Kuala lumpur: The Kuala Lumpur Badminton Association (KLBA) plans to hold discussions with Minister in the Prime Minister's Department (Federal Territories) Hannah Yeoh as part of efforts to make the Cheras Badminton Arena here its permanent training centre. Its president Datuk Seri Dr Jahaberdeen Mohamed Yunoos said the association would also arrange a meeting with Kuala Lumpur Mayor Datuk Seri Fadlun Mak Ujud in a bid to resolve this longstanding issue.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, Jahaberdeen highlighted that the planned meeting with Hannah is in the pipeline, but the ultimate decision rests with the Mayor since all assets in Kuala Lumpur fall under the Mayor's jurisdiction. He expressed hope that the Mayor and the relevant committee would collaborate to advance badminton development in Kuala Lumpur.
Jahaberdeen pointed out that discussions with the Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) to designate the Cheras Badminton Arena as KLBA's training centre have been ongoing for four years without reaching a conclusion. The RM20 million badminton complex in Taman Pertama, Cheras, features 10 training courts, a multipurpose hall with a capacity of 450 people, a gymnasium, cafeteria, surau, and ample parking facilities.
Currently, KLBA players train at 28 different clubs around Kuala Lumpur due to the absence of a permanent training centre. Jahaberdeen also introduced a new programme, 'Jejak Juara Baru 2030,' aimed at strengthening grassroots badminton development in the capital. The programme focuses on enhancing collaboration with private clubs using a development model similar to those in Japan and Indonesia, where KLBA would coordinate and accredit, while player training would be handled by experts.
In the recent KLBA annual general meeting, Jahaberdeen retained the KLBA presidency unopposed for the 2026-2030 term. Universiti Sains Malaysia political analyst Prof Datuk Dr Sivamurugan Pandian was elected as deputy president, with Dr Mahendran Ponnudurai, Ng Chee How, and Joel Jared William Balakrishna as vice-presidents, all unopposed.