YOUTH and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh cannot conveniently wash her hands of responsibility by saying that the criminal aspects of the forgery of the seven foreign football players suspended and fined by the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) is the responsibility of the Home Affairs Ministry (KDN).
As the Youth and Sports Minister, Yeoh should have been proactive on the matter of forgery and fraud of FAM exposed by FIFA.
FIFA found that the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) had submitted forged documents pertaining to the birth places of the parents and grandparents of the seven foreign players from Spain, Netherlands, Brazil and Argentina.
FAM subsequently dismissed the action of FIFA as something technical that could be rectified.
Lately the appeal by FAM was rejected by the FIFA’s appeals committee that came out with a 60-page detailed report of the forgery and fraud engaged by FAM in fielding the seven foreign players as naturalised Malaysians.
Following FIFA’s detailed findings, one wonders how FAM and the National Registration Department (JPN) escaped their involvement in fraud and forgery.
Yeoh said that she will be in touch with the Home Affairs Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail as the ministry is responsible for criminal prosecution of the culprits.
Yeoh knows very well that it was Saifuddin who has earlier said in Parliament that the seven players were given citizenship on the grounds of his discretionary powers.
He further defended their citizenship by saying that they had successfully passed the Bahasa Malaysia language requirement for citizenship.
Yeoh should not pretend that she is unaware of the role of the KDN in the grant of citizenship to the seven foreign players.
FIFA’s report has revealed that the seven foreign players were not even aware of the documents that they signed. They could not even understand the language of the documents nor proficient in BM. They signed what they were told to sign.
How can Yeoh be oblivious to the fact that the KDN had a role in the forgery and fraud initiated by FAM?
There is nothing for Yeoh to gain by contacting Saifuddin as he was part of the citizenship racket.
I am fully aware that Yeoh might be the Youth and Sports Minister, but it is a common knowledge that certain sports like football is not under her jurisdiction.
In other words, Yeoh is completely oblivious to what is happening in the Malaysian football world and not to speak of the forgery and fraud committed by officials in FAM with the consent of the JPN officials including Saifuddin himself.
Yeoh should not pretend by saying that the criminal aspects of the football forgery and fraud comes under the jurisdiction of the Home Affairs Ministry.
Since top officials of the Home Affairs Ministry are involved in the forgery, cheating and fraud, then there is a need for an independent body ideally a royal commission (RCI) to investigate and lay bare the individuals behind the country’s national humiliation and monumental disgrace.
For Yeoh’s information, there is nothing to be gained by contacting Saifuddin as he himself should be subject to investigation and prosecution.
Rather than talking aimlessly of criminal prosecution, Yeoh should admit the fact that the Malaysian football world is beyond her jurisdiction.
Unfortunately, Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim seems to be completely overwhelmed by the egregious failure of the country’s national football.
A leader who is very prone to taking credit for the smallest things seems tongue-tied on the matter of FIFA’s expose of the national football scandal. ‒ Nov 21, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang chief minister II Prof Ramasamy Palanisamy is chairman of the United Rights of Malaysian Party (Urimai) interim council.
The views expressed are solely of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Focus Malaysia.
Main image: Berita Harian
