Tunku Ismail to go it alone
ALLEGED CORRUPTION: Will not hand over pendrive to MACC as wants to solve problem on his own
TUNKU Ismail Sultan Ibrahim is taking it upon himself to clean up alleged corruption in Malaysian football after rejecting overtures from the Malaysian AntiCorruption Commission (MACC).
The Darul Ta’zim club owner’s ire is directed at the FA of Malaysia (FAM), claiming earlier this week to have information on corruption on its officials, which he kept in a pendrive.
However, Tunku Ismail then decided to withhold the release of the pendrive’s content, prompting MACC and Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin to request the information be handed over to the authorities for investigation.
However, Tunku Ismail rejected those pleas and said he will act to solve the problems himself.
“The information in the pendrive belongs to me,” said Tunku Ismail in a statement carried by the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page yesterday.
“I will personally solve this issue and should I require any assistance from MACC, I will inform MACC. There is no need to make a big fuss regarding the matter.
“Those who are not involved should just sit quietly. Solve each of your debt problems. The problem with FAM is there are too many people fighting FAM's battles from outside FAM. For the time being, let me solve this issue with the relevant people.”
On Tuesday, Tunku Ismail said he withheld the release of the pendrive’s content “to avoid persecuting certain individuals and as the information includes names that can have huge implications on those individuals.”
He added that he will meet the FAM executive committee and officials in Kuala Lumpur or Johor Baru to discuss and solve the issue personally and privately.
"The aim of the meeting is to urge certain individuals to step down and pass on the duties to those with more calibre, dedication and integrity to be at the helm of FAM and the national team's management," said Tunku Ismail.
Tunku Ismail lauded his own effort in turning Darul Ta'zim into an all-conquering team after claiming back-to-back Super League title, lifting of the boys and all credit goes to the players.”
Pahang coach Razip Ismail was disappointed with his team’s display in a 2-0 defeat to Premier League side Kuala Lumpur on Tuesday when he gave 17-year-old winger M. Kogileswaran Raj his first senior start.
Pahang, just a point clear of the relegation zone, could find themselves in the bottom two places after the AFC Cup last year and winning the FA Cup this year.
"To me, over the last few years JDT is the most successful club in Southeast Asia," he said before going on to slam M-League teams who utilise public funds to run professional football teams.
"We are the real champions in the country because we have achieved success against the system. We won by creating a club that did not take the government's money because government money belongs to the people and should not be used for football." this weekend if results go against them with basement-side Penang looking to shock Selangor at the City Stadium after a 4-3 win away to Kuala Terengganu T-Team last weekend. By Devinder Singh