Why good governance is a foreign concept in Malaysian sports?
Just weeks before the FIFA ruling, the nation watched in dismay as Paralympic gold medalist Cheah Liek Hou battled the very council meant to support him.
A revolution transforming into a circus show is a familiar tale in politics, but a sporting revolution turning into a national embarrassment is an entirely different story.
The Harimau Malaya's journey, once a source of immense pride, is now embroiled in a storm of controversy, mirroring a pattern of poor governance that extends beyond the football field.
The recent scandals involving the Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) and the Paralympic Council of Malaysia (PCM) reveal a systemic failure to uphold basic principles of transparency and accountability.
They force us to ask a difficult question: why can't Malaysia’s sports governing bodies simply follow the rules?
The latest controversy exploded following FIFA's decision to fine FAM CHF350,000 (RM1.9 million) and suspend seven heritage players for a year.
FIFA cited a breach of Article 22 of its disciplinary code, which relates to forgery and falsification of documents.
While FAM claimed a "technical error" and vowed to appeal, the damage to the national football ecosystem has been described as a "major calamity."
Veteran sports analyst Datuk Pekan Ramli drew a chilling parallel to the 1994 corruption scandal that plagued Malaysian football.
"The difference is that back then, it was only an internal crisis, but this time, it has escalated to involve FIFA. Our international image is badly damaged," he warned.
The potential revocation of Malaysia's victory over Vietnam in the Asian Cup 2027 qualifier looms as a severe consequence, threatening to undermine the sport's progress.
The paralympic council's disgrace
Just weeks before the FIFA ruling, the nation watched in dismay as Paralympic gold medalist Cheah Liek Hou battled the very council meant to support him.
After his historic win in Paris, Liek Hou was promised a RM60,000 financial incentive that never materialised.
When he publicly voiced his frustration, PCM President Datuk Seri Megat D Shahriman Zaharudin initially denied the promise was ever made and threatened to suspend the athlete for damaging the council's credibility.
The dispute was ultimately resolved not by the governing body, but by private companies like 99 Speedmart and Faire Development, which stepped in to provide the promised rewards.
This shameful episode highlighted a complete breakdown in trust and confirmed the public's worst fears about the mismanagement of sports administration.
A shared pattern of failure
Both incidents share a common theme: a disregard for proper procedure and a lack of accountability.
From allegedly falsifying documents to failing to honour a public pledge, these governing bodies seem to imitate the very political infighting they should avoid.
This raises a fundamental question of integrity. If other nations can adhere to the rules set by global sporting bodies, why can't Malaysia?
While we hold onto the hope that FIFA's ruling is incorrect, our nation has consistently set precedents for bungling natural legal processes.
For the sake of Harimau Malaya and the public's passion, the ball is now in FAM’s court. The time for denial and excuses is over; what is needed is a commitment to good governance, once and for all.
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