MALACCA: Having Prime Minister Datuk Seri Najib Razak as president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) would not be fair to other sports, Malacca Chief Minister Datuk Seri Idris Haron said today.
Idris, who is also president of the Malacca United Soccer Association, said while Najib's profile and influence would be of benefit to the embattled FAM, as Prime Minister, he should use his position to promote all sports.
"Of course, having the Prime Minister as president of the FAM would be of tremendous benefit. But for Najib to be in charge of just one sport would not be fair on other sports. Then everybody would want the Prime Minister for their association," said Idris.
He was responding to calls by former FAM vice president Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar for Najib to be given the hot seat when current president Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah steps down ahead of the FAM's national congress next year.
Idris suggested Najib be given a position as patron and advisor to all sports in the country.
"I am sure Najib himself is not only concerned about football. As Prime Minister, he would want our athletes from all sports to rise and become the best in the world in their respective fields,” he said.
Najib's name is the latest to enter the fray as the guessing game over who the next FAM president will be heats up.
Johor crown prince Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim, Minister in the Prime Minister's Department Datuk Seri Idris Jala, AirAsia founder Tan Sri Tony Fernandes and Kelantan FA president Tan Sri Annuar Musa are among those who have been linked to the FAM hot seat.