Malaysia’s men’s singles head coach Kenneth Jonassen and men’s doubles coach Herry Iman have come under heavy criticism from netizens following the national team’s 0–3 loss to Indonesia in the SEA Games men’s team final — a defeat made more painful as Indonesia did not field their strongest lineup.
The loss, which saw Malaysia fail to win a single game, sparked widespread frustration online, with fans questioning the team’s preparation, strategy, and overall progress ahead of next year’s Thomas Cup.
A frustrated Jonassen admitted that the performance was far below expectations and issued an early warning to his singles players, urging them to immediately raise their level or risk being exposed again on the world stage.
Malaysia had a rough start when Leong Jun Hao struggled to find rhythm, going down 21-12, 21-19 to world No. 17 Alwi Farhan. Justin Hoh also could not handle the pressure, losing 21-12, 21-14 to world No. 48 Moh Zaki Ubaidillah in the second singles.
The disappointment continued in the doubles. 2 times Olympic bronze medalist Aaron Chia-Soh Wooi Yik fell 21-12, 21-12 to Indonesia’s Sabar Karyaman Gutama-Moh Reza Pahlevi Isfahani, sealing Malaysia’s 0–3 defeat.
Jonassen said the result should be a daily reminder for players to commit fully to the training plans set by the coaching team.
“This loss should fuel them. They need to carry that commitment all the time,” he said, adding that performances like Jun Hao’s and Justin’s should not happen at this level.
The defeat further highlights Malaysia’s ongoing struggles in the men’s singles department, an issue repeatedly exposed in major team events. Malaysia have now lost four of their last five SEA Games men’s team finals, with their last gold medal dating back to 2005 in Manila.
With the Thomas Cup only months away, pressure is mounting on both Jonassen and Herry to deliver quick improvements and restore confidence among Malaysian fans.
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