An open letter to YB Hannah Yeoh

Dear YB,

On behalf of the long-suffering fans who have endured the endless shenanigans within Malaysian football, I write not with joy but with deep frustration.

The accusation of falsification of documents for seven naturalised players is not about a clerical slip – it is a betrayal of integrity.

It undermines the credibility of our national team, insults the intelligence of fans, and tarnishes Malaysia’s reputation in the global football community. Malaysians deserve honesty, not administrative trickery.

The FIFA appeals committee have rightly upheld the suspension of the seven players, reminding us that eligibility rules are the backbone of international sport.

Falsifying documents is a direct assault on fair play. Yet accountability remains elusive.

Even FIFA have described FAM’s suspension of their general secretary, Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, as a mere “PR exercise” – theatre designed to appease critics while leaving the deeper rot untouched.

YB Minister, Malaysia cannot afford token gestures. This scandal demands decisive action.

Government’s “non-interference” must not be used as a shield against responsibility. We are not asking for sackings alone, but for a genuine investigation into what is, at its core, a criminal act. Only then can Malaysian football push the reset button.

FIFA’s 304-paragraph motivated decision laid bare the gravity of the offences – the word criminal appears eight times.

Paragraph 302 explicitly calls for investigation into the role of the secretary general and two licensed FIFA agents, Nicolas Puppo and Frederico Moraes. Their involvement raises serious concerns that merit thorough scrutiny.

Paragraph 304 further directs that criminal authorities in Brazil, Argentina, Holland, Spain, and Malaysia be notified. Forgery is a crime in all these jurisdictions. Malaysia must not remain silent.

History offers precedents. After the Sports Development Act came into effect in 1998, three major associations faced painful but necessary intervention.

The Malaysian Amateur Athletics Union (MAAU) were suspended in 2002 and placed under a special management committee led by OCM president Tunku Tan Sri Imran Tuanku Ja’afar, tasked with constitutional reform, electoral review, and athlete welfare.

In 2005, the Malaysian Taekwondo Association (MTA) were deregistered.

The Malaysian National Cycling Federation (MNCF) were suspended for three months following discrepancies in the management of government funds and the organisation of Le Tour de Langkawi.

These interventions restored some semblance of credibility to the associations. Football deserves no less.

Immediate punitive measures against FAM should include:

l Suspension or restructuring of the association until genuine accountability is demonstrated. A task force, possibly headed by Tan Sri Norza Zakaria in his capacity as OCM president, could be established with the involvement of FAM acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi and respected former players Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan and Datuk Dollah Salleh.

l A full review of Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin’s role. He continues to sit on the FIFA Council despite presiding over this scandal. His tenure saw Harimau Malaya handed to a third party and the appointment of his political aide, Noor Azman, as general secretary – replacing Mohd Saifuddin Abu Bakar, a competent football official with international experience.

l A review of appointments under the so-called Harimau Malaya “revolution,” including Rob Friend (who is working remotely) and several others – all believed to be hired using taxpayers’ money.

l Removal of high-profile individuals from the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) and the Police from FAM’s Integrity Committee to avoid conflicts of interest.

l A complete relook at the electoral process to ensure transparency and independence.

l A revisit of all the misdemeanours alleged in the poison pen letter that rocked FAM last year, with a thorough investigation into ethical breaches that may have led to this scandal.

l Revocation of the citizenship of Gabriel Palmero, Jon Irazabal, Imanol Machuca, Joao Figueiredo, Hector Hevel, Facundo Garces, and Rodrigo Holgado.

l Identification of the agents representing FAM who dealt directly with Puppo and Moraes.

If left to FIFA alone, matters may worsen. Article 8 of FIFA’s statutes allow for intervention under “exceptional circumstances,” including the appointment of normalisation committees and even the involvement of Interpol.

Malaysia should not wait passively for external intervention. We must act ourselves, decisively and transparently, to safeguard the integrity of our sport.

YB Hannah, Malaysian football is at a crossroads. Either we allow FAM to continue this circus unchecked, or we take bold action to restore dignity to the sport. We urge you to act decisively, not only for the integrity of football but for the pride of Malaysia.

Forget excuses. Demand accountability. Above all, ensure that Malaysian football is no longer defined by scandal but by genuine progress.

Respectfully yours,

Rizal Hashim (who works from home like Rob Friend)

The writer also wishes to condemn the heinous act against fellow journalist Haresh Deol. He hopes it was not connected in any way to his passionate reporting on this issue.