KUALA LUMPUR – Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Mohd Amin has apologised to the association’s affiliates and Malaysian football supporters after deciding to withdraw from the upcoming FAM election process.
Hamidin said the decision was not made lightly, especially after reports indicated that he had secured the highest number of nominations and received majority backing from FAM affiliates.
“This was not an easy decision for me to make, especially given reports that I had received the highest number of nominations and majority support from a large majority of FAM affiliates,” he said in a statement today.
He described the support as a “profound vote of confidence” from the Malaysian football fraternity, which he viewed as a significant responsibility.
However, Hamidin said he believed stepping aside was the best course of action for FAM and the future direction of Malaysian football.
“I believe this decision will provide the best opportunity for FAM to enter a new era, while ensuring that our beloved organisation remains focused and continues to move forward,” he added.
The former FAM president said he did not want the election process to create divisions among affiliates or disrupt efforts to implement the association’s football reform and development agenda.
“I do not want this election process to become a source of division among FAM affiliates or to affect FAM’s efforts to implement the national football reform and development agenda,” he explained further.
Hamidin stressed that FAM must remain united and work towards restoring public confidence, particularly among Harimau Malaya supporters.
“On the contrary, I want to see FAM remain strong and united, and regain the confidence of Malaysians, particularly football supporters and fans,” he said.
He added that his priority now was to ensure a smooth transition of leadership, allowing the incoming administration to focus on strengthening and developing Malaysian football.
“To all FAM affiliates and Harimau Malaya supporters, thank you for the trust, support and love you have shown me throughout this journey,” he added.
“Once again, I sincerely apologise if this decision has disappointed anyone.”
Hamidin’s withdrawal is expected to significantly reshape the FAM presidential race, after he was reportedly considering stepping aside in recent days.
The election takes place at a crucial time for FAM as the association seeks to complete its 2025-2029 administrative term following the collective resignation of the previous executive committee.
The mass resignation prompted a wider review of FAM’s administration and governance, with the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) stepping in to support efforts to strengthen the association’s internal structures and governance practices.
The leadership overhaul came after last year’s controversy involving allegations of falsified documents linked to seven players, which resulted in FIFA imposing 12-month suspensions on the players and issuing a fine against FAM.
With Hamidin no longer in contention, the presidential race is now expected to become more competitive, with FAM affiliates reassessing their positions ahead of the election. – September 4, 2026