Clean leaders needed to steer Malaysian football, says observer

Malaysian football needs a leadership overhaul, with local sports observers calling for a decisive shift towards clean and integrity-driven individuals at the helm of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM).

Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli, a local sports observer, stressed that the future of the nation's football hinges not on proposed constitutional amendments from the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) and FIFA, but on the caliber of leaders chosen to steer the sport's governing body. "The main issue is no longer just about the statutes, but who will be elected. That is most important," he told Mingguan Malaysia.

Ramli urged FAM's affiliates to be bold in their selection process, advocating for new candidates who are free from controversy and possess a strong track record. He argued against the re-election of old leaders with questionable histories if genuine reform is the goal. "Choose from among those who are clean, who work, and are not tainted by various issues. Do not repeat the same leaders with old controversies," he stated.

Furthermore, he highlighted the need to build leadership from the grassroots, supported by an efficient administrative ecosystem and opportunities for new talent to emerge. "Leaders can be molded, but there must be support from the system and a strong team around them," Ramli added. He also emphasized the importance of international standards in integrity, monitoring, and administrative structures, concluding, "What is important is not who manages, but how accountability is upheld."