RAWANG, 26 March 2018:
Despite resigning as Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president, the Tunku Mahkota of Johor (TMJ) Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim will still be playing an important role in developing football in the country through his new post.
Tunku Ismail has been appointed as the chairman of Malaysia Football League (MFL) – the new name of FMLLP now undergoing a rebranding exercise – after resigning as FAM president yesterday.
Youth and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin said Tunku Ismail would contribute his energy and expertise through sponsorship works and efforts to raise the professionalism of Malaysia League under MFL.
“For me, we can accept his decision to resign, I was informed of the matter earlier and my discussion with him before his resignation was to retain Tunku Ismail in the leadership of football in the country.
“Whatever post I was not sure and today Tunku Ismail chose to vacate the FAM president post after one year and became MFL chairman.”
Tunku Ismail – who held the FAM president post for one year – confirmed handing his letter for immediate resignation to FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin.
FAM deputy president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said the decision – which was effective immediately – evoked sadness not only for him personally but also to all FAM Exco members.
He said Tunku Ismail had handed his official resignation letter to Hamidin after the second congress of FMLLP yesterday.
“We were shocked with the decision made by Tunku Ismail as even the feeling of sadness was also shared by all FAM Exco members. Whatever it is, the decision by Tunku Ismail is final.
“FAM secretariat will be calling for a special meeting involving all Exco members in July to discuss the resignation of Tunku Ismail as FAM president.”
He added that a special meeting would also be held with Hamidin to discuss the proposal whether to accept or reject Tunku Ismail’s resignation.
Yusoff noted that even though Tunku Ismail has resigned as FAM president, he will be involved in the local football scene especially Malaysia League.
“He was also happy after being appointed unanimously by 24 stakeholders as MFL chairman.”
Yusoff said the original objective to rebranding FMLLP was also to separate FAM and MFL to ensure no overlapping duties and MFL will be an organisation independent of FAM.
“We have to see the rebranding of FMLLP from the positive aspect with Tunku Ismail leading MFL as it will help to improve the body to be more professional similar to the English Premier League and the Spanish League (La Liga).
“It is also important from the sponsorship aspect when it is commercialised and we are confident with the leadership of Tunku Ismail to attract more sponsors and generate more funds for the competing teams.”
Later, Tunku Ismail proposed Hamidin as the new FAM president. In a statement issued via FAM, TMJ said the long service Hamidin had with the national football governing body made him the most suitable candidate to take the number one position.
TMJ, who is also Johor Darul Ta’zim club owner, said the appointment of Hamidin as FAM president would facilitate cooperation between FAM and MFL in restoring the image of national football in future.
“In my view, the most qualified candidate to lead FAM after this will be FAM secretary-general Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin who had long served the country’s football.
“So if we look at FIFA (International Association Football Federation), presidents came from secretaries- general as they understand the system of football administration. I also have very good relations with him (Hamidin) and it will facilitate cooperation between FAM and the Malaysian Football League,” he said in the statement.
At the same time, Tunku Ismail gave his assurance that the revenue of FAM would be assured if Hamidin was selected by affiliated members as the new president.
“If he is chosen as president by affliated members, I will give my full support to him and ensure the income of FAM is assured. I hope all affliated members will support him as FAM president.”
In this regard, he also suggested FAM deputy president Yusof be appointed as acting president until the 64th congress of FAM scheduled in July this year.
– Bernama