Tunku Ismail wants politicians to stay away from FAM
Published on: Thursday, February 02, 2017
PETALING JAYA: The Johor Crown Prince, Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, does not want the post of Football Association of Malaysia president to fall into the hands of anyone with political ambitions or political ties of any sort.Tunku Ismail, who is more popularly known as TMJ, said this while answering questions from Johor Darul Takzim (JDT) football fans, on the Johor Southern Tigers page on Facebook Tuesday, reported the FMT.Replying to a question on his nomination for the FAM president's post in the upcoming FAM congress and election, Tunku Ismail said whoever is president must serve exclusively for football.
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"So, whoever wants to be the president must be someone without any political ties because it can be misused, that's all. It has to be an individual who can serve exclusively for football," the JDT club owner said.He also warned that any government interference into FAM could see the football league and clubs from Malaysia banned by Fifa, as was the case in Indonesia a few years ago.The 51st FAM congress will be held on March 25, and will see the election of main office bearers.The main contest, however, will be for the post of president with Tunku Ismail, former Putrajaya Corp president Aseh Che Mat, Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin and former Kelantan FA president Annuar Musa vying for the post.
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However, last Friday, Khairy said he was still undecided about whether to accept the nomination, after being advised by Deputy Prime Minister Ahmad Zahid Hamidi against running for the national football body's presidency.That, and the current predicament of Annuar, who is under investigation by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission over allegations of misappropriation of funds and mismanagement, could eventually see a two-horse race for the top football post in the country.
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Meanwhile, Tunku Ismail also called for a radical change in the structure of football in the country with the handling of the league being placed under private corporations such as Astro, Fox Sport or even Telekom."The FAM only needs to maintain law and order, that's all. That's my view on it, but we shall see," he said.Tunku Ismail also believes that the people i.e. football fans, must have a bigger say in who becomes FAM president."Sadly in Malaysia, it is not the Malaysian people who vote but the affiliate members. That's the weakness.Stay up-to-date by following Daily Express’s Telegram channel.
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