KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 7 — Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah today announced that he will resign as the president of Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) over the national team’s 10-0 defeat to the United Arab Emirates last week, national news agency Bernama reported.
The Pahang crown prince’s decision comes following pressure from Sports Minister Khairy Jamaluddin, who warned the FAM that he will take “drastic measures” including suspending the association over the record drubbing.
In a report by the New Straits Times, Khairy said he may be forced to take the unusual step if the football association continues to “recycle” excuses to explain the worst defeat by the Malaysian national team in recent times.
“I can call for a suspension of FAM, just like how Indonesia did to their national body,” Khairy was quoted as saying in the report.
Harimau Malaysia’s ignominious defeat to the UAE previously prompted Dollah Salleh to resign as the coach of the national team.
Dollah was replaced by former national youth team coach Ong Kim Swee, who will remain in charge until a formal replacement is named.
The shocking defeat to the UAE in the World Cup qualifier also follows a 1-1 draw at home by lowly East Timor and a 0-6 defeat to Palestine in June.
Tengku Abdullah last year succeeded his father, Sultan Ahmad Shah, as the president of the FAM. The Pahang sultan had headed the association since 1984.
