Datuk Seri Lee Chong Wei has urged Malaysia's senior shuttlers to take greater responsibility for setting the right example as the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM) continues to deal with disciplinary issues within the national squad.
The BAM performance committee chairman said senior players have an important role in shaping the attitude and behaviour of younger teammates, particularly when it comes to discipline.
Chong Wei's latest comments came after the coaching team raised fresh concerns about discipline within the national set-up. He admitted that standards remain below expectations and warned that improving the situation would be difficult if senior players themselves failed to follow the rules.
He compared the influence of senior players to the spread of a virus, saying good habits can quickly be passed down to younger players, but poor behaviour can have the same effect.
"That's why I say the senior players are very important. They are our icons," Chong Wei said.
"If the seniors do the right thing, the younger players and the juniors will follow. But if the seniors don't do things properly, the juniors will say, 'Why can the seniors do it but I can't?'"
Chong Wei also stressed that coaches must play their part in maintaining discipline, saying the responsibility cannot rest on one person.
The issue has been a recurring concern for BAM. Chong Wei previously took action after several unmarried players were found to have breached rules requiring them to stay at the Academy Badminton Malaysia (ABM) hostel in Bukit Kiara.
Although that particular matter has been resolved, Chong Wei said other disciplinary problems remain and need to be addressed.
He has called on coaches to take a firmer approach towards players who break the rules, with stronger punishment also possible when necessary.
"I met all the coaches yesterday (Monday) and spoke to them about the discipline in the squad. I can say there are still quite a lot of problems," he said.
"We need to find a way to improve the players' discipline again. If we have good discipline, I believe we can see better and better results."
However, Chong Wei acknowledged that changing the culture within the national set-up will take time. He said the problems cannot be fixed within a few months and urged everyone involved to remain patient while the necessary changes are made.
The issue is expected to be raised again at BAM's next council meeting, with the organisation continuing to look for ways to improve discipline and create a stronger environment for both senior and junior players.
