THE FA of Malaysia (FAM) will take the criticism and advice of Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim seriously.
In a statement yesterday, FAM president Datuk Hamidin Amin said: "Menjunjung kasih to TMJ (Tunku Ismail). I will look into the suggestions by our former president regarding the national team's failure.
"We will take the comments and suggestions in a positive light. We will try to refine things for the betterment of all parties, especially in the management of national football."
Following the national team's poor results at the AFF Cup in Singapore last month, FAM have been criticised heavily by fans while coach Tan Cheng Hoe resigned.
Malaysia lost to Vietnam (3-0) and Indoensia (4-1) and failed to advance past the group stage.
Subsequently, FAM formed an independent body of investigation, chaired by former KL Police chief Datuk Dell Akbar Khan, to do a post-mortem.
There were also allegations by football fans of "hidden hands" (many speculated to be Tunku Ismail) behind the national team.
On Thursday, in an interview with Astro Arena, Tunku Ismail set the record straight, telling the parties concerned to take accountability for Malaysia's failure at the AFF Cup, and not look for a scapegoat.
The Johor Darul Ta'zim club owner said FAM and Cheng Hoe should take responsibility for the national team's situation.
Tunku Ismail also stressed the importance of early planning and transparency in managing the national team.
"I think the issues concerning 'hidden hands' arise because some parties do not want to take accountability or want to save their own skin," said Tunku Ismail.
"The failure to plan, work as a coach or to have transparency with the media and fans to have engagement.
"It is easy to say 'hidden hands', so I am the scapegoat but I have nothing to do with this.
"I'm not saying that I'm disappointed or angry with them for putting me in this (position) but don't do it because you want to save your own skin and let the perception, as if I control everything, linger."
Tunku Ismail also urged all the parties involved to accept the weaknesses, convert them into strength and not take the easy way out by putting blame on others.