Khairy: Malaysia not pulling out from AFF Suzuki Cup

PUTRAJAYA: The Cabinet has decided not to withdraw the Malaysian football team from the AFF Suzuki Cup in Myanmar, says Khairy Jamaluddin.

The Youth and Sports Minister said the Government would use other means to protest the atrocities against ethnic Rohingyas in the Rakhine state there.

"The Cabinet discussed the situation faced by the Rohingyas in Myanmar. We discussed what Malaysia's action would be, including the boycott of the ongoing AFF Cup.

"The Cabinet decided not to pull out of the tournament and will pursue other avenues to raise our concerns and ask for action to be taken so whatever is happening in Rakhine state will stop.

"The next diplomatic action will be announced by the Foreign Ministry," said Khairy to reporters when met after the Cabinet meeting.

Khairy said the Government was also aware that a boycott would put Malaysia's Football Association at risk of being sanctioned by the sport's governing body FIFA.

"We are very concerned of what was happening in Myanmar, but we were also mindful of sanctions by FIFA," he said.