Shahril hits out at continuity calls ahead of FAM election
KUALA LUMPUR: With three days to go before the FA of Malaysia (FAM) decides its new leadership, presidential candidate Datuk Seri Dr Shahril Mokhtar has hit out at calls for continuity, saying the governing body needs reform rather than a return to the status quo.
As Malaysia's football federation prepares for its election in just three days, presidential contender Datuk Seri Dr Shahril Mokhtar has criticized calls for continuity, advocating instead for much-needed reforms. In a statement released on Monday under his campaign slogan #BeraniBerubah (Dare to Change), Shahril urged the 20 affiliate members to support changes during the forthcoming extraordinary congress.
Shahril appeared ahead of a race against Malaysian Football League (MFL) president Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan for the top FAM post. He acknowledged that calls for stability were understandable following a tumultuous period, but warned that keeping the current system would fail to address the challenges faced by Malaysian football. "I grasp this sentiment — after numerous crises over the past two years, many crave peace and quiet," Shahril said. However, he argued that stability based on outdated ways would not lead the nation forward.
The FA of Selangor deputy president pointed to the Asian Football Confederation's (AFC) four-month review of FAM, which gave the association an overall rating of 1.2 out of five. The audit revealed that FAM had not presented and received approval for its annual operational budgets since 2016, raising concerns about financial oversight. Shahril also brought attention to FAM's 2025 audited financial statements, which showed RM2.58 million spent on regulatory and administrative fines.
The latest controversy involves the MACC's investigation, which began in 2024 after an anonymous letter claimed abuse of power and financial irregularities at FAM's headquarters. Shahril resigned from his FAM committee positions that year after questioning the federation's handling of Selangor's response to the acid attack on national player Faisal Halim and the club's penalties.
As Thursday's election looms, Shahril called on affiliate members to vote without fear of repercussions. "What Malaysian football desperately needs right now is courage — the courage of affiliate members to make real reforms, even if it is not the comfortable choice," he said. He dismissed concerns that major changes would lead to administrative instability, asserting that reform could provide a foundation for stronger governance and increased commercial confidence.
"Reform does not mean instability; in fact, it creates the basis for new stability — grounded in transparent governance, supported by supporters, corporate sponsors, and progress shared with affiliate members," Shahril emphasized.
Written by urgent.news from New Straits Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
