KUALA LUMPUR — The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) should avoid a complete overhaul of its leadership and instead strike a balance between experienced administrators and new faces when its next leadership team is elected, Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) president Syed Yazid Syed Omar said.
Speaking to Scoop, Syed Yazid said continuity remains important for Malaysian football and warned that replacing the entire leadership structure could undermine valuable institutional knowledge accumulated over the years.
He said that while fresh perspectives are necessary to drive progress, experience remains equally critical in managing the national governing body.
“A total change is not the answer. We need a combination of new faces and experienced individuals and for me, there has to be a balance.
“We cannot have an entirely new leadership team because experience is important. At the same time, we also need fresh ideas and new energy to move football forward,” he said.
Commenting on remarks by FAM honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin, who recently suggested that affiliate members could have a greater opportunity to lead the association in the future, Syed Yazid said any renewal within FAM should involve individuals who already possess a background in football.
According to him, the desire for change among stakeholders does not necessarily mean appointing people with no experience in the game.
“Everyone wants change and new faces. However, when I speak about new faces, I do not mean individuals with no football experience whatsoever.
“There are people who have been involved in football for many years but have remained behind the scenes. These are the individuals who could be encouraged to contest positions such as president, vice-president or executive committee member,” he said.
Despite growing discussion surrounding the upcoming elections, Syed Yazid admitted that KLFA has yet to identify a standout candidate capable of leading FAM into its next chapter.
Meanwhile, he said KLFA had fully understood the amendments to the FAM statutes approved during the recent extraordinary congress, noting that member associations had been given the opportunity to study the proposed changes beforehand.
He is confident that the revised statutes, developed in consultation with FIFA and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC), would strengthen the organisation’s governance and contribute to its long-term development.
In the lead-up to the elections, Syed Yazid revealed that several prospective candidates, including current office-bearers and newcomers, had already begun approaching KLFA to seek support.
“Some have met us in person, while others have contacted us directly. There is considerable interest in the vice-president and executive committee positions.
“Among those expressing interest are individuals who have previously served within FAM, as well as several new faces,” he said. – June 11, 2026