KUALA LUMPUR: BAM coaching director Rexy Mainaky stressed that now is not the time to play the blame game.
The Indonesian said this in light of independent shuttler, Lee Zii Jia's decision to skip the one-week centralised training camp for the Thomas Cup in Chengdu, China, and world No. 18 Ng Tze Yong looking doubtful for the world team event on April 27-May 5.
Rexy said today everyone needs to trust the national body to do the best it can under these difficult circumstances.
"Now is not the time to blame anyone," said Rexy.
"If we don't want things looking negative, then we need to think positively and move forward.
"Yes, we don't have Zii Jia for the centralised training camp, but we need to trust that his team and coach (Wong Tat Meng) will prepare the best they can for the team.
"Likewise with Tze Yong's situation.
"This is not the first team event, and we are experienced in dealing and managing situations like this."
Earlier, BAM confirmed that it had agreed to compensate Zii Jia, on grounds of image rights, for him to wear the national jersey at the Thomas Cup. Zii Jia is sponsored by Victor while the national team are under Yonex.
Zii Jia's professional team, Team LZJ, issued a statement today saying the former All England champion will not attend BAM's centralised training camp, but will join the Thomas Cup team when they leave for China on April 24.
As for Tze Yong, he could be replaced by a lower-ranked singles shuttler like Eogene Ewe, or doubles player Choong Hon Jian if he is not fit to compete in the Thomas Cup. Malaysia are in Group D with European champions Denmark, Hong Kong and Algeria.
