BAM open to helping Lee Zii Jia, but final call rests with Zafrul: sources claim

KUALA LUMPUR - The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) could consider assisting independent shuttler Lee Zii Jia, but any move to support the 28-year-old will ultimately depend on the decision of its president, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz.

A source close to BAM and from the badminton fraternity familiar with the matter told Scoop that BAM’s position would ultimately depend on Tengku Zafrul’s decision, amid growing calls from badminton fans for the association to help Zii Jia regain his best form.

The calls have gained traction on social media following the legal dispute involving Zii Jia and LZJ Management Sdn Bhd, the company responsible for managing aspects of his professional career.

Fans have suggested that BAM could provide access to its training facilities, coaching resources and sparring partners as Zii Jia seeks to regain consistency on the international circuit.

The source, however, said the association would not comment on the possibility of bringing Zii Jia back into the national set-up for now, stressing that any potential assistance would have to be considered at the appropriate level.

“Firstly, he is not a BAM player. Whatever he is going through is his own matter. Until such time as there is an application to BAM, then it is a different matter. We will look at it,” the source told Scoop.

The source added that BAM was not necessarily closed to helping athletes who had represented the country and were facing difficulties, provided the association’s leadership was agreeable.

“There is no such thing as BAM not opening its doors to athletes who have represented the nation and are facing problems or a crisis. If the president is willing to help, why not? The decision now rests with him,” the source said.

Professional badminton player Lee Zii Jia is seeking a High Court injunction to prevent his father and sister from approving certain financial benefits for themselves. - Scoop file pic, October 15, 2026

However, it is understood by source that the prospect of bringing Zii Jia back into BAM remained uncertain, citing his age and the ongoing court proceedings.

“Taking him back, I tell you, it is a big question mark. His age is not in his favour, but we shall wait and see how the court case goes,” the source said.

It was also pointed out that BAM had faced criticism over its handling of Zii Jia’s departure from the national set-up in 2020, when the shuttler opted to pursue an independent professional career.

“We developed the boy from a very young age. He was brought to BAM when he was just 13 years old,” the source said.

Zii Jia’s departure from BAM and his subsequent independent career have returned to the spotlight as he navigates the legal dispute involving LZJ Management, which Scoop reported on October 12.

In an originating summons filed at the Kuala Lumpur High Court on July 2, Zii Jia named LZJ Management, his father, Lee Chee Hin, his sister, Lee Zii Yii, and his younger brother, Lee Tao, as respondents.

Court documents sighted by Scoop show that Zii Jia claims to own 90 per cent of the company’s shares, while Zii Yii holds nine per cent and Tao the remaining one per cent. Chee Hin and Zii Yii are directors of the company, with Zii Yii also managing her brother’s professional badminton career.

Zii Jia is seeking an interim injunction to prevent Chee Hin and Zii Yii from approving certain financial benefits for themselves beyond their monthly salaries while the legal proceedings are ongoing.

He is also seeking restrictions on decisions involving the appointment or removal of directors, the appointment of a company secretary, the disposal of material assets, the issuance of new shares and changes to the company’s shareholding structure without the court’s permission.

In addition, Zii Jia is seeking a court order to convene an extraordinary general meeting (EGM) to address matters concerning the company’s management and governance.

In his supporting affidavit, he said an attempt to convene an EGM on December 22 last year failed because the required quorum was not achieved.

Zii Jia argues that the company is facing a management and administrative deadlock, making court intervention necessary to facilitate the meeting. These are claims made in his application and have not been established as findings by the court.

The application is being contested by the respondents. In an affidavit in reply filed on August 6, Chee Hin disputed the need for court intervention, maintaining that the company had continued to manage matters relating to his son’s professional badminton career.

A joint affidavit filed on behalf of Zii Yii and Tao also disputed Zii Jia’s claims and challenged the relief sought.

The next hearing of the application is scheduled for November 25.

Meanwhile, Zii Jia recently reached the men’s singles semi-finals at the Arctic Open in Vantaa, Finland, before losing to Denmark’s Anders Antonsen. He had earlier beaten second seed Christo Popov of France 21-11, 21-16 in the quarter-finals.

The run offered encouragement as Zii Jia continued his bid to improve his ranking and regain consistency on the international circuit.

For now, BAM’s position on providing assistance remains unclear, with any potential move dependent on the association’s leadership and whether a formal request is made.

Scoop has contacted Tengku Zafrul for comment and is awaiting his response. - October 15, 2026

The post BAM open to helping Lee Zii Jia, but final call rests with Zafrul: sources claim appeared first on Scoop .