Hannah: More opportunities for others to hold positions now

PETALING JAYA: Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh said the decision to bar ministers and deputy ministers from heading sports governing bodies would give others a chance to take on the challenge.

“It will open up more opportunities for others to hold positions,” she said.

Hannah said the Cabinet’s decision was made collectively and accepted by Fahmi Fadzil and Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, who were both vying for the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) presidency.

“It is a collective Cabinet decision and both ministers agreed,” she said.

Communications Minister Fahmi and Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nazmi both pulled out of the bid for the KLFA presidency yesterday.

Earlier this month, Nazmi announced that he would be vying for the post, while Fahmi joined the race on Friday.

The KLFA presidency has been vacant since Khalid Samad left the position in March this year after serving from 2019, as the club faced financial difficulties and points deduction from the First Instance Body (FIB).

Earlier this month, Nazmi announced that he would be vying for the post to get KLFA out of the ditch, and had also formed his own group for the elections after discrepancies were found in the club’s documentation submitted to the Inland Revenue Board (LHDN), Employees Provident Fund (EPF) and Social Security Organisation (Socso).

Fahmi, who is the football club’s patron, threw his hat in the ring on Friday for the presidency, stating his aim to ensure the association are managed better and sustainably.