KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia (FAM) must clarify its plans to establish a new unit specifically for monitoring and managing the performance of the national football team in a comprehensive manner.
Malaysian football legend Datuk Jamal Nasir Ismail said the explanation provided regarding this matter remains vague and overlaps with the responsibilities of the FAM National Team Management Committee.
"We don't understand what is meant by a 'special' unit to monitor the Harimau Malaya squad, it needs to be explained more clearly as it seems to lean towards privatisation. The explanation is still unclear and many people would like to know what this 'special' unit is, its purpose and why it has been created.
"In my opinion, there is no need for a 'special' unit since we already have the National Team Management Committee chaired by the FAM president," said the former national team defender today.
Meanwhile, sports analyst Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli also expressed confusion over the idea but viewed it as a clear indication that the Harimau Malaya squad would not be privatised as previously rumoured.
Pekan said the functions of the new unit and the role of the FAM National Team Management Committee should not overlap, considering that both are chaired by the FAM president.
"Surely, the responsibilities of this 'special' unit will not overlap with those of the National Team Management Committee, as leadership remains with the FAM President.
"Nonetheless, this issue is still unclear, and we cannot comment extensively. If this initiative proves beneficial, we will support it, what matters is that public funds are used appropriately, ensuring the advancement of our football," he told Bernama.
Yesterday, FAM deputy president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi confirmed that FAM will not privatise the Harimau Malaya squad but will instead create a new unit focused on monitoring performance and managing the national team, including the under-23 squad (U-23).
Yusoff said the purpose of this unit is to safeguard the welfare and performance of the national team, ensuring that the budget allocated to this unit is exclusively for the benefit of the teams involved.
He revealed that the idea for establishing this unit was proposed by the Regent of Johor, Tunku Mahkota Ismail, during a recent meeting with Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim.
Earlier last month, Anwar announced an allocation of RM15 million to strengthen the Harimau Malaya team, with the aim of establishing it as a football powerhouse in the Asia region.
Currently, Malaysia ranks 132nd in the world according to FIFA's rankings.– BERNAMA