KUALA LUMPUR – After nearly two months of scrutiny, the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has been exonerated by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) of abuse of power allegations stemming from a poison-pen letter circulated on social media.
The football governing body perceives the accusations as an orchestrated attempt to undermine its current management and tarnish its reputation.
Relieved by the MACC’s decision to classify the investigation as “no further action” (NFA), FAM now aims to refocus on enhancing the national football landscape.
Its secretary-general, Datuk Noor Azman Rahman, described the allegations as a significant burden, almost “paralysing” the organisation for nearly two months.
“The matter (poison pen letter) was a heavy burden for us (FAM) because from March 31 onwards, for nearly two months, we couldn’t do anything.
“When the situation cleared up and the MACC announced the NFA, we were very grateful,” he said as reported by Bernama.
Azman affirmed FAM’s commitment to adherence to FIFA’s regulations and emphasised its determination to move forward, particularly in preparing the national team for coming international competitions.
In light of the recent developments, the FAM integrity committee disclosed that the MACC probe, which included allegations concerning a RM25 million tender for the National Training Centre in Putrajaya and the misuse of funds for the 60th FAM congress, had been concluded.
Committee chairman Tan Sri Aseh Che Mat confirmed that the investigations into both matters were finalised and forwarded to the deputy public prosecutor, who concurred with the outcome of the MACC’s investigation, leading to the classification of the case as NFA.
The poison pen letter, which circulated as an email in late March, highlighted issues of leadership and management within FAM, particularly concerning the abuse of power by the FAM secretary-general, staff compensation and matters related to the Harimau Malaya squad and the training centre project. – May 30, 2024