FAM election must not become political theatre

Malaysia’s Football Association election on Sept. 17 must not become a performance staged for appearances, but a test of who is prepared to change the country’s football, Utusan Malaysia says.

Three figures are set to compete for the presidency: FAM honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, Malaysian Football League president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan and Selangor Football Association deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar.

As the contest intensifies, national sports observer Datuk Dr. Pekan Ramli has urged the election to be conducted transparently rather than decided before the affiliated members cast their ballots. The new president, he said, must bring the courage to carry out a transformation, not merely take the chair, issue statements and later offer excuses when change fails.

Pekan also warned against leaders who are loud outside the field but lose their resolve once inside the organisation. FAM, he said, does not need passengers or followers without independent positions and ideas. Football observer Associate Professor Dr. Zulakbal Abd Karim described the number of people interested in standing as a positive development, but said affiliates must judge who has the clearest objectives and the ability to deliver change.

The final list of candidates for 11 FAM positions is expected today. The affiliates will then decide whether the election produces only a new set of names or leadership capable of pulling FAM out of its old cycle.

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FAM does not need passengers or a line-up of leaders who simply become followers without positions and ideas of their own.