NSI chief eyes FAM president’s post

KUALA LUMPUR: National Sports Institute ( NSI) chairman Datuk Seri Abdul Azim Mohd Zabidi will consider challenging Datuk Hamidin Mohd Amin for the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) president’s post, if he receives support from the affiliates.

Abdul Azim said it was time for a change in the FAM leadership and management for the sake of the nation’s most popular sport, although Hamidin, who is the FAM secretary-general, was seen as more experienced for the post.

“Many wi l l compare my experience with Hamidin, but if a company fails, not only the chairman will have to resign, the entire management should also do so.

“So if we were to say that FAM’s management is very good, then why is our football team still not good? But why so far, only the president has resigned, the management should have resigned as well.

“It’s time to change... I think I’ve brought change to many companies, I’m currently doing it for NSI and hope to do so for FAM as well,” he said during a press conference at NSI yesterday.

On Thursday, Pahang Football Associat ion ( PBNB) vice - president Datuk Akbar VV Abu in a statement said they had nominated Abdul Azim for FAM’s hot seat for the 2018-2021 term in the election during FAM’s 54th Congress in July.

Meanwhi le, FAM act ing president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said Tan Sri Anuar Musa had also been nominated to run for the post, taking the total number of candidates to three.

According to him, the three candidates must confirm the acceptance of their nomination before or on June 14, a month before the 54th FAM Congress on July 14.

He said that if there were more than one confirmed candidate, the new FAM presidential polls would be held during the 54th FAM Congress.

FAM’s hot seat fel l vacant following Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim’s resignation on March 25.

T unku Ismail had suggested that Hamidin was the most qualified individual to lead the body. — Bernama