KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) could see another major governance overhaul, with the honorary president’s position also facing abolition alongside the proposed removal of the deputy president’s post.
These proposed changes are part of sweeping constitutional reforms to be tabled at Thursday’s extraordinary congress.
Asian Football Confederation (AFC) secretary-general Datuk Seri Windsor Paul John said the proposal to eliminate the honorary president’s role forms part of a broader package of amendments contained in the draft statutes prepared by AFC for consideration by FAM’s affiliates.
Speaking to Scoop, Windsor said the position is no longer practised by modern football governing bodies, including AFC and FIFA, and has increasingly been viewed as outdated in today’s professional football landscape.
“The abolition of the honorary president’s position is also among the proposed amendments. There is no real necessity for it because the role is no longer practised. AFC does not have it, and neither does FIFA.
“In the professional football era, such positions are extremely rare. What some countries have instead are councils or advisory groups comprising former leaders. In Japan, for example, former presidents are brought together as a separate group that operates independently of the association itself.
“The honorary president’s role was once common and popular. FIFA had it, AFC had it. However, as football governance has evolved and statutes have been modernised, the position has gradually disappeared. It is no longer relevant and is no longer practised,” he said when contacted.
The proposed new FAM statutes consist of 94 articles following a governance and quality management audit conducted by AFC on the national football body’s administration.
Under the draft reforms, the FAM executive committee would be reduced from 17 positions to 11. The proposed structure comprises one president, three vice-presidents and seven executive committee members.
The proposed changes also include the removal of the FAM deputy president’s post, which has long been part of the leadership structure.
For the record, former FAM president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin currently serves as the association’s honorary president following his appointment at an extraordinary congress in June last year.
Separately, Windsor said AFC will also present the findings of its administrative audit of FAM ahead of Thursday’s extraordinary congress.
The audit report, together with the proposed constitutional amendments, is expected to play a crucial role in shaping the future governance framework of Malaysian football. – June 2, 2026