Results of the FAM's 44 congress

Pahang Sultan Retains FAM Presidency, Khairy Among Five New Faces In Council

KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 9 (Bernama) -- Sultan Ahmad Shah of Pahang was returned as president of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) at the council's elections today which saw Umno Youth Deputy Chief Khairy Jamaluddin among the five new faces voted in for the 2007-2010 term.

Khairy, who initiated the MyTeam reality TV show which developed into a serious endeavour, was elected unopposed as one of the two deputy presidents. He takes over the slot vacated in July by the Tengku Mahkota of Pahang, Tengku Abdullah Sultan Ahmad Shah.

The other post of deputy president was retained by incumbent Datuk Redzuan Sheikh Ahmad who was returned unopposed.

The other four new faces are the vice-presidents -- Datuk Che Mat Jusoh (president of the Terengganu Football Association), Affandi Hamzah (vice-president of the Kelantan Football Association), Ahmad Mohamad (deputy president of the Johor Football Association) and Datuk Gulzar Mohamad (council member of the Sarawak Football Association).

Incumbent Datuk Raja Ahmad Zainuddin Raja Omar of Perak lost in the elections for the posts of vice-president. He garnered only 24 votes. Che Mat drew 45 votes, Affandi 30, Ahmad 28 and Gulzar 26.

Another incumbent vice-president Datuk Anifah Aman gave up the post in keeping with a recent directive from Prime Minister Datuk Seri Abdullah Ahmad Badawi prohibiting ministers, deputy ministers and parliamentary secretaries from holding positions in sports associations. Anifah is the Deputy Minister of Plantation Industries and Commodities.

Meanwhile, Che Mat is tipped to take over as chairman of the FAM Local Competitions Committee, a post hitherto held by Raja Ahmad Zainuddin.

Sultan Ahmad Shah expressed confidence that the new line-up of office-bearers would help inspire excellence in the standard of football in the country.

"I thank the congress for their trust in me and retaining me as the president. The new executive committee will attempt to lift the standard of football to a new level.
"I also extend my congratulations to those who have been elected. I hope they will work hard to raise the standard of football in the country," said the sultan, who has been returned as president since 1984.

The FAM president appoints the association's general secretary.
Replying to a question, Sultan Ahmad Shah said the next FAM Council meeting would discuss the appointment of a candidate to that post.

Khairy, 32, the youngest FAM deputy president to date, said the new executive committee would require some time to rectify weaknesses before it sets out to improve the image of the sport."Local football fans must not anticipate an overnight change. We need some time to set things right.

"Furthermore, the most obvious weakness is communication at the grassroots, between the state associations and the FAM," he told reporters at the Menara Kuala Lumpur where the FAM's 44th annual congress was held.