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Yeoh: I trust Pearly-Thinaah will make a wise decision

Yeoh: I trust Pearly-Thinaah will make a wise decision

SUBANG JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh hopes that women's badminton doubles pair Pearly Tan-M. Thinaah will not rush and make the wrong decision regarding their future.
The duo have been in a contract negotiation stalemate with the BA of Malaysia (BAM) since their previous contracts expired in December and have been reported to be contemplating turning professional.
Yeoh, however, believes remaining with BAM would be the "safer" option for the world No. 4 pair.
"Actually I have not met with them but what I can say is that they should take time to think about this properly," said Yeoh after attending the National Sports Awards here today (May 13).
"It is not easy to just move out (of BAM) and find sponsors on your own.
"Sponsorship depends a lot on your current rankings and the titles you win. There will be both low and high seasons.
"This is why it is always safer to be with the association (BAM) because the association will always supply the resources.
"Pearly-Thinaah are up and coming names and we have a lot of hope in them. I hope they won't rush to make a decision but instead take some time to really think about it."
Yeoh added that she hopes newly elected BAM president Datuk Seri Tengku Zafrul Abdul Aziz will be able to retain players under the national body.
"With Tengku Zafrul in the association now, I am sure he will also be playing his part to try and keep as many players as possible under BAM," she said.
Yeoh added that she is also confident Zafrul, with his vast experience in both the corporate sector and the government, will be able to strengthen BAM's administration including its finances.
BAM secretary-general Datuk Kenny Goh remained tight-lipped on how contract negotiations with the Pearly-Thinaah are progressing.
The pair are currently competing at the Thailand Open.
"I have no comment at the moment, I have not heard anything (regarding negotiations)," said Kenny, who also attended the awards ceremony.
"As our deputy president Datuk V. Subramaniam has said, we will have negotiations with them as soon as we have a suitable time, so let's have that discussion first."
Meanwhile, professional singles player Lee Zii Jia was also reluctant to comment on Pearly-Thinaah's situation.
"It is not my position (place) to comment on this," said Zii Jia.
"Everyone has their own dreams and their own thoughts. I am not them and I do not know what they have gone through throughout their careers, thus I am not in a position to speak for them."
Zii Jia had left BAM to turn professional in early 2022.
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