Ayob Khan, Shuhaily to lead FAM integrity committee

Former Deputy Inspector-General of Police Ayob Khan Mydin Pitchay, who retired after 35 years of service, has been appointed as the chairman of the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) integrity committee for the period 2025-2029. His selection follows a high-profile forgery case involving seven naturalized Harimau Malaya players that garnered international attention last year.

The scandal arose when FAM submitted falsified birth certificates to confirm the players' eligibility for Malaysia's 2027 Asian Cup qualifier. Malaysian Border Control and Protection Agency (AKPS) Director-General Shuhaily Zain has been chosen as the committee’s deputy chairman. Prior to her current role, Shuhaily served as the head of Bukit Aman’s criminal investigation department for nearly two years before being transferred to AKPS in June 2022.

FAM’s executive committee made these appointments in response to the integrity concerns raised by the forgery case. In a recent statement, FAM President Ab Ghani Hassan revealed that Noor Azman Rahman will continue as FAM’s secretary-general, while Ismail Karim will retain his position as treasurer. Ghani, who was elected to serve the remainder of the 2025-2029 term in September, will also chair the finance and management committee and the national football team management committee.

The presidency of FAM was decided seven months after the leadership stepped down amid the controversy surrounding the naturalized players.