The badminton community in Malaysia is mourning the loss of former Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) general manager Phua Tai Neng, who died on March 4 at the age of 69.
Phua was a respected sports administrator before he moved into the corporate sector. He became the first general manager of BAM in January 1997 when the role was newly established.
Before joining BAM, he held senior positions at the National Sports Council as director of international affairs and later served the Olympic Council of Malaysia as assistant secretary from 2002 to 2007.
After leaving the national sports scene, Phua continued his leadership work as the honorary secretary‑general of the Malaysian Association of Tour and Travel Agents (Matta).
BAM secretary Datuk Kenny Goh expressed condolences to Phua’s family and thanked him for his years of service to Malaysian badminton, highlighting his lasting influence on the sport’s development in the country.
Phua’s passing marks the end of a notable career in sports administration, and his contributions will be remembered by both colleagues and athletes who benefited from his leadership.
