KUALA LUMPUR: The FA of Malaysia's (FAM) willingness to pay an eye-watering RM200,000 monthly salary for the national team's chief coach must come with common sense, accountability and transparency.
These are the views of football critics Dr. Zulakbal Abdul Karim and Datuk Dr Pekan Ramli after FAM's candidate, South Korean Park Hang Seo, was reported to be on a RM200,000 monthly salary when coaching Vietnam's national senior team and Under-23 team from 2017-2023.
Earlier, FAM was said to have balked at Hang Seo's high salary, but since then has changed its tune following the government's announcement of a RM15 million allocation for the development of the national team, last month.
But this means taxpayers will end up paying the RM200,000 monthly salary.
It is learnt that the national body has shortlisted Hang Seo, alongside four others. Currently, Spaniard Pau Marti Vicente is the interim coach.
Zulakbal said if FAM's head coach fails to reach the targets, the officials themselves must be accountable and resign from their posts.
"The RM200,000 per month salary seems to be the current rate. Previously it was reported that FAM felt it was too high but ever since they got the government allocation, they can afford it now," said the Asian Football Confederation Professional Coaching diploma holder.
"They must be clear with the KPI (Key Performance Index) for the coach and if the coach fails, the FAM officials must resign too because they need to be answerable for taxpayers' money.
"If FAM can pay the coach with their own income from marketing or partnerships, they can do whatever they want, but now they are going to pay from government funds, they need to be responsible for it.
"I don't think it's right to pay RM200,000 per month and ask the coach to handle both the national team and the Under-23 team. Football at senior level is high performance and it needs specific and detailed attention."
Meanwhile, sports analyst Pekan said: "RM200,00 salary per month will see the coach earn RM2.4 million per year. It comes up to around 15 per cent from the RM15 million given by the government. One person to cost so much, is it worth it?
Pekan then asked what will be the KPI for the highly paid coach, is it just to win the Southeast Asian-level AFF Cup?
He pointed out that the 2030 World Cup and 2031 Asian Cup are more than five years away. "Is it OK to offer a long term contract which pays so much?
"FAM needs to plan and have a proper projection of the timelines of major com petitions and align the KPIs accordingly. High pay must come with high KPIs.
"Things need to be done transparently and accountability is the key."