KUALA LUMPUR: Former national footballer Datuk Dollah Salleh has made history by becoming the first player to be elected as vice-president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) for the 2025-2029 term.
His victory comes as no surprise, given that his vast experience as a national football legend is seen as crucial in revitalising the national team’s performance.
Dollah is among three new faces elected to the post, alongside Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin and N. Saaran, while Datuk Seri Rosmadi Ismail retained his seat from the previous term.
Rosmadi and Azhar secured the highest number of votes with 17 each, followed by Dollah with 16 and Saaran with 13.
Syed Yazid Syed Omar, the fifth candidate in the running, missed out after garnering just nine votes.
Meanwhile, Dollah’s close friend and former Harimau Malaya captain Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan was elected to the executive committee (exco) along with seven other candidates.
In another major appointment, former FAM vice-president Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub has been officially named the 8th FAM president.
Joehari’s confirmation marks a historic moment as he becomes the first from Sabah to hold the position.
He takes over from Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, who chose not to seek re-election after holding the post since 2018.
Meanwhile, both deputy presidents, Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi and Datuk S. Sivasundaram, retained their positions after winning unopposed.
