Defeated Johan urges new FAM exco to fix governance flaws

Dr Johan Kamal Hamidon, a candidate for the Federation of Malaysian Associations (FAM) executive committee, has called for reforms in the national body's governance following his defeat at the organization's recent extraordinary congress. Johan, the CEO of Selangor FC, aimed to ensure that FAM's statutes align with FIFA, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), and the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

In the five-way race for one of the two club category executive committee seats, Johan secured six votes, placing him fourth. The winners were Datuk Kamarudin Hassan and Datuk Syed Mahadi Syed Hassan, both garnering 15 votes each. Other candidates collected nine and five votes respectively.

Despite his loss, Johan expressed respect for the delegates' decision but emphasized the need for the incoming leadership to address the governance flaws exposed during the election process. He reiterated FAM's commitment to strengthening its statutes, aligning them strictly with FIFA, AFC, and CAS regulations. Johan highlighted the critical issue of governance, stating that even the chairman of the electoral committee's mistakes are serious matters for a national sports governing body.

He stressed that restoring the integrity of Malaysian football necessitates a comprehensive review of the organization's regulatory framework, emphasizing the need for transparent and clear standards. Johan also dismissed online claims of dressing-room sabotage at Selangor, insisting that the team remained united and unaffected by any tactical leaks.