Kuala lumpur: The Asian Football Confederation (AFC) has put forward a comprehensive proposal to introduce 94 new articles into the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) statutes, which will be discussed at the FAM Extraordinary Congress scheduled for this Thursday.
According to BERNAMA News Agency, AFC secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John highlighted that these proposed changes are part of a broader governance reform initiative aimed at modernizing Malaysian football. This move seeks to align FAM with the international governance standards followed by leading football nations.
A significant aspect of the proposal is the restructuring of the FAM Executive Committee (exco), which will see its membership reduced from 17 to 11 members. Windsor explained that under the new statutes, clubs competing at the highest levels, specifically Super League clubs, along with expert groups representing coaches, referees, and players, would gain voting rights as FAM exco members during congress sessions.
The proposed composition of the exco includes one seat for the president, three seats for vice presidents, three for state football associations, two for clubs, one for women, and one for an expert group comprising referees, coaches, or players' associations. Windsor emphasized the streamlined structure, stating, "So all together exco 11 people only.very lean and we hope that they would be able to deliver."
Additionally, Windsor noted that the new statutes would introduce stricter eligibility criteria for candidates vying for positions within FAM. Candidates must have held positions in football administration for five consecutive years, be under 70 years old, and pass several background checks from the police, Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission, and Department of Insolvency.
Ordinary decisions during the congress would require a simple majority to pass, while amendments to the statutes would need a three-fourths majority vote. Windsor clarified that any objections to the proposed amendments must be supported by proper justification and alternative proposals.
Furthermore, Windsor revealed that a quality audit of FAM management would be presented and explained during the congress. This comes after all FAM Exco members for the 2025-2029 term resigned en masse in January, a decision made to uphold organizational responsibility and integrity amid public scrutiny on issues such as the heritage player debate.
To ensure the proposed reforms are effectively implemented, a special team from the AFC, led by Deputy Secretary-General Vahid Kardany and several consultants, will conduct an assessment and present recommendations for improvements to FAM.