PUTRAJAYA: Government administrative members, including cabinet members, are prohibited from holding posts in any sports association.
Communications Minister Fahmi Fadzil said the matter was decided during a cabinet meeting earlier today.
"Today, the Cabinet has decided that administrative members, including ministers and deputy ministers, are not permitted to hold the position of president in any sports association," he told his weekly press conference today.
Fahmi said the decision was made based on the cabinet decision in 2007.
"The decision is a continuity with the practice of non-involvement (of administrative members, including cabinet members) in any sports association," he said.
He said there was also an ongoing effort to ensure transparency and prevent conflict of interest in sports governance.
As such, similar to the announcement made by the Natural Resources and Environmental Sustainability Minister Nik Nazmi Nik Ahmad, Fahmi said he would withdraw from contesting the Kuala Lumpur Football Association (KLFA) presidency.
"With immediate effect, I withdraw from contesting the KLFA presidency.
"I have contacted the FAM president to seek advice and guidance. I believe that for matters related to the KLFA elections, you can refer to the KLFA representatives."
It was reported last week that Fahmi was running against Nik Nazmi for the KLFA top post.