KUCHING: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) should be more open in accepting criticism and comments from others so that it can further uplift the standard of football in Malaysia.
Assistant Youth Development Minister Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah said the football governing body would only create more adversaries if it closed its doors to views from others.
“I am not too concerned with the views of the FAM president (Sultan Ahmad Shah), but the actions of the FAM disciplinary committee should be more ethical to avoid making decisions which are unreasonable, cruel, overzealous and killing the sport of football.
“Despite this, the president of FAM must be ready to accept criticisms. A president of a governing body like FAM is not above the board and not a person who cannot be reprimanded,” he told The Borneo Post yesterday.
Abdul Karim, also Asajaya assemblyman, was making his comments on a national daily report yesterday which quoted Sultan Ahmad Shah as branding the move by Sarawak fans to urge FA of Sarawak (FAS) to withdraw from FAM as foolish.
Sultan Ahmad Shah had also urged football fans and fan clubs to understand the FAM’s laws and regulations first before calling for the withdrawal of its affiliates.
Prior to this, FAM had imposed fines totalling RM75,500 on FAS because of unruly behaviour by fans, as well as penalising the state football team to play the upcoming four home matches behind closed doors. It was not the first time FAM has heavily penalised those who have criticised the governing body, referee and the national team, as well as for making comments in the media.
