Megat D Shahriman Proposes Reducing Number Of Nominations For FAM President Post

KUALA LUMPUR, May 11 (Bernama) -- Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin has urged amendments to be made to the constitution of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), particularly involving the presidential nomination process.

The Malaysian Paralympic Council (MPC) president, who has offered himself for the FAM president’s post, said structural improvements, including nomination requirements, are necessary to provide a fresh direction for the national football governing body.

“Regarding FAM, we are waiting for the AFC (Asian Football Confederation) report. But in my view, changes are necessary, including to the constitution. For example, the issue of the nomination process for the president’s post, from requiring six nominations to only three.

“I prefer three nominations because we only have 18 affiliates. Right now, it is not about who wants to contest, but who is truly willing to shoulder the responsibility of making changes...it is not an easy task,” he said.

He said this when met at the officiating ceremony of the Phase 1 Camp for the 2027 ASEAN Para Games at the Paralympic Sports Excellence Centre, Kampung Pandan, here today.

According to the FAM statute, a presidential candidate must secure at least six nominations from the total 18 affiliates to qualify for the contest.

At the same time, he called on affiliates with voting rights to think critically for the future of the nation’s number one sport.

“We must be brave enough to make reforms. The image of our football affects the branding of Malaysian sports as a whole at the global level. We do not want Malaysia’s image to be associated with fraud, scams or being untrustworthy,” he said.

So far, Megat D Shahriman is the only individual to have publicly expressed interest in leading FAM.

The highly sought-after post has also been linked to Malaysian Football League (MFL) president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan, Capital A Bhd chief executive officer Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and corporate figure Datuk Ruben Emir Gnanalingam Abdullah.

Last January, all FAM committee members for the 2025-2029 term collectively and voluntarily resigned with immediate effect as a principled and prudent step following a crisis that hit the governing body.

The crisis in FAM began in September last year after FIFA confirmed that FAM and seven Harimau Malaya players - Gabriel Felipe Arrocha, Facundo Garces, Rodrigo Holgado, Imanol Manchuca, Jodo Figueiredo, Jon Irazabal and Hector Hevel - were found to have violated Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code (FDC).

-- BERNAMA