New Leadership Aims to Restore Governance in Malaysia Pickleball Association

Leadership Changes in the Malaysia Pickleball Association

Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos, recently appointed to lead the ad hoc committee for the suspended Malaysia Pickleball Association (MPA), is optimistic about managing his new role alongside his existing commitments in badminton. Dr Jahaberdeen, who was elected unopposed as the president of the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA), also serves as the deputy president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM). His primary task is to restore governance and stability to the MPA, which has faced significant administrative turmoil.

Last month, Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari nominated Dr Jahaberdeen to head a six-member committee to oversee MPA's activities following its suspension due to ongoing leadership disputes. He stated, “Taking on this responsibility will not interfere with my duties as KLBA president. I have always been involved in governance and institutional reform, and I believe my experience will help me manage both roles effectively.”

Dr Jahaberdeen emphasized that the immediate goal is to rebuild trust in the national governing body. “Our priority is to ensure that MPA is placed back on a strong governance footing. We aim to create a transparent and accountable structure that all stakeholders can trust,” he added.

The committee, which includes notable members such as Datuk Dr Wan Khalik Wan Muhammad and Professor Datuk Dr S. Shamala, has a one-year mandate. However, Dr Jahaberdeen is hopeful that the key governance issues can be resolved in six months. “There is no reason for this process to drag on unnecessarily. We plan to engage all relevant parties, identify the weaknesses that led to the current situation, and implement necessary reforms swiftly,” he stated.

He outlined the committee's objectives, which include cleaning up the association, reviewing and strengthening its constitution, and ultimately returning control to a properly elected leadership through a transparent Annual General Meeting (AGM).

The governance crisis began when founding president Farrell Choo resigned on July 1, 2025. Following this, Treasurer Delima Ibrahim assumed the role of acting president, a move contested by deputy president Harmeet Singh, who argued that the constitution mandated the deputy president to take over automatically. After several complaints and reviews, the Sports Commissioner’s Office (SCO) directed MPA to hold fresh elections to address governance issues. Although an AGM was conducted in January, the SCO later identified unresolved issues regarding affiliate membership verification and procedural violations.

On February 4, the SCO issued a show-cause letter, leading to MPA's suspension on February 27 under the Sports Development Act 1997. MPA subsequently challenged this decision, resulting in the formation of the ministerial committee.

Dr Jahaberdeen remarked, “This is not entirely new territory for me. I have always been passionate about governance and integrity in sports administration, ensuring that organizations operate according to established rules and procedures.” He concluded, “Our responsibility is to leave MPA in a better position than we found it. Once our work is completed, we will submit a comprehensive report to the ministry and facilitate fresh elections under the supervision of the Sports Commissioner’s Office.”

Upon fulfilling its mandate, the committee will present its findings and recommendations to the Youth and Sports Ministry, paving the way for the restoration of elected leadership within MPA.