I think everyone will not dispute that the best solution is to develop a very comprehensive grassroot system, from the first year in school to international tournaments. But this is easier said than done. Money does not grow on trees or fall down with the Malaysian rains/monsoons.
Because of its very nature the bread and butter funding for such a grassroot system cannot come from the BAM or the government, although they can chip in.
This is to avoid being held ransom to the fortunes of the BAM, sponsors, government finances which are never guaranteed for sports, or even corporations.
At the school level how about a merit system for sporting prowess which awards some sort of incentives or extra marks for making it to the various grades of the local school, the inter-school, or state schools-player status? This system needs to be refined and fine-tuned. Rewarding sporting excellence at school with real incentives of extra marks and other incentives, on condition that a minimum academic standard is complied with, will bring all the parents fully on board. When parents are involved, a new perspective and a new horizon on the game will emerge.
I personally had an experience on this but this was because the headmaster was very conscious of using sporting prowess to enhance the standing of the school. About 55 years ago when we were secondary students in Malaysia there were 3 of us who dominated school sports from soccer, rugby, cricket, field hockey, to athletics (mainly sprint and jumping events), but not badminton. One day we decided to go to another school and asked to meet with the headmaster. The headmaster of the new school obviously had heard about us and welcomed us warmly. He was pleasantly surprised when we proposed the idea that we transfer to his school the following year but including my elder brother who detested sports. The headmaster said yes to the 3 of us but no to my brother. You know what we did? We said either all of us or none. We won.
Now I am sure there are many school heads in Malaysia who have an eye for sports and the image it will bring.