HRH Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim (TMJ) decided to meet with Malaysian football fans at the Grand Hyatt Hotel last Wednesday; where he took time to explain his manifesto ahead of the 2017 FAM elections.
After he explained his pledges and promises, TMJ engaged in a Q & A with the audience, and it was a no-hold-barred session. TMJ was straightforward, quick-witted, and tackled some of the questions with a sharp sense of humour.
If you did not manage to make it to the event, or if you missed our Facebook live broadcast (perhaps because you’re not following us on Facebook and you should), here’s a compilation of some memorable quotes that TMJ dropped at the Q & A:
1.When he tried to explain that he will work very closely with local football teams if he becomes FAM President
“Saya nak nak tanya Selangor, mana stadium awak? Saya nak tanya FELDA, mana padang latihan awak? Apasal awak buat stadium kat dalam hutan?”
2.When asked about his expectations from local football fans, and he took a jab at Perak fans
“Expectation saya untuk peminat bolasepak Malaysia? Saya tak nak orang baling batu je sebenarnya”
3. When TMJ explained that being FAM’s president is no walk in the park…
“Kerusi FAM adalah yang paling panas. Selalu kena hentam je. Pengadil buat tak betul pun, presiden FAM yang kena. Semua benda presiden kena hentam.”
4.When he was asked why he made a U-turn after saying he’s not interested in the position
“Selama 31 tahun penyokong bola sepak tanah air nak tengok perubahan. Apa akan jadi kalau bola speak terjatuh kat tangan orang yang salah, tunggu 30 tahun lagi!”
5.When he cynically expressed his “fear” towards his fellow competitor, Tan Sri Annuar Musa
Q: Untuk merebut jawatan FAM, adakah Tuanku rasa tercabar atau takut dengan Tan Sri Annuar Musa?
TMJ: Ohh saya sangat takut!!
6. When asked about Datuk Yusoff Mahadi’s statement that he’d rather work with TMJ than Tan Sri Annuar Musa
“Komen saya tentang statement Datuk Yusoff Mahadi? Saya rasa statement itu first-class!”
7. And he did not hold back when commenting about KAFA’s perpetual unpaid wages issue
“Datuk Mahadi tak nak bekerja dengan dia, sebab mungkin cara dia bekerja itu tak sesuai. Saya nak tanya, gaji pemain dah bayar ke belum?”
8. When he shamelessly admitted that he’s a workaholic. And referred to his technical director as “mat salleh”
“Boleh tanya dia ni, bukti, Alistair Edwards, my technical director. Pukul 4 pagi pun saya boleh call dia, saya nak dokumen atas meja by pukul 8. Terpaksa mat salleh ni bangun.”
9. When he came up with this analogy for football and politics
“Saya tak nak FAM digunakan for political mileage. Bola sepak dengan politik ni, ibaratkan air dengan minyak”
10. And he was pretty straight forward about what will he thinks will happen if his competitor wins
“Saya tak nak FAM digunakan sebagai financial hub, untuk agihkan duit, kalau ade political campaign nanti”
11. When he sarcastically claimed that being FAM’s president is going to be challenging for his integrity
“Memang saya akan menghapuskan korupsi and sikap kronism. Tetapi sekarang, saya tengah berkursus. Saya berkursus macam nak pekakkan telinga, kepala saya nak jadi presiden FAM ni.”
12. And the best part of all, when he recognised the lads from Tifo Arena!
Q: Ada 2 questions lagi. Dah lama tunggu nak interview tuanku.
TMJ: Boleh. Nak tanya saya 50 questions pun boleh. This is your chance. One-on-one pun boleh. Tifo Arena kan?
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