New Leadership Takes Charge of Malaysia Pickleball Association Amid Governance Crisis

Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos has been appointed to lead the ad hoc committee for the suspended Malaysia Pickleball Association. With a strong background in sports governance, he aims to restore stability and transparency within the organization. Jahaberdeen's immediate focus is on addressing key governance issues and ensuring a smooth transition back to elected leadership. The committee, which includes several prominent figures, has a one-year mandate but aims to resolve issues within six months. This leadership change comes after a significant governance crisis that began with the resignation of the founding president. Read on to learn more about the committee's objectives and the future of the MPA.

By Narendra Chaudhary Jun 1, 2026, 17:57 IST

Leadership Transition in 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 pickleball duties alongside his badminton commitments. As the newly elected president of the Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA) and deputy president of the Badminton Association of Malaysia (BAM), Jahaberdeen aims to restore governance and stability within the MPA, which has faced significant administrative turmoil.

Last month, Youth and Sports Minister Taufiq Johari appointed Jahaberdeen to head a six-member committee to oversee MPA's operations following its suspension due to ongoing leadership disputes. Jahaberdeen stated, “My role in the KLBA will not conflict with my responsibilities at MPA. I have a strong background in governance and institutional reform, which will aid me in managing both roles effectively.”

He emphasized that the committee's immediate goal is to rebuild trust in the national governing body. “Our focus is to ensure MPA is reinstated with a robust governance structure that 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, Jahaberdeen is determined to address key governance issues within six months. “There’s no reason for this process to be prolonged. We plan to engage all relevant parties, pinpoint the weaknesses that led to the current situation, and implement necessary reforms swiftly,” he stated.

He outlined the committee's objectives: to revamp the association, strengthen its constitution, enhance governance practices, and ultimately return control to a duly 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, which was contested by deputy president Harmeet Singh, citing constitutional provisions. After various complaints and reviews, the Sports Commissioner’s Office (SCO) mandated MPA to hold new elections to resolve governance issues. Although an AGM was conducted in January, the SCO later identified unresolved membership verification issues 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, prompting the formation of the ministerial committee.

Jahaberdeen remarked, “This is not uncharted territory for me. I have always been committed to governance and integrity in sports administration, ensuring organizations adhere to proper rules and procedures.” He concluded, “Our goal is to leave MPA in a stronger position than we found it. Upon completing our work, we will present a detailed report to the ministry and facilitate fresh elections under the SCO's supervision.”