Penang: The government has reiterated that it will wait for the completion of an independent investigation led by former Chief Justice Tun Md Raus Sharif before deciding on any further action in the issue involving the Football Association of Malaysia’s (FAM) registration of seven heritage players. Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh stated that the Cabinet has held multiple discussions on the issue, echoing Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim’s earlier remarks.

According to BERNAMA News Agency, Hannah Yeoh expressed full agreement with the Prime Minister’s approach, emphasizing the importance of completing the investigation first. She assured that once Tun Md Raus completes the investigation, she will review the report and proceed accordingly. Yeoh highlighted the government’s role as stakeholders investing in Malaysian football and the importance of understanding what transpired to prevent future occurrences.

On November 21, the Prime Minister reaffirmed that there would be no cover-up in the scandal involving the FAM registration of seven heritage players, labeling it a significant issue that requires proper handling. The FAM has tasked Md Raus with chairing an independent committee to investigate documentation issues concerning the seven Harimau Malaya heritage players, who faced sanctions from FIFA.

The FIFA Appeal Committee, on November 3, upheld penalties imposed by the Disciplinary Committee against FAM and the seven players for document falsification under Article 22 of the FIFA Disciplinary Code. As a result, FAM was fined CHF350,000 (approximately RM1.8 million), and each player received a fine of CHF2,000 (about RM11,000). The players were also suspended for 12 months from all football-related activities.