports science support, and fully-funded international competition costs.
“We also ensure that lower-ranked players and juniors are not left behind, giving them performance-based incentives when they achieve good results,” he added.
Subramaniam maintained that BAM’s approach is among the most player-centric globally, ensuring fair compensation across all levels.
Despite BAM’s assurances, world No. 4 Pearly-Thinaah are reportedly considering turning professional if their “additional demands” are not met. The duo, who recently made headlines with strong performances on the BWF World Tour, are said to be seeking enhanced terms beyond the current offer.
However, Subramaniam is optimistic the situation will be resolved amicably.
“We will have a final discussion with Pearly and Thinaah once they return from the Thailand Open this Sunday. A decision will be announced immediately after that meeting,” he confirmed.
For now, BAM is standing by its proposal, which it describes as “attractive and fair” while also maintaining the long-term interests of Malaysian badminton.
