KUANTAN: Sports Minister Syed Saddiq Syed Abdul Rahman is disappointed with all the issues and problems with the Academy Mokhtar Dahari (AMD) which cost RM85 million, that could disrupt football development in the country.
Syed Saddiq who made a surprise visit to the academy in Gambang here earlier today (Friday), saw first-hand the many serious problems and weaknesses that must be addressed almost immediately.
The Sports Minister said that the training and equipment facilities are lacking and some of which are unsuitable, which defeats the very purpose of the academy which is to be a hub for the development of football in the country in order to produce talented and perhaps even world class players of caliber.
"I am very disappointed after looking for myself at all the problems that is happening here at AMD especially revolving around the facilities and equipment. What is even more depressing is the very basics such as diet and nutrition are not even emphasised until the young players are forced to go hungry because the food that is prepared and given to them is not up to the standards and quality that it should be.
"Other disappointing problems here that were evident were the lack of balls for practice which has severely affected the players performance, including the pitch which gets water logged whenever it rains,” rued Syed Saddiq during the press conference here earlier today (Friday).
Also present was AMD director Yusof Ibrahim.
AMD was built in 2016 at a cost of RM85 million with the objective of creating a new dimension in Malaysian football by providing high performance training and international level exposure at the best possible facility in the country.
The academy was supposed to be the place where budding, young, talented players converged from all over the country not just to get an education, but fulfil their potential to become the country’s best professional footballers.
Syed Saddiq spent more than two hours at the academy after receiving responses and information during the dialogue session with Malaysian football fans in Kuala Lumpur last night (Thursday), who had asked him to carry out an audit of all the allocations and expenditure provided for the National Football Development Programme (NFDP).
Syed Saddiq said that because of all that has been happening which has gone unchecked, the mission to produce top footballing talent has been compromised and severely disrupted.
"For this issue, the Sports Ministry will carry out a complete and thorough investigation including reporting it to the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC).
"This is because it is a huge, serious problem and it needs to be resolved immediately because it involves financial allocation of RM85 million. For me, we cannot blame the players if they fail to live up to expectations if even basic amenities and facilities are not prioritised,” stressed Syed Saddiq.
With regards to the 740 different types of damages and defects identified at AMD over a six month period, Syed Saddiq said that the Public Works Department (JKR) will chair a special meeting to engage with the main contractor who built the academy come October 10 (Wednesday).
"We sincerely hope that the contractor will be present to cooperate and provide us with answers instead of shying or running away because those responsible must be accountable,” he said.