IT IS amusing to note that the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) regards the Football Association of Malayasia (FAM) scandal as outside its scope of jurisdiction, leaving it to the latter to sort out the problems of the seven so-called heritage players in the Harimau Malaysia squad.
This is despite the International Federation of Association Football (FIFA) having imposed a fine of RM1.9 mil on FAM while the seven naturalised players were fined RM11,000 each and suspended for one year with immediate effect.
In MACC chief commissioner Tan Sri Azam Baki’s contention, the issue falls beyond the scope and function of the MACC since it boils down to technicalities.
Nevertheless, Azam said his officers will be in touch with FIFA to determine whether there were any elements of corruption in the submission of alleged false or doctored documents.
Double standards
My question is simple: why is the graft buster putting the cart before the horse in its investigation?
How can Azam outrightly claim that false or doctored documents submitted by FAM had no elements of corruption or financial scandal?
Is Azam such a superman that he can know matters long before the investigation process is even set in motion?
Unfortunately, the MACC is always in the forefront of the corruption trail when it comes to opposition leaders. They might even unearth information about invisible and imaginary investments of opposition leaders in foreign countries.
The reverse is true when it comes to politicians and cheerleaders of the Madani government.
As far as Prime Minister Datuk Seri Anwar Ibrahim is concerned, corruption seems to be the preoccupation of those in the opposition – not those in his government.
The mining scandal in Sabah involving politicians of the ruling coalition seems not to bother the MACC very much. I suppose it depends on the instructions that the MACC receives from its political masters.
Selective persecution
As long as the MACC is beholden to those in power, the public will never be convinced by its so-called heroic deeds.
FIFA is not just an ordinary organisation; it administers and governs world-class football. If FIFA can fine FAM and the seven players for allegedly falsifying documents, this is something serious.
By right, Anwar who talks endlessly about eradicating corruption should be at the forefront directing the MACC to conduct a thorough investigation of the football scandal involving FAM.
It is not about FAM appealing against FIFA’s decision but whether FAM had a role in the submission of false documents.
It is an utter shame that Malaysia has been caught in a scandal over whether the documents submitted to ascertain the citizenship of the seven players were genuine or not.
Why should the Home Minister Datuk Seri Saifuddin Nasution Ismail be so quick to conclude that the seven players were granted citizenship on the basis of valid documents? Shouldn’t he investigate the matter thoroughly before shooting his mouth off?
Meanwhile, Youth and Sports Minister Hannah Yeoh appears completely unaware of what is going on with regard to the punishment meted out by FIFA. – Sept 29, 2025
Former DAP stalwart and Penang deputy 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.
