KUALA TERENGGANU, Sept 5 ― Youth And Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin has sternly issued a warning to the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to make prompt changes and put their house in order or face suspension.

“We have various drastic measures that we can take, although I don't want to, but under the Sports Development Act 1997, the minister is empowered to take drastic steps just like in Indonesia, namely, suspend the FAM,” he said.

However, he hoped the FAM would take prompt measures to change the fate of football and the situation would not force him to carry out the suspension.   

“But I don't want to be forced to take such action because any suspension will result in the FAM and Malaysia be taken action against at the international level.

“But if the FAM does not have any plans and still bury its head in the sand, I have to consider a more drastic measure (suspension),” he said.

In this regard, Khairy said his ministry would hold a meeting and discussion with the FAM on the plan for changes soon.

He said the suspension was the last resort, because if it happened, it would adversely affect the country at the international level, whilst Malaysia would be hosting the SEA Games in 2017.

He was commenting on the embarrassing 0-10 loss of the Malaysian squad to the United Arab Emirates at the 2018 World Cup and 2019 Asia Cup qualifiers in Abu Dhabi, on Thursday.

Asked if all the FAM leaders should resign if the national team suffered another embarrassing defeat against Saudi Arabia on Tuesday, Khairy stressed the matter was up to the FAM to do some soul-searching.

“But, to me, when already given adequate time and still no change is taking place, I beseech upon the FAM president to so some soul searching and do something, especially to the officers around him, because I don't see light at the end of the tunnel for the FAM,” he said after launching the 2015 Fit Malaysia at Dataran Batu Buruk here, today.

Also present were State Youth, Sport and Human Resources Committee chairman Datuk Rozi Mamat, Terengganu Umno Youth chief Johari Abu Bakar and 20,000 participants of the programme. ― Bernama