Ab Ghani sweeps to FAM presidency in leadership shake-up

PETALING JAYA — Datuk Ab Ghani Hassan secured a landslide victory, winning the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) presidency for the 2025-2029 term after receiving 20 votes. The election, held as part of the Second FAM Extraordinary Congress 2026, saw Hassan defeat FAS deputy president Datuk Seri Shahril Mokhtar, who garnered five votes.

Vice-president 1 was awarded to Datuk Seri Rosmadi Ismail, with 15 votes, edging out Mohd Firdaus Mohamed and Syed Yazid Syed Omar, each receiving five votes. Datuk N. Saaran claimed the vice-president 3 position with 18 votes, while Afizal Abu Othman received seven votes. Executive Committee members for state football associations were elected, with Mohd Azizudin Mohd Shariff and Datuk Mohd Azhar Jamaluddin each securing 19 votes.

Club representatives electing Datuk Kamarudin Hassan and Datuk Syed Mahadi Syed Hassan both received 15 votes. National football legend Datuk Zainal Abidin Hassan won an Executive Committee position in the professional category with 22 votes, beating Azlan Johar who received three votes. The women's Executive Committee category saw Datuk Suraya Yaacob elected with 15 votes, while Dr Siti Faidul Maisarah Abdullah secured 10 votes.

The vice-president 2 position remained vacant and will be filled by the MFL president per Article 33 (2) of the FAM Statutes. The election took place to reconstitute the FAM Executive Committee for the 2025-2029 term, following the resignation of the entire previous committee in January due to a dispute involving documents related to seven Harimau Malaya players, leading Fifa to take action against the national body and the implicated players.