Shahril warns FAM election rivals against money politics

KUALA LUMPUR: FAM presidential contender Datuk Seri Dr Shahril Mokhtar has cautioned against financial politics and shady lobbying in the upcoming executive committee elections. Shahril pledged to report any vote-buying, addressing concerns about financial incentives and funding promises to financially struggling affiliates. He emphasized that FAM cannot afford further self-inflicted harm and vowed not to tolerate underhanded tactics.

Shahril is among the contenders for the top position, alongside FAM honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Amin and Malaysian Football League (MFL) president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan. He urged all candidates to run with pure intentions, emphasizing that if the race is clean, they must pursue it through clean means. Shahril stated that he would not engage in aggressive campaigning or bloc-building, given that voting delegates are mature, informed, and aware of FAM's current crisis.

The call for an ethical election follows a governance audit by the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) that revealed structural and administrative shortcomings at FAM's headquarters, leading to reforms before the elective congress.