KUCHING: Datuk Seri Abdul Karim Rahman Hamzah has called on the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) to examine its own record in developing the sport after concerns were raised over Sarawak’s football development initiatives.
The Minister of Youth, Sports and Entrepreneur Development said Sarawak’s plans are focused on grassroots football development and not on creating a rival professional structure outside FAM’s jurisdiction.
Abdul Karim said Sarawak fully acknowledges and respects football’s governance structure, including the roles played by FAM and international bodies such as FIFA.
“We acknowledge that every sport has its governing bodies at the national and international levels. In football, we have FIFA, we have ASEAN and we have FAM at the national level.
“We know where our place is and we are not trying to override anybody,” he told reporters at his office today (June 15).
His remarks came in response to concerns raised over Sarawak’s football development plans following a recent report quoting a source familiar with the matter, who said any attempt to establish a professional football league outside Malaysia’s recognised football structure would be unlikely to receive support from FAM.
The source was quoted as saying that while grassroots and state-level competitions were welcomed, any league seeking official recognition must be sanctioned and integrated into the national football framework.
However, Abdul Karim questioned FAM’s own efforts in reviving Malaysian football, pointing to the country’s decline from its former standing in Asia.
“Football is the number one sport in Malaysia. At one time, we were on the same level as South Korea and Japan in the 1970s and 1980s, but now we are in the pits. What is FAM doing?” he asked.
He also noted that state rivalries had diminished over time, while clubs increasingly relied on imported players.
“FAM, look at yourself too. Try to improve the state of football in Malaysia. What we are trying to do now is develop football from the ground up,” he said.
Abdul Karim stressed that Sarawak’s objective is to strengthen the football pathway from district to divisional and state levels to produce more local talent.
“That is why we call it development. We are not trying to create an international league.
“If it involves international competitions, we will comply with FAM because we know FAM is the body that governs football in Malaysia,” he said.
He said Sarawak aims to build a strong foundation and create a larger pool of players who can eventually progress to clubs and higher levels of competition.
“We want to build that structure from districts, divisions and the state level in Sarawak so that we can produce many good footballers.
“If they eventually move on to clubs or represent other teams at a higher level, Alhamdulillah. We are simply creating a bigger pool of players,” he said.
Abdul Karim said he was surprised by what he perceived as a warning over Sarawak’s football development efforts.
“We are developing football from schoolchildren all the way to higher levels. If it is about international leagues, we understand the rules. I am a lawyer too, so I understand the law,” he said.
