Joao Figueiredo in action during one of Malaysia’s matches.
PETALING JAYA: The responsibility now weighs heavier on Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) affiliates to drive genuine reform.
Former assistant secretary-general Abang Zulkarnain Abang Abdul Rahman has called on the members from states to step up, stressing that meaningful changes, even with assistance from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), ultimately rests in their hands.
“The AFC will do what is right in terms of governance, but the affiliates are the ones who will be electing the office bearers,” said Zulkarnain, underlining that they cannot afford to remain passive observers during a critical period for Malaysian football.
FAM office-bearers have resigned en bloc after FIFA imposed sanctions over doctored documents involving seven mixed-heritage players.
An appeal hearing at Court of Arbitration for Sports is set for Feb 26. Though the outcome remains uncertain, FAM will surely have to chose their new leaders.
Zulkarnain, who also previously served as Football Association of Sarawak (FAS) president, said the current crisis has inflicted serious damage not only on the sport, but also on the country’s image.
“The issue has caused unprecedented damage not only to Malaysian football but to the image of our beloved nation,” he said.
He said public sentiment has shifted sharply.
“Malaysians in general are not only annoyed and upset with what happened but more importantly, they have started to see football as a lost cause sport.”
He viewed the mass resignation of FAM leaders as an honourable step if it was done in the interest of protecting the organisation and the game itself.
“If the idea of mass resignation was taken to protect FAM and Malaysian football, then I would say it was an honourable move,” he said.
“Placing FAM above anything else is the least they could possibly do.
“This may not be the total solution, but this will surely act as one of many steps to salvage Malaysian football and perhaps reclaim trust in FAM.”
On the AFC’s involvement, Zulkarnain acknowledged the confederation’s role in assisting FAM to recover through improved governance and administration, but admitted the situation was a far cry from Malaysia’s past standing.
“If we consider the history of Malaysian football, we constantly produced top-level and well-recognised football administrators,” he said.
“FAM were once seen as the hub of football administrators in this region.
“Where FAM are today only proves one thing, the organisation are a shadow of what it used to be.
“Yes, we thank AFC for their sincere assistance, but the way I look at it, it is more of a slap to our face.”
He also believed that issues with FIFA could have been avoided if FAM’s administration had been more transparent and competent, noting that governance failures reflected directly on leadership quality.
Zulkarnain stressed that affiliates must now shoulder greater responsibility, particularly in ensuring credible elections and safeguarding democratic processes within FAM.
‘‘The affiliates must realise this, they must be responsible, and they cannot just be bystanders,” he said.
“They must be bold enough to step forward and do what is right. After all, they owe exactly that to every single Malaysian.
“The election process should be transparent, and the rights of the affiliates must be well-protected.
“The allegations made by a few affiliates in the last election cannot be allowed to repeat. Every affiliate must be given total freedom to make a decision.”
Reflecting on the evolving political culture in football, Zulkarnain questioned how administrators should be assessed in an era where influence often outweighs expertise.
“If a football player is judged by their skills, a coach is measured by their technical ability, a referee is ranked by their understanding of the laws of the game, then how actually do we measure a football administrator?” he asked.
“Do we judge them merely by popularity, media friendliness or by knowledge and expertise?
“That’s entirely up to the affiliates to find the answer.”
He advocated for a more inclusive approach to football governance, warning that comfort among allies can breed complacency.
“Malaysian football must be inclusive. If we want to see changes and move forward, then participation in the management must be open,” he said.
“There are times allies will lead you to complacency, but rivals will force you to sharpen your skills and stay focused on your path.”
Despite the turmoil, Zulkarnain maintained his faith in FAM and expressed hope that the current situation could serve as a turning point.
“I’m sure I’m not the only one who wishes to see our football grow, to be able to compete at the highest level and be globally recognised either on or off the field of play,” he said.
“As of today, I still have my trust in FAM as a body that will materialise all of this.
“What is happening today is something we wish to avoid but could also be a wake-up call for everyone involved in the sport, a blessing in disguise.
“By having the right culture in FAM, success may not be beyond achievement. Perhaps it may come sooner than expected. That is something worth leaving for the future generations.”
