Former deputy-president of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar has suggested that PM Datuk Seri Najib Tun Razak should take over as the next FAM president. You can roll your eyes now.
In the past, our first PM Tunku Abdul Rahman and second PM Tun Abdul Razak Hussein were both once presidents of FAM. We’ve also had a former Minister of Youth and Sports, Tan Sri Hamzah Abu Samah as president back in 1976.
This has ascertained Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad that PM Najib has all the right credentials and influence for the position, hoping that the PM can also fix the internal mess that FAM is engulfed in.
But shouldn’t we nominate someone who is active in sports or football?
According to Datuk Seri Raja Ahmad, the board can actually name anyone at all to be president, even if the person is not in the sports industry–so long as the person garners enough support. It is legit and does not conflict with the rules of FIFA.
“The only problem that may arise is if the government interferes way too much with the football management.” he concluded.
FAM will be looking for a new president for their 2017-2021 term next year in January. Some of the names that have been thrown around include JDT’s Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim; KAFA’s President Tan Sri Annuar Musa and Tan Sri Tony Fernandes.
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