Malaysia must take immediate action to resolve the 'major crisis'

In the midst of the player document forgery scandal, Datuk Christopher Raj called on FAM to immediately organize an election to find a new president to tackle the ongoing crisis.

As the controversy over forged player documents shakes Malaysian football, sports observer and former FAM Executive Committee member Datuk Christopher Raj has called for the federation to conduct a presidential election soon instead of waiting until next year.

Mr. Christopher emphasized that currently, FAM is operating without clear direction since the president’s seat has been vacant following Datuk Mohd Joehari Mohd Ayub’s resignation in August.

At present, the federation is only temporarily led by Vice President Datuk Mohd Yusoff Mahadi, which has raised public concerns: “Who will represent Malaysia during the appeal process to FIFA against the recent severe sanctions? FAM must immediately elect a new president.

Waiting until next year is not an option, as the federation currently lacks a leader. In the middle of this crisis, who will handle this matter with FIFA? There is no one,” asserted Christopher Raj.

He also warned that FIFA only officially communicates with the President and Secretary-General of FAM, making the prompt election crucial to ensure smooth and transparent communication and appeal procedures.

“Why does FAM want to wait until February next year to hold the election? They should conduct it immediately in November or December. It doesn’t matter who becomes president; what matters is that the election takes place timely,” Christopher stressed further.

Additionally, the former official proposed establishing a Special Investigation Committee composed of independent members with no ties to domestic football. This committee would transparently investigate the root causes of the serious document forgery incident.

“This body needs to identify the causes of failure, find weaknesses in the management system, and submit a detailed report to the new FAM president so corrective measures can be taken. Only through transparency and accountability can the fans’ trust be restored,” Christopher Raj emphasized.

This crisis not only damages FAM’s reputation but also shakes the confidence of fans and stakeholders, raising questions about the federation’s management and oversight capabilities.

The election of a new president along with the formation of the Special Investigation Committee is expected to restore trust, ensure full compliance with FIFA’s legal processes, and lay the foundation for Malaysian football to develop transparently and sustainably in the future.

This is a critical moment requiring FAM to act decisively, transparently, and responsibly to not only resolve the current crisis but also strengthen the credibility of Malaysian football internationally.