BAM hopes sports matching grant will boost badminton, says Tengku Zafrul

The Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) anticipates that the Sports Matching Grant (GPS) introduced in Budget 2027 will continue to aid the sport's governing body and other sports associations. BAM president, Tengku Datuk Seri Zafrul Abdul Aziz, stated that BAM had traditionally depended on private sector collaborations to carry out various initiatives; therefore, the RM30 million GPS plan announced by Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is anticipated to offer supplementary support to the governing body.

Zafrul expressed optimism that grants of this nature will benefit sports associations, including BAM, due to the increasing expenses involved. He mentioned that running BAM currently costs around RM55 million per year. However, Zafrul mentioned that BAM has not yet determined the specifics of how it can exploit the GPS, as the implementation procedure and eligibility criteria for the grant are still under development.

He emphasized that BAM needs to thoroughly examine the details before deciding on the advantages it can gain from the initiative. The Prime Minister's RM460 million allocation for sports development was viewed positively by Zafrul, who expressed hope that sports would be acknowledged not only for athlete achievements but also as an industry capable of contributing to national economic growth.

He pointed out that sports generate economic spillover effects and possess potential that should be utilized, similar to other sectors like entertainment. Zafrul stressed that the sports sector should be regarded as an industry in its own right, rather than only from the perspective of the sport itself. He added that this perspective is essential for fostering a more sustainable sports industry, including through private sector involvement and by enhancing the commercial value of the nation's sports.