PETALING JAYA: Almost one year after taking the helm of the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM), Tunku Ismail Sultan Ibrahim has decided to call it quits.
In a surprise message posted on the Johor Southern Tigers Facebook page today, the Johor crown prince, who is more popularly known as TMJ (for Tunku Mahkota Johor), suggested the reason was due to the national team dropping in the FIFA ranking recently.
“Recently, the national team’s ranking fell three places and this is a very big failure,” he said referring to the latest FIFA ranking released today showing Malaysia was now ranked 178 in the 211-nation organisation.
“With that being said, I think it is time that the president of FAM leaves football.
“Thank you for everything and it has been an honour to me to serve Malaysian football. Good luck,” TMJ said, though it is unclear if he was distancing himself from the game altogether.
“To my loved Bangsa Johor and all the fans of Johor Darul Ta’zim (JDT) around the world, my wife and kids… daddy’s home!”
In the same posting, TMJ listed some of his achievements since being named FAM president at the FAM Congress on March 25 last year.
“Ever since I took up the post of FAM president, I have restructured local football, lured sponsors to help contribute to football in the country and prepared a long-term plan for local football with the co-operation of LaLiga.
“I have fought for broadcasting rights for all competing teams in the Liga Malaysia to help them manage and strengthen their financial stability.
“History was made when for the first time, all the teams received between RM1 million and RM3 million so they did not have to be dependent on government funding,” Tunku Ismail said.
He added that on the pitch, the U23, U19 and U16 teams also made history when they represented the country at the highest level in Asia. FMT
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