Presiden baharu FAM mahu segera pulih keyakinan pemegang taruh, penyokong

Ab Ghani Hassan inaugurated as the new President of FAM, following a landslide victory in the FAM Executive Committee Election for the 2025-2029 term. (Photo: Bernama)

The new President of Malaysia's Football Association (FAM) plans to focus immediately on rebuilding trust among stakeholders and supporters, alongside strengthening the governance of the national football body. Ab Ghani stated that the new leadership bar must first investigate and resolve issues brought up in the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) audit before proceeding.

Further detailed steps and plans will be announced following the FAM Executive Committee's first meeting, which is scheduled as soon as possible. From there, we will work to ensure that Malaysian football is in the best possible shape, ideally within the next two and a half years, we will take steps to introduce either a change or an improvement in football in this country.

Firstly, there is a crisis of confidence. Therefore, we must address it and reassure all football stakeholders and the Malaysian public, he said at the FAM's Second Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) 2026 media briefing. Ab Ghani added that he will also meet with FAM Secretary-General Noor Azman Rahman and all units within the parent body before deciding on any changes to management and the secretariat.

Regarding FAM's F:30 (Future) Plan launched in 2018, he said the action plan will continue, but can be enhanced based on the current situation. The F:30 is a blueprint that has been created. Only four years remain (the end of F:30), it may be enhanced or adapted according to the prevailing circumstances, as it was when F:30 was created, he said.

Regarding the Malayan Lions squad, Ab Ghani expressed a desire to reclaim the Asean stage as one of FAM's main priorities under the new leadership. He said Malaysia also needs to continue setting ambitious goals to move further at the regional level, but the control in the Asean region needs to be rebuilt first. The same hope as before, for our national football to reach the top level in Asean, especially.

We may go there, but in the Asean region, if we can regain control, like before, Insya-Allah, he said. However, he said, efforts to restore the glory of the national football cannot be solely relied upon by FAM, rather it requires collaboration from all football stakeholders. Earlier, Ab Ghani was inaugurated as the new President of FAM after securing a majority of votes in the FAM Executive Committee Election for the 2025-2029 term.

At the EGM, Ab Ghani received 20 votes to defeat Persatuan Bolasepak Selangor (FAS) Vice President Shahril Mokhtar who received five votes in a one-on-one contest for the presidency.