KLBA Seeks Meeting With Hannah, KL Mayor Over Training Base Issue

KUALA LUMPUR, May 31 (Bernama) -- The Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA) plans to hold discussions with Minister in the Prime Minister’s Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh as part of efforts to make the Cheras Badminton Arena here its permanent training centre.

Its president Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos said the association would also arrange a meeting with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud in a bid to resolve this longstanding issue.

“It’s in the pipeline (meeting with Hannah), but ultimately it will go back to the Mayor because all assets in Kuala Lumpur fall under the Mayor’s jurisdiction.

“So if the Mayor and the relevant committee are willing to work together to advance badminton development in Kuala Lumpur, they will help. Therefore, we pray and remain hopeful,” he told a press conference after the KLBA annual general meeting here today.

Asked why the issue had dragged on for so long, Jahaberdeen said it could be due to bureaucratic hurdles, but expressed hope that their meetings with Hannah and Fadlun would yield positive results.

Last November, Jahaberdeen was reported as saying that four years of negotiations with Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to make the Cheras Badminton Arena KLBA’s training centre had yet to reach a conclusion.

The RM20 million badminton complex in Taman Pertama, Cheras, features 10 training courts, a multipurpose hall with a capacity of 450 people, a gymnasium, cafeteria, surau and ample parking facilities.

Jahaberdeen said KLBA players are currently training at 28 clubs around Kuala Lumpur due to the absence of a permanent training centre.

He also said KLBA is formulating a new programme known as “Jejak Juara Baru 2030” as part of efforts to strengthen grassroots badminton development in the capital.

He said the programme’s main focus is to enhance collaboration with private clubs through a development model similar to those practised in Japan and Indonesia. Under the model, the association would play a greater role as a coordinating and accrediting body, while player training would be entrusted to parties with the necessary expertise.

Earlier, Jahaberdeen retained the KLBA presidency unopposed for the 2026-2030 term.

Also elected unopposed were Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian as deputy president, and three vice-presidents — Dr Mahendran Ponnudurai, Ng Chee How and Joel Jared William Balakrishna.

-- BERNAMA