KUALA LUMPUR: There is no need for a Royal Commission of Inquiry (RCI) to investigate the allegations of forged documents involving seven Harimau Malaya heritage players, says the Home Ministry.
In a parliamentary written reply dated Tuesday (Feb 24), the ministry said the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has established an Independent Investigation Committee chaired by a former chief justice to examine the matter comprehensively.
“The Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has also conducted a preliminary investigation into the allegation. However, the findings indicate that the issues raised are technical in nature and do not disclose any offence under the MACC Act 2009. In addition, FAM has submitted an appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“At the same time, the matter remains under investigation by the police,” he added.
The ministry said it is of the view that there is currently no necessity to establish a RCI into the matter raised, as the relevant legal processes and investigations by the relevant authorities are still ongoing.
“Nevertheless, should there be reasonable grounds in the future to establish an RCI, the matter would fall within the jurisdiction of the Federal Government through the Prime Minister’s Department (JPM), in accordance with the provisions of the Commissions of Enquiry Act 1950 (Act 119),” he said.
He was responding to a question by Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (PN-Kota Baru) that the FAM had established an independent investigation committee, while the MACC’s preliminary investigation found that the issues were technical in nature and did not amount to offences under the MACC Act 2009.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) has set Feb 26 for a hearing in Lausanne, Switzerland, to decide the fate of seven professional footballers and the FAM appeal against FIFA.
