Who would have thought this year’s Deepavali ‘blockbuster’ would come from the FA of Malaysia’s (FAM) bumbling press conference last Friday?
Even Datuk Seri M. Saravanan’s photo-op stroll around Brickfields with Datuk Seri Azmin Ali failed to yank the spotlight away from FAM. Political foes on paper, it seemed unlikely the MIC and Parti Pribumi Bersatu Malaysia leaders would have drawn more attention even if they had fed each other ladoos – like those wedding cake-feeding scenes by love-struck newlyweds.
FAM’s press conference has become the nation’s biggest talking point as Malaysians enjoy their muruku and Indian sweets. Memes have flooded social media from that hour-long trainwreck, which saw journalists fire questions like salvoes of Katyusha rockets, relentlessly pounding those up front and leaving them shell-shocked. It was a show like no other – far more entertaining than the forgettable Deepavali commercials, despite the paid comments of “Mantap”, “Terbaik” and “Viral” that filled social media in recent days.
It was FAM’s first press conference exactly three weeks after Fifa sanctioned it and seven footballers over allegations of “doctored documentation” in the naturalised players fiasco. It has now become a case study in public relations and crisis communication.
Football has indeed united Malaysians – just not in the way anyone intended. Maybe Putrajaya can now justify its RM15 million allocation to the national football team in Budget 2025. Maybe not.
However, the performance by this self-proclaimed “world-class” line-up was no laughing matter. It reflects years of conditioning by certain quarters who believe that those within the corridors of Wisma FAM in Kelana Jaya can walk on water – that they are untouchable.
They must have assumed the media would simply publish what they said – that they could just wing it. Boy, were they wrong.
It also laid bare the fragility of the entire ecosystem. Moments like these remind us how much Malaysian sport misses the late Datuk Sieh Kok Chi and Datuk Wira Mazlan Ahmad – stalwarts who would have kept FAM in check. As for the Youth and Sports minister, she is powerless in this equation and, frankly, her statements have been as forgettable as recent Deepavali ads.
FAM was clearly caught off guard. Many have questioned whether there was any real communication or planning among the five men, led by deputy president Datuk S. Sivasundram, before they faced the media.
They had more than enough time to prepare. National team chief executive officer Rob Friend admitted he had known about Fifa’s investigation into the alleged “doctored documentation” since Aug 22 – more than a month before it became public. FAM also knew exactly who would be in the room – local and international media representatives who had registered the day before. Yet it seemed none of them bothered to even review the media list.
Since FAM believes a Vietnamese lodged the complaint over the seven players whose Malaysian documentation is now under scrutiny, it’s fair to assume those at the press conference also believed they could simply read from a script, assign talking points, and heap praise on Tunku Ismail Ibrahim – the Regent of Johor, and son of Malaysia’s King Sultan Ibrahim.
Friend and national coach Peter Cklamovski’s fixation with the Johor royal only raises more questions. Chief among them – what exactly is Tunku Ismail’s role in FAM? Is he a decision-maker? Is there any official document outlining his involvement? And is it appropriate, given that he also owns Johor Darul Ta’zim, a club competing in the domestic league?
Friend, a Canadian, and Cklamovski, an Australian, revealed that Tunku Ismail had persuaded Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim to fund the national team. That revelation sparks another question: what else has Tunku Ismail managed to convince the government to do?
In their eagerness to glorify him, both foreigners implied that FAM can’t even provide the national team with decent accommodation, charter flights or proper facilities. And now it’s clear FAM can’t even organise a press conference. So what exactly is FAM good at?
Isn’t this a slap in the face to FAM’s office bearers?
Friend described himself and his colleagues as “world-class” – despite Malaysia having appointed far more accomplished figures in the past, such as Frank Lord, Claude Le Roy and Allan Harris. He spoke about professionalism, yet none was on display. Both he and Cklamovski painted a picture of “us versus them” within Malaysian football.
That professionalism was also missing when no one identified the individual or agent who flagged the seven players. Why the secrecy? What makes this person so special? Three weeks have passed – still no documents, still no answers.
And why can’t the seven players face the media?
When things go well, credit the national team setup. When things fall apart, blame FAM. The best Tamil word for this mess would be “podah”.
After avoiding the media for three weeks, why the sudden rush to hold a press conference when honorary president Tan Sri Hamidin Amin, acting president Datuk Wira Mohd Yusoff Mahadi and general secretary Datuk Noor Azman Rahman were all absent? Leaving Sivasundram to face the music alone was hardly a classy move. But as the saying goes, money can’t buy class.
Sivasundram read from a script. It remains unclear who wrote it or signed off on it. Had he called in sick that Friday, his Deepavali weekend might have been far cheerier.
The pressure now isn’t just on FAM. Putrajaya – specifically the Home Ministry – must explain how the seven players received citizenship approval in just four months, as revealed during the press conference. What makes these seven more deserving than the many stateless individuals who have waited years for recognition?
This episode extends far beyond football. It reflects a “do as you’re told” culture that breeds complacency and delusion. The stakeholders had the perfect opportunity to project transparency and accountability but failed spectacularly. What could have been a chance to reassure fans instead fuelled their frustration.
As Malaysians celebrate the festival of lights, there seems to be no light at the end of this tunnel for FAM or those associated with it. It has been a farce – one that could easily have been avoided if all parties had been open, honest and transparent.
Life would have been much simpler had the truth – and nothing but the truth – been told.
In a 2012 interview, this writer told Tunku Ismail that people tend to dislike politicians or royalty in sports. He replied: “At least you know the money will be spent correctly. No disrespect to anyone else. I’m not trying to libel or blame others by implying they have taken money, but that money will be more secure. You can sit up there, but one must be willing to accept other opinions and ideas. It’s not a one-man show. We can all voice out, but we must find the best decision that will benefit the association. That’s it.”
How true. Football is not a one-man show. Those at the top must be willing to accept other opinions and ideas.
