PETALING JAYA: Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad has entered the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) presidential race.
He announced this on his social media pages, revealing that he discussed with several corporate figures and government-linked institutions before deciding to nominate himself.
The decision to contest comes after the club was fined RM100,000, had six points deducted, and faced a transfer ban for the rest of the Super League season due to inaccuracies in the documentation submitted to government agencies for their club licence.
The penalties were imposed by the First Instance Body (FIB), which found discrepancies in the club’s documentation submitted to LHDN, EPF, and Perkeso.
"The problems faced by the Super League club Kuala Lumpur are widely talked about within the Malaysian football community. As a fan and public representative, I am also affected by this," said Nik Nazmi.
"We accept that the club faces legitimate action. But we hope consideration can be given to the deduction of points from its players, who have fought hard on the football field.
"Despite the reduced budget and problems off the field, the players have shown great spirit to play for the club, as seen in their performance in the first six games of the league.
"I am taking on this responsibility to repay the faith and trust shown by the fans and players of the club. Football in Kuala Lumpur deserves better."
The KLFA congress is expected to be held next month, though dates have not yet been announced.
This is the second time Nik Nazmi has decided to compete for the presidency of the state footballing body. He first announced his candidacy in 2019.
