Lee Chong Wei is still waiting for his RM250,000 from BAM.

THE BA of Malaysia (BAM) may be one of the richest national sports associations but it is struggling to pay the players their world ranking, presidential and match bonuses.

As a result, the BAM owes the shuttlers RM1.5 million since last year. Previously, it was paying RM400,000 a year in bonuses to players.

Ironically, the national body has been put in a spot by the marked improvement of the players.

BAM president Datuk Nadzmi Salleh said the management is making efforts to resolve the issue.

World No 2 singles Lee Chong Wei is supposed to get the biggest individual amount as his achievements entitled him to RM250,000 while world No 3 doubles Koo Kien Keat-Tan Boon Heong should get RM400,000.

BAM secretary P. Ganga Rao, in a telephone interview from Ho Chi Minh City, Vietnam, yesterday assured that the players will be paid their dues in full before the Thomas Cup Finals in May.

"The payment on world ranking, match and presidential bonuses started ballooning last year because of the outstanding results of the players who won a total of 11 titles. This has amounted close to RM1.5 million," said Ganga.

"We used to pay out about RM400,000 previously but the rise in the world ranking of our players was encouraging.

"The sponsors have been fulfilling their obligations but our training and tournament cost, salaries of coaches and allowances of players have also significantly increased.

"We have been working with some new sponsors and we assure that the players will get full payout on all their outstanding amounts before they leave for Jakarta to compete in the Thomas Cup Finals in May.

"The sponsors are coming in but they will only do so after seeing our results and we have to initially bear it."

Ganga added that BAM's burden has increased after the National Sports Council's (NSC) decision to slash the players' allowance as the association now has to top it up, which amounts to about RM400,000 this year.

This, said Ganga, will increase the cost of coaches' salaries and players' allowances to more than RM2 million a year while the training and competition cost is expected to hit more than RM2.5 million this year.

The expenses for the next two Super Series events -- the All England on March 4-9 and the Swiss Open on March 11-16 -- are expected to cost BAM close to RM300,000.

Ganga said while the response from sponsors has been good, BAM must also start re-evaluating its financial strength for the future.

At the moment, BAM receives RM2.5 million from Proton and RM1.3 million from Yonex annually while NSC contributes about RM2.5 million for the elite programme.

BAM also earns RM1.2 million a year by renting out its premises to Sekolah Sri Garden in Taman Maluri.

Negotiations with several sponsors are almost secured and the fund generated from these deals are likely to help the association settle the players' bonuses.

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