YOUTH and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has warned the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) it is facing possible suspension for the national team’s continued failures. Although Fifa — football’s world governing body — frowns upon any form of government interference with its affiliates, many support Khairy’s stand as they feel FAM’s continued failures merit drastic action. Government involvement will mean a Malaysian suspension from international events but this, say critics, should not be a worry as all that the various national teams have been doing in recent times is embarrassing the country. That is why, the critics insist, Khairy must use the Sports Development Act (1997) to suspend FAM and put in place a plan to rescue Malaysian football.
While one can understand the anger and frustration, especially after the 10-0 thrashing by the United Arab Emirates in a World Cup qualifying match on Thursday, suspending FAM is not the answer. What football needs is help and FAM president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah will be the first to welcome assistance. Khairy, having once served as FAM deputy president, already has an insight on how the association works and he also knows that not everything in football is rotten. It is Malaysia’s most lucrative sports-based industry, employing thousands and the M-League continues to attract decent crowds. What is sorely lacking is professionalism as FAM and most of its affiliates are run more like political parties than sports associations. Success in the M-League is the only thing that matters but it has come at the expense of other vital components of the game being neglected.
The most valuable lesson that has been learnt from the 10-0 shocker is that Malaysian football can’t be fixed from the top. FAM has repeatedly tried with its Young Tigers’ teams but other than ending a 20-year wait for the Sea Games gold in 2009 and 2010 and the AFF Cup crown in 2010, the national teams have made no headway at the Asian level. Having hit rock bottom, the only way to go now is up but this can only happen if there is a wholesome effort.
FAM has to play a major part of the effort for — despite its obvious limitations — it is the one with the expertise to revitalise the sport. The government, through the sports and education ministries, must also play a part and the effort to revive football must start from the very bottom as the grassroots is where salvation — if there is to be one — is going to come from. There must also be political willpower to get the state FAs to toe the line for nothing can be achieved if they continue to function as they do now. There must be proper leagues in the states for the various age groups and club football must be revived to create a bigger pool of talent. It is from here that national teams must be built and, as depressing as Malaysian football is now, the outpouring of anger indicates that all is not lost if the nation can come together to help Harimau Malaya roar again.