PARIT BUNTAR: Youth and Sports Minister Datuk Seri Ahmad Shabery Cheek expressed shock yesterday at the resignation of Datuk Misbun Sidek as the national singles badminton coach.
Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh
He said that he has contacted the Badminton Association of Malaysia and been told that Misbun gave no reason for quitting, but Ahmad Shabery still wants a report from BAM as soon as possible.
“If there was no reason given, it is possible that Misbun has a personal reason. I will get the information from BAM. It so happens that its president (Datuk Seri Nadzmi Mohd Salleh) is overseas now. I will wait for the report,” he told reporters here.
“If he resigns because of a problem we are ready to respond to the reason that he gives. But because he has given no reason, maybe he has a personal problem or there is something he is not happy with,” he said.
Asked if he would ask Misbun to postpone his decision, Ahmad Shabery said that he did not want to take any action before hearing from both sides.
He also did not want to comment on reports that senior players, especially Datuk Lee Chong Wei, might quit if Misbun resigned.
If Misbun’s decision is final, Ahmad Shabery said, the ministry will have to look at the options available to ensure that the “Road to London” preparations continue and the future of Malaysian badminton is not jeopardised.
A newspaper report yesterday quoted BAM general manager Kenny Goh as saying that Misbun had resigned his post via an e-mail dated Dec 31. — Bernama