Time for changes at FAM, says KJ

Former FAM deputy president Khairy Jamaluddin said leaders from the corporate world should be roped into the body due to their strong management skills.

PETALING JAYA: Former Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) deputy president Khairy Jamaluddin believes the time is ripe for the national football body to undergo a leadership change to ensure the sport’s long-term development.

Khairy said while FAM’s current crop of leaders have done well at the helm of the football body, its management and governance can be further strengthened over the next five to 10 years.

“I don’t want to blame the current management (but) I think it’s time for a transition in FAM,” Berita Harian quoted the former youth and sports minister as saying.

“Perhaps someone with experience from outside the sports management (world) can be considered.

“I would like to see (candidates) from the corporate world because they have a commitment to management, governance, and administration.”

Khairy was speaking to reporters after meeting football fans at an event ahead of the Battle of the Reds – a friendly match between former Liverpool and Manchester United stars – at the Bukit Jalil National Stadium on Saturday.

He also downplayed suggestions that he is a suitable candidate to take over from Hamidin Amin as FAM president, saying he has not thought about returning to the football body, especially since the role requires a high level of commitment.

“I believe there are more qualified candidates to lead FAM. Even though the daily tasks are carried out by the general-secretary, the president’s role is one that is fairly ‘hands-on’.

“The FAM president may need to be involved in daily management, and I might not have the time to do that. So I feel it wouldn’t be fair for me to try my luck in the upcoming FAM election,” said Khairy, who is a member of the board of directors of the Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) football club.

Although the Berita Harian report made no mention of it, the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) is investigating FAM following a poison-pen letter which contained numerous allegations against the national football body.

Last month, a poison-pen letter accused FAM of fraud, abuse of power, mismanaging funds, discrepancies in salaries and benefits, issues with the Harimau Malaya squad, and the lack of transparency in the tender process for the national training centre in Putrajaya.

MACC chief commissioner Azam Baki said yesterday the agency is only investigating matters related to the national training centre and will not look into allegations about FAM’s administration.

Hamidin previously dismissed the poison-pen letter as “defamatory”, and said the association was considering lodging a police report.