KUALA LUMPUR – The Football Association of Malaysia (FAM) has pushed back against remarks by former youth and sports minister Khairy Jamaluddin that the National Football Development Programme (NFDP) should remain under government control, insisting the responsibility rightly belongs to the national football body.
Speaking to Scoop, FAM acting president Datuk Yusoff Mahadi said the governing body was more than capable of taking full charge of the NFDP and driving youth development to a higher level.
“Even with certain challenges, including funding, FAM is ready to take over NFDP if called upon. As the governing body, we are fully prepared to play a bigger role in grassroots football development,” Yusoff said when contacted.
He stressed that the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) itself had made it clear that football development should be under FAM, not the government.
“Football development is FAM’s duty. We cannot have two entities running the same thing, or it will create inconsistency,” he said.
Khairy recently argued that the NFDP should remain under the National Sports Council (NSC), warning that FAM risked becoming too reliant on government funding if it took over the programme.
However, Yusoff dismissed such concerns, pointing to FAM’s structure, capacity and international recognition as proof of its readiness to manage the NFDP effectively.
He cited the association’s nomination as one of three finalists for the AFC President’s Recognition Award for Grassroots Football (Silver Category), alongside the Guam Football Association and the All India Football Federation.
“We value Khairy’s opinion, but FAM has confidence in its own ability. From management to technical expertise and talent development, our preparations are already at an optimum level to ensure NFDP’s success,” he said.
Yusoff added that FAM welcomed constructive feedback to further improve the programme.
“Every comment and criticism will be taken as guidance for improving NFDP. What matters is receiving positive input to raise the programme’s quality,” he said. — September 26, 2025