MINISTER HOPES A TRILATERAL MEETING CAN END BADMINTON CRISIS

KUCHING (Sarawak, Malaysia), Jan 6 (Bernama) -- Youth and Sports Minister Ahmad
Shabery Cheek hopes to end the badminton crisis before the Malaysian Open by
having a trilateral talk.

Ahmad Shabery said he would meet Misbun Sidek and Badminton Association of
Malaysia (BAM) President Mohd Nadzmi Mohd Salleh as soon as he returns to Kuala
Lumpur after his two-day visit to East Malaysia state of Sarawak.

"Last night, I met Misbun and he opened up about his differences with BAM," he
told reporters here after visiting the State Aquatic Centre at the Youth and
Sports Complex here Thursday.

However, Ahmad Shabery did not reveal the contents of what Misbun had told him
during the meeting or the former national champion's decision to resign as
national coach on Dec 31.

"Certainly when someone is 'hurt', it will take time to heal or rectify the
situation," said Ahmad Shabery who was asked by Mohd Nadzmi to help resolve the
situation.

Misbun who has been coaching world number one Lee Chong Wei dropped a bombshell
on the eve of the New Year (Dec 31) when he tendered his resignation through an
email to BAM.

However, he did not state any reason for his decision to quit.

Meanwhile, the aquatic centre being build by the ministry is expected to be
ready and operational by November this year.

"The opening of the aquatic centre here will ensure the development of swimming
in the country as Sarawak are already a major contributor of national swimmers,"
he said.
-- BERNAMA